Anode Modification Research Articles

Hydrophobic conjugated microporous polymer with hierarchical porous structure for multifunctional modification of Zn metal anodes

Hydrophobic conjugated microporous polymer with hierarchical porous structure for multifunctional modification of Zn metal anodes

Surface modification of lithium metal anode using polar polymer-in-ceramic electrolytes by grafting of anti-perovskite for inhibition dendrite growth

Surface modification of lithium metal anode using polar polymer-in-ceramic electrolytes by grafting of anti-perovskite for inhibition dendrite growth

Zincophilic MOF with N-functional groups for interfacial modification of stable aqueous zinc metal anodes

A two-dimensional zinc-based MOF (ZHPCA) was synthesized and employed as the interface modification layer of Zn anode, and the N-functional groups in ZHPCA can be used as binding sites for zinc ion deposition.

Bimetallic Modification Strategy: Ultra‐Thin Ni‐Ag Coating Prepared via One‐Step Method Enables Highly Reversible Zn Anode

ABSTRACTFor aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs), Zn dendritic growth and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) usually result in the severe degradation of bare Zn anodes. Although the alloy‐modified anodes can improve the reversibility of the Zn plating/stripping process, the regulation of alloy components is too complex to meet the requirements for large‐scale fabrication. Herein, a Ni‐Ag bimetallic coating on Zn foils (Ni‐Ag@Zn) is prepared by magnetron co‐sputtering. Owing to this bimetallic coating with the ultrathin thickness of 200 nm, the cycling life of Ni‐Ag@Zn‐based symmetric cells attains more than 5000 h at current density of 1 mA/cm2 and areal capacity of 1 mA h/cm2, exceeding most of the reported binary/ternary‐alloy‐based symmetric cells. To the suppression of dendrite growth and HER, the regulation mechanism of the bimetallic coating on Zn deposition is assigned to the synergistic effect, the suppressed HER by the strong adsorption of Ag with H ions and the flatted Zn deposition via the strong adsorption of Ni/Ag with Zn ions. To our knowledge, both the bimetallic and ultrathin features have not been reported to optimize the anodes for AZIBs. The present bimetallic coating strategy renders the diversification of anode modification for the commercialization of high‐performance AZIBs.

Enhancing Performance of Microbial Fuel Cell by Binder-Free Modification of Anode with Reduced Graphene Oxide through One-Step Electrochemical Exfoliation and In Situ Electrodeposition.

As the core component of microbial fuel cells, the conductivity and biocompatibility of anode are hard to achieve simultaneously but significantly influence the power generation performance and the overall cost of microbial fuel cells. Stainless steel felt has a low price and high conductivity, making it a potential anode for the large-scale application of microbial fuel cells. However, its poor biocompatibility limits its application. This study provides a one-step binder-free modification method of a stainless steel felt anode with reduced graphene oxide to retain the high conductivity while greatly improving biocompatibility. The maximum power density achieved by reduced graphene oxide modified stainless steel felt was 951.89 mW/m2, 5.49 and 1.91 times higher than the unmodified stainless steel felt anode and reduced graphene oxide coated stainless steel felt by Nafion, respectively. The robust reduced graphene oxide modification markedly improved the biocompatibility by forming a uniform biofilm and utilizing the high conductivity of reduced graphene oxide to enhance the charge transfer rate. It led to 92.7 and 37.9% decreases in charge transfer resistance of reduced graphene oxide modified stainless steel felt compared to the unmodified one and the anode modified with reduced graphene oxide by Nafion, respectively. The excellent performance and green synthesis method of the anode validated its potential as a high-performance anode material for scaled-up microbial fuel cell applications.

Buried interface engineering towards stable zinc anodes for high-performance aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

The dendrite and corrosion issues still remain for zinc anodes. Interface modification of anodes has been widely used for stabilizing zinc anodes. However, it is still quite challenging for such modification to simultaneously suppress zinc dendrites and corrosion issues. Herein, we propose a new strategy of buried interface engineering to effectively stabilize Zn anodes, in which a zincophilic Sn layer is buried by a corrosion-resistant ZnS layer (SZS). The buried Sn layer has a strong adsorption energy towards Zn atoms, which accelerates the nucleation of Zn atoms and induces smooth deposition. Meanwhile, the outer ZnS layer protects the newly deposited zinc layer from the corrosion by the electrolyte. As a result, the SZS@Zn symmetric cell demonstrates stable cycling for over 280h compared to Bare Zn (41h) at a high current of 10mAcm-2 and a high areal capacity of 10mAhcm-2. Besides, SZS@Zn//MnO2 full cells also achieve enhanced long-term cycling stability of 63.6% for 1000 cycles at a high rate of 10C, compared to Bare Zn (47.2%). This work provides a new strategy of buried interface for the rational design of highly stable metal anodes for other metal batteries.

