Cycle Energy Research Articles

A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN 3D PRINTING FOR CONSTRUCTION: CURRENT STATE, BENEFITS, LIMITATIONS, AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

ABSTRACT The agenda of Industry 4.0 strongly affects design and construction at all its phases, and three-Dimensional Printing (3DP) is an essential part of it. The emerging technology has the potential to become a more valid and accepted form of construction. This research is based on a literature review regarding the relationships between the concepts of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and energy efficiency for 3DP in construction research to understand the developments. Systematic bibliometric and scientometric analyses are used as data analysis techniques to make a detailed comparison. The comparison allowed for assessing and determining the current state, benefits, limitations, and future outlook. Current research is based on insights examining materials first (80%), followed by walls (15%), buildings (11%), and 3DP technology (6%). The findings highlight that 3DP technology offers significant advantages in terms of time efficiency, reliability, ecological impact, and sustainability within the construction industry. However, several challenges, such as the complexity of material mixture content design, the lack of standardized 3DP materials and codes, and the limited availability of experts in the field, prevent its widespread adoption. Further advancement of 3DP requires the development of standards, policies, training and materials for its full implementation in the construction industry.

Establishment and Validation of Lactate Metabolism-Related Genes as a Prognostic Model for Gastric Cancer.

Gastric Cancer (GC) has become one of the most important causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide due to its intractability. Studying the mechanisms of gastric carcinogenesis, recurrence, and metastasis, and searching for new therapeutic targets have become the main directions of today's gastric cancer research. Lactate is considered a metabolic by-product of tumor aerobic glycolysis, which can regulate tumor development through various mechanisms, including cell cycle regulation, immunosuppression, and energy metabolism. However, the effects of genes related to lactate metabolism on the prognosis and tumor microenvironmental characteristics of GC patients are unknown. <P> </P> Method: In this study, we have collected gene expression data of gastric cancer from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and identified differentially expressed genes in gastric cancer using the "Limma" software package. <P> </P> Result: 76 differentially expressed lactate metabolism-related genes were screened, and then the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and Cox regression analysis were employed that identified 8 genes, constructed Lactate Metabolism-related gene signals (LMRs), and verified the reliability of the prognostic risk mapping by using TCGA training set and TCGA internal test set. Finally, the functional enrichment analysis was employed to identify the molecular mechanism. <P> </P> Conclusion: Eight lactate metabolism-related genes were constructed into a new predictive signal that better predicted the overall survival of gastric cancer patients and can guide clinical decisions for more precise and personalized treatment.

A review of EDLC and pseudocapacitance with synergistic integration of carbon-based and metal oxide materials for enhanced electrochemical energy storage

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the recent advancements in electrochemical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) and pseudocapacitance, emphasizing the pivotal role of carbon-based materials, metal oxides, conducting polymers, and composites in augmenting the energy storage landscape. Through a systematic collection of electrochemical performance metrics, we elucidate the inherent advantages of these materials, such as superior electrical conductivity, enhanced surface area, and chemical robustness, which are instrumental in the development of next-generation supercapacitors. We discuss the integration of novel materials like reduced graphene oxide/hexagonal boron nitride composites, carbon onions, and various metal oxides that contribute to a significant increase in energy density and cycling stability. This work also highlights innovative fabrication techniques and synthesis methodologies that have resulted in electrodes with remarkable performance enhancements. Furthermore, the exploration of synergistic effects between different materials has led to hybrid structures that exhibit improved capacitive properties and operational efficiency.

