Rechargeable Research Articles

Heterointerface engineering of yolk-shell-structured Mn2O3/RuO2 for boosting oxygen electrocatalysis in rechargeable liquid and flexible zinc-air batteries

Rational construction of high-efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts is of crucial significance for rechargeable Zn-air batteries (ZABs). Here, the yolk-shell-structured Mn2O3/RuO2 heterojunction is purposely constructed via the Kirkendall effect as a robust bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst for simultaneously driving oxygen evolution and reduction reactions (OER and ORR). The strong interactions between Mn2O3 and RuO2 induces the surface reconstruction that brings the electronic transfer from Mn to Ru, and the changes of coordination environments of metal atoms. Meanwhile, the yolk-shell structure enables maximum contact of the active sites with the electrolyte and prevents the dissolution and peroxidation of active species. As a result, the yolk-shell-structured Mn2O3/RuO2 shows an outstanding bifunctional activity with a very low potential gap of ΔE = 0.60 V. Moreover, the ZABs assembled with Mn2O3/RuO2 render a large open circuit voltage of 1.53 V, a high specific capacity of 742.1 mA h g−1 and an exceptional cycling stability over 850 h that significantly outperforms those of Pt/C+RuO2-based ZABs. Moreover, the self-made flexible solid-state ZAB with Mn2O3/RuO2 cathode also shows good charge–discharge reversibility and flexibility at different bending angles. This work provides a feasible method for the design of efficient oxygen electrocatalysts to promote the practical application of ZABs.

Design and analysis of sustainable photovoltaic solar charging system with battery storage for electric vehicles

Design and analysis of sustainable photovoltaic solar charging system with battery storage for electric vehicles

Development of an ESP32 Microcontroller-based Colorimeter with an Android App for the Verification of Roasting Degree of Coffee Beans

A lo w-cost and portable colorimeter was developed using an ESP32 microcontroller and a TCS34725 color sensor to monitor the degree of coffee roast, crucial for maintaining flavor consistency and controlling product quality across different batches. The colorimeter detected color recognition resulting in RGB color intensity values, which could be displayed on the device’s TFT LCD touchscreen. Additionally, colorimetric data was transmitted in real-time via WiFi and stored in a MySQL database using an Android app created with the MIT App Inventor platform. The colorimeter was powered by a rechargeable lithium phosphate battery. The consistency of coffee roasting was ensured by self-identifying the standard RGB values of the roasted coffee beans at five degrees (light, light-medium, medium, medium-dark, and dark) with the app. The darker the color of the roasted coffee, the lower the RGB values were gained. The color detection was highly precise, with a relative standard deviation of less than 5%.

Main-group element-boosted oxygen electrocatalysis of Cu-N-C sites for zinc-air battery with cycling over 5000 h

Developing highly active and durable air cathode catalysts is crucial yet challenging for rechargeable zinc-air batteries. Herein, a size-adjustable, flexible, and self-standing carbon membrane catalyst encapsulating adjacent Cu/Na dual-atom sites is prepared using a solution blow spinning technique combined with a pyrolysis strategy. The intrinsic activity of the Cu-N4 site is boosted by the neighboring Na-containing functional group, which enhances O2 adsorption and optimizes the rate-determining step of O2 activation (*O2 → *OOH) during the oxygen reduction reaction process. Meanwhile, the Cu-N4 sites are encapsulated within carbon nanofibers and anchored by the carbon matrix to form a C2-Cu-N4 configuration, thereby reinforcing the stability of the Cu centers. Moreover, the introduction of Na-containing functional groups on the carbon atoms significantly reduces the positive charge on their outer shell C atoms, rendering the carbon skeletons less susceptible to corrosion by oxygen species and further preventing the dissolution of Cu centers. Under these multi-type regulations, the zinc-air battery with Cu/Na-carbon membrane catalyst as the air cathode demonstrates long-term discharge/charge cycle stability of over 5000 h. This considerable stability improvement represents a critical step towards developing Cu-N4 active sites modified with the neighboring main-group metal-containing functional groups to overcome the durability barriers of zinc-air batteries for future practical applications.

Predicting Anion Redox in Secondary Battery Cathode Materials with a Data-Driven Model

Predicting Anion Redox in Secondary Battery Cathode Materials with a Data-Driven Model

Structure and Conductivity of Crosslinked Ca‐POE Polymer Electrolytes for Secondary Batteries

Structure and Conductivity of Crosslinked Ca‐POE Polymer Electrolytes for Secondary Batteries

Nonsolvent-Induced Phase Separation pPAN Separators for Dendrite-Free Rechargeable Aluminum Batteries.