Investigating the physiological ecology of mesopelagic zooplankton in the Scotia sea (Southern ocean) using lipid and stable isotope signatures

The mesopelagic zooplankton community plays an important role in the cycling and sequestration of carbon via the biological pump. However, little is known about the physiology and ecology of key taxa found within this region, hindering our understanding of their influence on the pathways of energy and organic matter cycling. We sampled the eight most abundant zooplankton (Calanoides acutus, Rhincalanus gigas, Paraeuchaeta spp., Chaetognatha, Euphausia triacantha, Thysanoessa spp., Themisto gaudichaudii and Salpa thompsoni) from within the mesopelagic zone in the Scotia Sea during a sinking diatom bloom and investigated their physiological ecology using lipid biomarkers and stable isotopic signatures of nitrogen. Data suggest that the large calanoid copepods, C. acutus and R. gigas, were in, or emerging from, a period of metabolic inactivity during the study period (November 15th – December 15th, 2017). Abundant, but decreasing lipid reserves in the predominantly herbivorous calanoid copepods, suggest these animals may have been metabolising previously stored lipids at the time of sampling, rather than deriving energy solely from the diatom bloom. This highlights the importance of understanding the timing of diapause of overwintering species as their feeding is likely to have an impact on the turnover of particulate organic matter (POM) in the upper mesopelagic. The δ15N signatures of POM became enriched with increasing depth, whereas all species of zooplankton except T. gaudichaudii did not. This suggests that animals were feeding on fresher, surface-derived POM, rather than reworked particles at depth, likely influencing the quantity and quality of organic matter leaving the upper mesopelagic. Our study highlights the complexity of mesopelagic food webs and suggests that the application of broad trophic functional types may lead to an incorrect understanding of ecosystem dynamics.

Sustainable Prelithiation Strategy: Enhancing Energy Density and Lifespan with Ultrathin Li‐Mg‐Al Alloy Foil

AbstractPrelithiation is a well‐established strategy for enhancing battery energy density. However, traditional prelithiation approaches have primarily addressed compensating for the initial active lithium loss (ALL) while overlooking the ALL during extended cycling. In response, a novel method is introduced by increasing the prelithiation degree and pre‐storing stable LiCx within the anode. This innovation facilitates sustainable lithium replenishment, resulting in a significant improvement in battery cycle life and energy density. Moreover, challenges associated with using pure Li foils to realize this strategy in contact prelithiation are revealed, such as difficulties in thinning to less than 5 µm, and the loss of the electronic pathway during prelithiation, resulting in low lithium utilization rates and numerous residues. Additionally, the significantly accelerated capacity fading caused by these residues, typically emerging after hundreds of cycles, has been overlooked. To overcome these challenges, an ultrathin Li‐Mg‐Al alloy foil is developed with significantly improved mechanical properties and delithiation behavior. During prelithiation, the 96Li2Mg2Al alloy maintains a complete film structure with numerous micropores, avoiding randomly distributed debris. This structure ensures high utilization, unimpeded electronic pathways, and efficient electrolyte filtration. By employing a 5‐µm 96Li2Mg2Al foil for sustainable prelithiation, a substantial improvement in energy density is achieved and tripled the battery's lifespan.

Physiochemical and Electrochemical Properties of a Heat-Treated Electrode for All-Iron Redox Flow Batteries.

Iron redox flow batteries (IRFBs) are cost-efficient RFBs that have the potential to develop low-cost grid energy storage. Electrode kinetics are pivotal in defining the cycle life and energy efficiency of the battery. In this study, graphite felt (GF) is heat-treated at 400, 500 and 600 °C, and its physicochemical and electrochemical properties are studied using XPS, FESEM, Raman and cyclic voltammetry. Surface morphology and structural changes suggest that GF heat-treated at 500 °C for 6 h exhibits acceptable thermal stability while accessing the benefits of heat treatment. Specific capacitance was calculated for assessing the wettability and electrochemical properties of pristine and treated electrodes. The 600 °C GF has the highest specific capacitance of 34.8 Fg-1 at 100 mV s-1, but the 500 °C GF showed the best battery performance. The good battery performance of the 500 °C GF is attributed to the presence of oxygen functionalities and the absence of thermal degradation during heat treatment. The battery consisting of 500 °C GF electrodes offered the highest voltage efficiency of ~74%, Coulombic efficiency of ~94%, and energy efficiency of ~70% at 20 mA cm-2. Energy efficiency increased by 7% in a battery consisting of heat-treated GF in comparison to pristine GF. The battery is capable of operating for 100 charge-discharge cycles with an average energy efficiency of ~ 67% for over 100 cycles.

Recent Advances in Catalyst Design and Performance Optimization of Nanostructured Cathode Materials in Zinc-Air Batteries.

This review focuses on the advanced design and optimization of nanostructured zinc-air batteries (ZABs), with the aim of boosting their energy storage and conversion capabilities. The findings show that ZABs favor porous nanostructures owing to their large surface area, and this enhances the battery capacity, catalytic activity, and life cycle. In addition, the nanomaterials improve the electrical conductivity, ion transport, and overall battery stability, which crucially reduces dendrite growth on the zinc anodes and improves cycle life and energy efficiency. To obtain a superior performance, the importance of controlling the operational conditions and using custom nanostructural designs, optimal electrode materials, and carefully adjusted electrolytes is highlighted. In conclusion, porous nanostructures and nanoscale materials significantly boost the energy density, longevity, and efficiency of Zn-air batteries. It is suggested that future research should focus on the fundamental design principles of these materials to further enhance the battery performance and drive sustainable energy solutions.

Utilizing transcriptomics and proteomics to unravel key genes and proteins of Oryza sativa seedlings mediated by selenium in response to cadmium stress

BackgroundCadmium (Cd) pollution has declined crop yields and quality. Selenium (Se) is a beneficial mineral element that protects plants from oxidative damage, thereby improving crop tolerance to heavy metals. The molecular mechanism of Se-induced Cd tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa) is not yet understood. This study aimed to elucidate the beneficial mechanism of Se (1 mg/kg) in alleviating Cd toxicity in rice seedlings.ResultsExogenous selenium addition significantly improved the toxic effect of cadmium stress on rice seedlings, increasing plant height and fresh weight by 20.53% and 34.48%, respectively, and increasing chlorophyll and carotenoid content by 16.68% and 15.26%, respectively. Moreover, the MDA, ·OH, and protein carbonyl levels induced by cadmium stress were reduced by 47.65%, 67.57%, and 56.43%, respectively. Cell wall metabolism, energy cycling, and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems in rice seedlings were significantly enhanced. Transcriptome analysis showed that the expressions of key functional genes psbQ, psbO, psaG, psaD, atpG, and PetH were significantly up-regulated under low-concentration Se treatment, which enhanced the energy metabolism process of photosystem I and photosystem II in rice seedlings. At the same time, the up-regulation of LHCA, LHCB family, and C4H1, PRX, and atp6 functional genes improved the ability of photon capture and heavy metal ion binding in plants. Combined with proteome analysis, the expression of functional proteins OsGSTF1, OsGSTU11, OsG6PDH4, OsDHAB1, CP29, and CabE was significantly up-regulated under Se, which enhanced photosynthesis and anti-oxidative stress mechanism in rice seedlings. At the same time, it regulates the plant hormone signal transduction pathway. It up-regulates the expression response process of IAA, ABA, and JAZ to activate the synergistic effect between each cell rapidly and jointly maintain the homeostasis balance.ConclusionOur results revealed the regulation process of Se-mediated critical metabolic pathways, functional genes, and proteins in rice under cadmium stress. They provided insights into the expression rules and dynamic response process of the Se-mediated plant resistance mechanism. This study provided the theoretical basis and technical support for crop safety in cropland ecosystems and cadmium-contaminated areas.