Rechargeable aluminum batteries (RAB) are a promising energy storage system with high safety, long cycle life, and low cost. However, the strong corrosiveness of chloroaluminate ionic liquid electrolytes (ILEs) severely limits the development of RAB separators. Herein, a nonsolvent-induced phase separation strategy was applied to fabricate the pPAN (poly(vinyl alcohol)-modified polyacrylonitrile) separator, which exhibits prominent chemical and electrochemical stability in ILEs. The pPAN separator, owing to its uniform pore size distribution and strong electronegativity with a zeta potential of about -10.20 mV, can effectively inhibit the growth of dendrites. Benefiting from the good ion conductivity (6.38 mS cm-1) and high ion migration number (0.133) of pPAN separator, the full cell with pPAN separator demonstrates stable operation for more than 500 cycles at 600 mA g-1, with a high capacity of 88.8 mAh g-1. When integrating into sodium-ion batteries, the pPAN separators also show an excellent electrochemical performance. This work provides a considerable approach for designing separators to address the issue of Al anode dendrite growth in RABs.

Recent Progress in Computational Materials Science Boosting Development of Rechargeable Batteries

Recent Progress in Computational Materials Science Boosting Development of Rechargeable Batteries

Characterisation and simulated evaluation of electricity management strategies for Prosumers, Prosumagers, and other end-users

ABSTRACT Distributed photovoltaic generation has been raised as a dependable electricity substitute for implementing a decarbonised energy transition. The dynamics of PV systems with battery storage have led to new electricity end-user classifications that select their electricity systems and resources wisely, i.e. Prosumers and Prosumagers. This work presents a technical and economic assessment to analyse the effect of decision-making independent end-users and electricity management strategies through a novel time-discrete deterministic simulation model. The end-user's choice of battery storage technology and their approach to electricity management emerge as pivotal factors influencing their strategic decisions. Adopting a prosumer strategy, such as storing and selling surplus self-production, reduces the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), benefiting the end-user economically. Notably, the most effective battery storage technology may only sometimes be the one that is most readily available in the market. These findings enhance our understanding of novel end-user types and underscore the practical implications of their evolutionary shift towards independence.

Polyanthraquinone with Facile Synthesis as a Cathode Material for Rechargeable Magnesium Batteries

Polyanthraquinone with Facile Synthesis as a Cathode Material for Rechargeable Magnesium Batteries

Multilayer Porous Fe/Co-N-MWCNT Electrocatalyst For Rechargeable Zinc-Air Batteries.

The design of efficient, stable, low-cost non-precious metal-based electrocatalysts with enhanced oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity has garnered significant attention in the scientific community. This study introduces a novel electrocatalyst, Fe/Co-N-MWCNT, synthesized through the in-situ growth of ZIF-8 and Fe/Co-Phen on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), followed by pyrolysis at varying temperatures to optimize its properties. The inclusion of Fe and Co during the pyrolysis process facilitated the creation of metal active sites and Fe-Co, enhancing electron transfer and ORR activity. Compared to Pt/C (E1/2=0.854 V, JL=4.90 mA cm-2), Fe/Co-N-MWCNT exhibited a similar half-wave potential (E1/2=0.812 V) and an improved limiting current density (JL=5.37 mA cm-2). Moreover, Fe/Co-N-MWCNT displayed remarkable stability, showing only a 7 mV negative shift in E1/2 after 2000 cycles. Ampere response testing indicated a current decay of only 7.8 % for Fe/Co-N-MWCNT after 10000 s, while Pt/C experienced a decay of about 18.4 %. The exceptional catalytic stability of Fe/Co-N-MWCNT positions it as a promising candidate for rechargeable zinc-air batteries, attributed to its high pyridinic nitrogen content, unique structure, and abundant metal active sites.

Utilization of CoSe2-loaded carbon nanofibers for enhancing separator performance in lithium-sulfur batteries: Polysulfide immobilization and redox conversion enhancement

Lithium‑sulfur batteries (LSBs) are recognized as promising candidates for the next generation of secondary batteries due to their high energy density, high theoretical capacity, and low environmental impact. However, the poor electrical conductivity of sulfur and Li2S, the “shuttle effect” of polysulfides, and the slow kinetics of redox reactions have significantly hindered the practical application of LSBs. In this work, CoSe2-loaded carbon nanofibers (CoSe2@CNF) derived from metal-organic frameworks were successfully prepared by electrospinning and used as a functional coating on the polypropylene separator. The three-dimensional network structure of CNFs not only improves the electrical conductivity of the material but also provides channels to facilitate ion and electron transport, while the CoSe2 particles distributed on the surface effectively act as adsorption and catalytic active sites for lithium polysulfides. Under the synergistic effect, the CoSe2@CNF-modified separator suppressed the shuttle effect and significantly enhanced the kinetics of redox reactions. The LSBs assembled with CoSe2@CNF-modified separator exhibited excellent electrochemical performance, achieving an initial capacity of 1445.6 mAh g−1 at 0.5C and maintaining a discharge specific capacity of 849.5 mAh g−1 after 275 cycles.