A global dataset of terrestrial evapotranspiration and soil moisture dynamics from 1982 to 2020

Quantifying terrestrial evapotranspiration (ET) and soil moisture dynamics accurately is crucial for understanding the global water cycle and surface energy balance. We present a novel, long-term dataset of global ET and soil moisture derived from the newly developed Simple Terrestrial Hydrosphere model, version 2 (SiTHv2). This ecohydrological model, driven by multi-source satellite observations and hydrometeorological variables from reanalysis data, provides daily global ET-related estimates (e.g., total ET, plant transpiration, soil evaporation, intercepted evaporation) and three-layer soil moisture dynamics at a 0.1° spatial resolution. Validation with in-situ measurements and comparisons with mainstream global ET and soil moisture products demonstrate robust performance of SiTHv2 in both magnitude and temporal dynamics of ET and soil moisture at multiple scales. The comprehensive water path characterization in the SiTHv2 model makes this seamless dataset particularly valuable for studies requiring synchronized water budget and vegetation response to water constraints. With its long-term coverage and high spatiotemporal resolution, the SiTHv2-derived ET and soil moisture product will be suitable to support analyses related to the hydrologic cycle, drought assessment, and ecosystem health.

Research hotspots and development trends of green coal mining: Exploring the path to sustainable development of coal mines

Coal mining and utilization should not only ensure safety and efficiency, but also form the theory and technology of green coal as soon as possible to guide the sustainable development of coal mines. In order to grasp the overall research progress of the theme of green coal mining (GCM), with coal mining as the main line and ecological environment issues as the link, 730 articles in the Web of Science database from 2004 to 2023 were visually analyzed by VOSviewer. Draw a knowledge map of research areas, countries, affiliations, authors and hot keywords, and discuss the research hotspots and trends of the GCM. The results show that GCM has gone through three periods: initial period, slow period and rapid period. China and the China University of Mining and Technology have become the core research country and the core affiliate of the GCM, respectively. The clustering analysis of research keywords can be divided into 8 main clusters. During the past 20 years, keywords such as backfilling, fly ash, green mine construction, paste material, energy transition, green economy, coal gasification and biotechnology have been the representative research hotspots in each cluster. With the progress of the times, the related policies, academic ideas and research hotspots of the GCM theme have the evolutionary characteristics of branching expansion, from shallow to deep, subject integration, decline and prosperity. On this basis, 5 key research directions in the future under the GCM theme are put forward, namely, intelligent green coal mining technology, green coordinated mining technology of coal and associated resources, green resource transformation and comprehensive utilization of abandoned mines, life cycle ecological restoration technology and energy development concept and research and development of new green coal-based materials. This study provides an effective path for the sustainable development of coal mines in the future.

Comprehensive physiology and proteomics analysis revealed the molecular toxicological mechanism of Se stress on indica and japonica rice

Selenium pollution can lead to a decrease in crop yield and quality. However, the toxicological mechanisms of high Se concentrations on crops remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the physiological and proteomic molecular responses to Se stress in Oryza sativa. The results showed that under selenium stress, enzymatic activities of catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase in indica rice decreased by 61%, 28%, and 68%, respectively. The contents of non-enzymatic antioxidant substances ascorbic acid, glutathione, cysteine, proline, anthocyanidin, and flavonoids were decreased by 13%, 39%, 46%, 32%, 20%, and 5%, respectively, which significantly inhibited the antioxidant stress process of plants. At the same time, the results of proteomics analysis showed that rice seedlings, under Se stress, are involved in photosynthesis, photosynthesis-antenna proteins, carbon fixation, porphyrin metabolism, glyoxylate, and dicarboxylate. The differentially expressed proteins in metabolism and glutathione metabolism pathways showed a downward trend. It significantly inhibited the anti-oxidative stress, photosynthesis, and energy cycling process in plant cells, destroyed the homeostasis balance of rice plants, and inhibited the growth and development of rice. This finding reveals the molecular toxicological mechanism of Se stress on rice seedlings and provides a possible way to improve Se-resistant rice seedlings.

Low‐Strain and High‐Energy KVPO4F Cathode with Multifunctional Stabilizer for Advanced Potassium‐Ion Batteries

KVPO4F with excellent structural stability and high operating voltage has been identified as a promising cathode for potassium‐ion batteries (PIBs), but limits in sluggish ion transport and severe volume change cause insufficient potassium storage capability. Here, a high‐energy and low‐strain KVPO4F composite cathode assisted by multifunctional K2C4O4 electrode stabilizer is exquisitely designed. Systematical electrochemical investigations demonstrate that this composite cathode can deliver a remarkable energy density up to 530 Wh kg−1 with 142.7 mAh g−1 of reversible capacity at 25 mA g−1, outstanding rate capability of 70.6 mAh g−1 at 1000 mA g−1, and decent cycling stability. Furthermore, slight volume change (~5%) and increased interfacial stability with thin and even cathode–electrolyte interphase can be observed through in situ and ex situ characterizations, which are attributed to the synergistic effect from in situ potassium compensation and carbon deposition through self‐sacrificing K2C4O4 additive. Moreover, potassium‐ion full cells manifest significant improvement in energy density and cycling stability. This work demonstrates a positive impact of K2C4O4 additive on the comprehensive electrochemical enhancement, especially the activation of high‐voltage plateau capacity and provides an efficient strategy to enlighten the design of other high‐voltage cathodes for advanced high‐energy batteries.

Light grazing alleviates aeolian erosion–deposition effects on microbial communities in a semi-arid grassland

BackgroundSoil erosion affects the stability of terrestrial ecosystems and ecosystem services by directly or indirectly impacting the cycling of soil materials and energy and reducing the fertility of grassland soils. However, research on microbial adaptation to grazing and soil erosion is limited, particularly in relation to grassland ecosystem restoration. Here, we assess microbial communities subjected to simulated soil erosion and grazing in a semi-arid grassland of Inner Mongolia, China.ResultsNo significant change was observed in soil variables. However, the structure of the soil microbial community underwent significant changes as a result of soil erosion and soil erosion plus grazing, leading to a significant increase in the relative abundance of Cyanobacteria (116.80% vs 116.38%). Wind erosion and deposition contributed to an increase in the network complexity of soil bacterial and fungal communities. However, much of this effect was alleviated by grazing. Simultaneously, aeolian processes and grazing regulate soil microbial community assembly, leading to inconsistent patterns of change in bacterial and fungal communities. Under wind erosion and deposition, the relative contribution of deterministic processes (4.44% vs 31.11%) in bacterial communities increased, while the relative contribution of stochastic processes (2.23% vs 20%) in fungal communities reduced. Grazing resulted in a decrease in the relative contribution of deterministic processes (8.89%) in the bacterial community and an increase in the relative contribution of stochastic processes (8.89%) in the fungal community.ConclusionThis study presents a comprehensive investigation of the response of soil microbial communities to aeolian erosion–deposition and grazing in a semi-arid grassland. Our findings indicate that microbial communities in the semi-arid grassland show resistance to external disturbances and that light grazing mitigates the effects of aeolian erosion–deposition on microbial communities, which is essential for maintaining the stability and biodiversity of grassland ecosystems.

High-Performance Zinc-Ion Hybrid Supercapacitor from Guilin Sanhua Liquor Lees-Derived Carbon Materials.