GhCASPL1 regulates secondary cell wall thickening in cotton fibers by stabilizing the cellulose synthase complex on the plasma membrane.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) fibers are elongated single cells that rapidly accumulate cellulose during secondary cell wall (SCW) thickening, which requires cellulose synthase complex (CSC) activity. Here, we describe the CSC-interacting factor CASPARIAN STRIP MEMBRANE DOMAIN-LIKE1 (GhCASPL1), which contributes to SCW thickening by influencing CSC stability on the plasma membrane. GhCASPL1 is preferentially expressed in fiber cells during SCW biosynthesis and encodes a MARVEL domain protein. The ghcaspl1 ghcaspl2 mutant exhibited reduced plant height and produced mature fibers with fewer natural twists, lower tensile strength, and a thinner SCW compared to the wild type. Similarly, the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) caspl1 caspl2 double mutant showed a lower cellulose content and thinner cell walls in the stem vasculature than the wild type but normal plant morphology. Introducing the cotton gene GhCASPL1 successfully restored the reduced cellulose content of the Arabidopsis caspl1 caspl2 mutant. Detergent treatments, ultracentrifugation assays, and enzymatic assays showed that the CSC in the ghcaspl1 ghcaspl2 double mutant showed reduced membrane binding and decreased enzyme activity compared to the wild type. GhCASPL1 binds strongly to phosphatidic acid (PA), which is present in much higher amounts in thickening fiber cells compared to ovules and leaves. Mutating the PA-binding site in GhCASPL1 resulted in the loss of its colocalization with GhCesA8, and it failed to localize to the plasma membrane. PA may alter membrane structure to facilitate protein-protein interactions, suggesting that GhCASPL1 and PA collaboratively stabilize the CSC. Our findings shed light on CASPL functions and the molecular machinery behind SCW biosynthesis in cotton fibers.

A Comprehensive Review of Energy-Efficient Techniques for UAV-Assisted Industrial Wireless Networks

The rapid expansion of the Industrial Internet-of-Things (IIoT) has spurred significant research interest due to the growth of security-aware, vehicular, and time-sensitive applications. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are widely deployed within wireless communication systems to establish rapid and reliable links between users and devices, attributed to their high flexibility and maneuverability. Leveraging UAVs provides a promising solution to enhance communication system performance and effectiveness while overcoming the unprecedented challenges of stringent spectrum limitations and demanding data traffic. However, due to the dramatic increase in the number of vehicles and devices in the industrial wireless networks and limitations on UAVs’ battery storage and computing resources, the adoption of energy-efficient techniques is essential to ensure sustainable system implementation and to prolong the lifetime of the network. This paper provides a comprehensive review of various disruptive methodologies for addressing energy-efficient issues in UAV-assisted industrial wireless networks. We begin by introducing the background of recent research areas from different aspects, including security-enhanced industrial networks, industrial vehicular networks, machine learning for industrial communications, and time-sensitive networks. Our review identifies key challenges from an energy efficiency perspective and evaluates relevant techniques, including resource allocation, UAV trajectory design and wireless power transfer (WPT), across various applications and scenarios. This paper thoroughly discusses the features, strengths, weaknesses, and potential of existing works. Finally, we highlight open research issues and gaps and present promising potential directions for future investigation.

Advancing Zn-ion Battery Electrodes: Exploring the Potential of Graphene-Polythiophene Nanocomposites through First-Principles Analysis

AbstractThis research investigates the electronic and electrochemical properties of graphene-polythiophene (G/Pth) nanocomposites, as potential anode materials for Zn-ion batteries. By capitalizing on the distinctive attributes of these constituent materials, the research aims to unravel critical aspects, such as: interaction studies, electronic structure, charge transfer, charge density difference, the density of states (DOS), theoretical specific capacity, open circuit voltage, Zn-ion diffusion, and the structural stability of G/Pth. The findings present compelling insights into the adsorption process, revealing an exothermic adsorption energy of -2.79 eV and an adsorption height of 3.51 Å for the polythiophene onto the graphene nanosheets. The loading of Zn atoms onto the G/Pth nanocomposite, yields a noteworthy maximum specific capacity of 585 mAh/g. The nanocomposite exhibits an exceptionally low Zn diffusion barrier of 6 meV, thereby, facilitating a swift Zn diffusion across its surface. These results suggest the promising potential of G/Pth nanocomposites as anode materials for Zn-ion batteries, and hence, providing valuable insights into their electronic and structural properties. It is believed that this study, has significantly, contributed to the advancement of the comprehension of polymer substrate-based energy storage materials. Also, it establishes a foundation for further research to develop more effective and efficient solutions for energy storage in Zn-ion batteries. Graphical Abstract

Unveiling the Dynamic Evolution of Catalytic Sites in N-Doped Leaf-like Carbon Frames Embedded with Co Particles for Rechargeable Zn-Air Batteries.