Aqueous zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZHSCs) have attracted considerable attention because they are inexpensive and safe. However, the inadequate energy densities, power densities, and cycling performance of current ZHSC energy-storage devices are impediments that need to be overcome to enable the further development and commercialization of this technology. To address these issues, in this study, we prepared carbon-based ZHSCs using a series of porous carbon materials derived from Sanhua liquor lees (SLPCs). Among them, the best performance was observed for SLPC-A13, which exhibited excellent properties and a high-surface-area structure (2667 m2 g-1) with abundant micropores. The Zn//SLPC-A13 device was assembled by using 2 mol L-1 ZnSO4, SLPC-A13, and Zn foil as the electrolyte, cathode, and anode, respectively. The Zn//SLPC-A13 device delivered an ultrahigh energy density of 137 Wh kg-1 at a power density of 462 W kg-1. Remarkably, Zn//SLPC-A13 retained 100% of its specific capacitance after 120,000 cycles of long-term charge/discharge testing, with 62% retained after 250,000 cycles. This outstanding performance is primarily attributed to the SLPC-A13 carbon material, which promotes the rapid adsorption and desorption of ions, and the charge-discharge process, which roughens the Zn anode in a manner that improves reversible Zn-ion plating/stripping efficiency. This study provides ideas for the preparation of ZHSC cathode materials.

An integrated life cycle assessment and energy simulation framework for residential building walling systems

Designing building wall systems is a multi-criteria problem characterised by a complex interplay of variables that drive long-term energy and environmental performance. Achieving holistic sustainability outcomes will require the application of life cycle thinking to the design and evaluation of building walling systems. However, the aspiration for minimising operational and embodied energy and mitigating the environmental impacts requires conflicting strategies. Therefore, this study proposes a comprehensive, integrated life cycle and energy simulation (ILES) methodology for analysing different walling systems of residential buildings in India and Australia. This method involves performing a process-based life cycle assessment to compute the environmental impacts of various walling materials, followed by energy modelling to evaluate the performance of these materials in the operational phase of buildings in combination with embodied energy analysis, which accounts for energy consumption during the material manufacturing phases. The results reveal that insulated cavity-clay masonry or concrete walls with extruded polystyrene are favourable Australian walling options, while metal cladding-based walling systems have significant environmental and energy burdens. For India, autoclave aerated block, fly ash bricks, and concrete block-based walling systems are recommended, while reinforced concrete and clay brick walls exhibit significant environmental and energy burdens. This study also advocates the consideration of supply chains in mitigating Scope 3 emissions from building walling systems in residential buildings.

Solar photothermal utilization of coupled latent heat storage: A numerical and optimization study

The combination of Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) and Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage (LHTES) is a novel approach for effectively utilizing solar energy. However, the influence of solar energy fluctuations on the heat transfer process of LHTES systems is not yet clear. In this study, a sinusoidal heat source is applied to a rotating triple-tube LHTES system, and numerical analysis and model verification are conducted. The parameters of the sinusoidal heat source are optimized using the response surface method. The effects of heat source amplitude, half period, and rotation speed on the heat release time and heat release rate of LHTES are investigated, and corresponding quadratic regression equations are fitted. The optimized structure (rotation speed = 0.5 rpm, amplitude = 7.5 K, half-cycle = 100) obtained through the response surface method reduced the solidification time by 12.45% compared to the initial structure (rotation speed = 0.3 rpm, amplitude = 7.5 K, half-cycle = 100). The average temperature response and heat release rate increased by 28.34% and 16.25%, respectively. The sensible heat and total heat release within one solidification cycle increased by 12.17% and 1.87%, respectively. This study lays the foundation for the optimization design of LHTES systems and the integrated application of Organic Rankine Cycle.

Highly matched porous MXene anodes and graphene cathodes for high-performance aqueous asymmetric supercapacitors

Aqueous asymmetric supercapacitors (ASCs) provide promising prospects for electronic systems in the future that require high energy density, power density and cycling life, due to their advantages such as low cost, safe operation and environmental friendliness. However, developing well-matched anodes and cathodes with complementary potential windows and coordinated charge storage kinetics remains a significant challenge. Here, we constructed porous MXene- and graphene-based films with nitrogenous and phosphorous terminals as anodes and cathodes, respectively, alleviating the restacking of nanosheets, generating more electrochemical active sites and improving the electrolyte penetration. The assembled aqueous ASCs based on the porous MXene and graphene films could achieve an excellent energy density of 26.8 Wh kg−1 at 425 W kg−1, high rate performance, and remarkable cycling stability with 97.3 % retention after 20,000 cycles. This work demonstrates a novel concept to develop high-performance aqueous ASCs by surface engineering of two-dimensional porous electrodes with matched structural and electrochemical properties.

Optimizing Energy-Efficient Communication Protocols for IoT Devices in Smart Cities Using Narrowband IoT and LTE-M Technology

In the context of optimizing energy-efficient communication protocols for IoT devices in smart cities, this research addresses the pressing need for sustainable and reliable solutions. The research provides a comprehensive understanding of the strategies that contribute to minimizing energy consumption in smart city IoT deployments, with a specific focus on Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) technology. Employing a structured framework and an integrated system architecture, incorporating LTE-M technology and an application server, the research leverages various optimization strategies. These include Adaptive Power Control, Duty Cycling, Data Aggregation, Protocol Optimization, and Network Topology Optimization. Methodologically, the study adopts a quantitative approach, utilizing metrics such as duty cycle percentages and energy consumption reductions. Data is collected through simulations and experiments, and the analysis involves assessing the impact of each optimization strategy on energy efficiency. Key findings demonstrate significant reductions in energy consumption, ranging from 15% to 25%, depending on the specific strategy employed. Adaptive Power Control and Network Topology Optimization emerge as particularly effective approaches. The implications of these findings underscore the importance of adopting tailored optimization strategies in smart city IoT deployments to achieve both energy efficiency and reliability. The study discusses the broader significance of these results and acknowledges potential limitations, paving the way for future research endeavors in the realm of sustainable and resource-conserving smart cities.

Functional Electrolyte Additives for Sodium‐Ion and Sodium‐Metal Batteries: Progress and Perspectives

AbstractSodium‐based rechargeable batteries are considered one of the strongest contenders for the next generation of power storage devices. Functional electrolytes with additives play a crucial role in influencing the electrochemical performance of sodium‐based batteries. The addition of small doses of additives can greatly enhance the electrolyte, improving energy density, cycling performance, and safety. This paper presents an overview of recent research focused on novel additives for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) and sodium‐metal batteries (SMBs). The additives are categorized based on their specific functions, including film‐forming, flame retardant, overcharge protection, high‐voltage, acid and water removal, inhibition of gas production, high and low temperature and protection of sodium metal anode. The working mechanisms for these additives are thoroughly explained. Finally, potential future research directions are proposed.

Organic Anodes with Nearly 100% Initial Coulombic Efficiency Enabled by Wet‐Chemically Constructed Artificial Solid‐Electrolyte Interphase Film toward High‐Energy‐Density Organic Full Batteries

AbstractLithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) built on inorganic anodes have achieved great commercial success. By contrast, the practical application of organic anode materials encounters key bottlenecks including electronic insulation, high solubility, and poor initial coulombic efficiency (ICE). Among them, improving ICEs (normally 30–60%) faces enormous challenges in both theory and technology, and there has been no substantial breakthrough yet. Herein, a wet chemical pretreatment technology to increase the ICE of maleic acid (MA)‐based anodes from 43.2% to nearly 100% is proposed for the first time, and this strategy demonstrates universal applicability. Typically, the wet chemical pretreatment involves reacting with lithium‐biphenyl to form LixMA intermediates (x = 4–6) and further forming a compact artificial solid‐electrolyte interphase (SEI) film through the spontaneous reaction between active LixMA and battery organic electrolytes. This wet chemically‐constructed artificial SEI layer can almost completely suppress lithium loss in the initial cycle of the MA electrode and significantly boost the actual output energy density, rate capability, and cycling durability of MA anode‐based full batteries. Significantly, the study further demonstrated that a series of organic anode materials with high ICEs can be achieved through similar wet chemical pretreatment. This work will open up the true application of high‐ICE organic anodes in LIBs.