The advancement of cost-effective, high-performance catalysts for both electrochemical oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs) and oxygen evolution reactions (OERs) is crucial for the widespread implementation of metal-air batteries. In this research, we fabricated leaf-like N-doped carbon frames embedded with Co nanoparticles by pyrolyzing a ZIF-L/carbon nanofiber (ZIF-L/CNF) composite. Consequently, the optimized ZIF-L/CNF-700 catalyst exhibit exceptional catalytic activities in both ORRs and OERs, comparable to the benchmark 20 wt% Pt/C and RuO2. Addressing the issue of diminished cycle performance in the Zn-air battery cycle process, further detailed investigations into the post-electrolytic composition reveal that both the carbon framework and Co nanoparticles undergo partial oxidation during both OERs and ORRs. Owing to the varying local pH on the catalyst surface due to the consumption and generation of OH- by OERs and ORRs, after OERs, the product is reduced-size Co particles, while after ORRs, the product is outer-layer Co(OH)2-enveloping Co particles.

Catalyst–Support Interaction in Polyaniline-Supported Ni3Fe Oxide to Boost Oxygen Evolution Activities for Rechargeable Zn-Air Batteries

HighlightsNi3Fe oxide, with an average size of 3.5 ± 1.5 nm, was successfully deposited onto polyaniline (PANI) support through a solvothermal strategy followed by calcination.The catalyst–support interaction between Ni3Fe oxide and PANI can enhance the Ni-O covalency via the interfacial Ni-N bond.Ni3Fe oxide/PANI-assembled Zn-air batteries achieve superior cycling life for over 400 h at 10 mA cm−2 and a low charge potential of around 1.95 V.

Two-dimensional heterostructure of MXene-derived V2O5·H2O and graphene with enhanced Zn-ion storage capability

Aqueous rechargeable zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are promising candidates for gird-scale energy storage with economic and environmental advantages. Layered hydrated vanadium oxides with multivalent and “lubricating” effect receive much attention in ZIBs. However, the application of them is suffering from the poor intrinsic conductivity and the unstable structure. Herein, a unique 2D/2D heterostructure of δ-V2O5·H2O nanobelts (VO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is designed as cathode for ZIBs (denoted as VOG). The stronger interface coupling and the shorter ion transport pathways impart the VOG electrode impressive stability and fast ions diffusion kinetics. Specifically, the VOG cathode delivers a superior capacity of 342 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 and a remarkable rate capability of 280 mAh g−1 at a quite high rate of 10 A g−1. The energy storage mechanism involved is investigated by systematical characterizations. The exploration of such 2D/2D heterostructure materials with strong synergy sheds light on the rational design of high performanced AZIBs.

Identification of BpEXP family genes and functional characterization of the BpEXPA1 gene in the stems development of Betula platyphylla

Expansins (EXPs) are unique plant cell wall proteins with the ability to induce cell wall expansion and play potential roles in xylem development. In the present study, a total of 25 BpEXP genes were identified in Betula platyphylla. Results of bioinformatics analysis described that BpEXP gene family was highly conserved in the process of evolution. All these genes were clustered into four groups, EXPA (Expansin A), EXPB (Expansin B), EXLA (Expansin-like A) and EXLB (Expansin-like B), according to phylogenetic analysis and BpEXPA1 was highly homologous to PttEXP1 and PttEXP2. The results of RT-qPCR showed that BpEXPA1 was expressed higher in stems and preferentially expressed in the first internodes, followed by apical buds and the third internodes, promoter expression analysis with GUS assay demonstrated that it was expressed in developing xylem, suggesting that BpEXPA1 might be involved in the development of the primary stems of birch. Overexpression of BpEXPA1 can promote cortex cell expansion and then enlarge the cortex cell area and layer, however inhibit the secondary cell wall deposition and result in the thinner cell wall and larger lumens of xylem fiber in transgenic plants. This study will provide information for investigating the regulation mechanism of BpEXP family genes and gene resources for birch genetics improvement.

Synthesis and electrochemical studies of NaCoPO4 as an efficient cathode material using natural deep eutectic solvents for aqueous rechargeable sodium-ion batteries

Synthesis and electrochemical studies of NaCoPO4 as an efficient cathode material using natural deep eutectic solvents for aqueous rechargeable sodium-ion batteries