Enhanced bioenergy recovery by innovative application of chia seeds nanopowder for anode modification in microbial fuel cell treating hospital wastewater

ABSTRACT Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are new bioelectrochemical techniques for conversion of organic waste materials into energy depending on the metabolic activity of the anodic biofilm, which acts as the biocatalyst in the anode compartment. Hence, the anode material is a priority for better growth of bacterial species and electrical conductivity as well. In this study, an innovative application of Chia seeds nanopowder (CSNP) was carried out for the first time with acid-activated multiwall carbon nanotubes (functionalised MWCNTs) for anode nanomodification by overlaying the surfaces of the graphite anodes (GA) in MFCs fuelled with real hospital wastewater (HWW). Two tubular-enclosed dual-chamber MFCs were constructed, setup and operated in a continuous mode for 3 months. MFC1 was assembled with CSNP/MWCNTs-GA, whereby MFC2 was assembled with MWCNTs-GA. The results revealed higher power output up to 2202.73 mW/m3 observed in MFC1 compared to 1271.57 mW/m3 in MFC2. The efficiencies of organic content (COD) removal were 86.1% and 82.9% obtained in MFC1 and MFC2, respectively. Although both efficiencies of COD removal were relatively comparable, however, a remarkable increase in COD removal efficiency was achieved in MFC1. These observations indicated the potential role of CSNP for enhancing the biofilm growth and increasing the electrode conductivity.

Enhancing Electrochemical Performance through Anode Modification Strategies in Aqueous Zn Battery System

Commercial Li-ion batteries are widely applied in everyday life and industries, but there are some limitations in terms of low energy density/safety issues and unstable supply of resources. As an alternative to Li-ion batteries, aqueous Zn batteries have gained attention due to the abundance of Zn metal, low reduction potential (– 0.76 V vs. standard hydrogen electrode), and high theoretical capacity (820 mAh g–1) of multivalent Zn2+ ion.However, the growth of Zn dendrites on anode surface and the formation of irreversible surface reaction byproducts poses challenges for ensuring long battery lifespan and commercialization. Common approaches to controlling performance degradation factors at the anode include functional surface coatings, electrolyte optimization, etc. In this presentation, we will discuss the effects of anode surface coating techniques and the effects of electrolyte additive conducted by our research group to enhance the performance of aqueous Zn batteries. We will elucidate the basis of our improvement strategies by conducting simultaneous (electro)chemical analyses. Additionally, we will introduce advanced techniques such as operando imaging/computational method to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of uniform Zn deposition.The significance of the experimental results lies in the improved performance of aqueous Zn battery system by anode modification. We anticipate that the result will have a significant impact on the future development of aqueous Zn battery systems. Figure 1

High Voltage Li-Ion Batteries: Identical Additives but Different Impacts in EC-Based vs. EC-Free Electrolytes

Specific energy and energy density of conventional LiNixCoyMn z O2 (NCM) || graphite Li-ion batteries can be increased via further increase of the charge voltage, e.g., to 4.5 V, however is typically accompanied by a sudden and rapid capacity fade, literature-known as “rollover” failure. This cell failure is the result of plated lithium, e.g., Li dendrites, triggered in the course of electrode cross-talk, i.e., dissolution of transition metals (TMs) from the cathode and deposition on the anode.[1] Interestingly, elimination of the apparently essential ethylene carbonate (EC) from a state-of-the-art electrolyte, i.e., from 1.0 M LiPF6 in a 3:7 mixture (by wt.) of EC and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) prevents this failure.[2] While the oxidative stability on the cathode side is similar in both electrolytes, as indicated by a decomposition plateau at 5.5 V vs. Li|Li+, the anode side in the EC-free electrolyte reveals significantly less TM deposits and Li metal dendrites compared to the EC-based electrolyte. The support of analytical and visual techniques demonstrates a pronounced increase in the amount of degraded LiPF6 species (Li x PO y F z ), which are shown to effectively trap dissolved TMs and increase cycle life by suppressing the detrimental cross-talk (Figure 1). It is also validated in EC-based electrolytes simply via (1) electrolyte additive based on this species, i.e.., lithium difluorophosphate (LiDFP),[3] and via forced LiPF6 decomposition, either (2) at higher storage temperature[4] or (3) via reaction with coated separator[5]. Given its toxicity disadvantage,[6] other strategies, like electrolyte additives, cathode modifications, e.g., single crystal NCM,[7] cathode coatings,[8] or even anode modifications are discussed, as well.[9] The different impacts of respective additives in EC-based vs. EC-free electrolytes are discussed. Reference s : [1] S. Klein, P. Bärmann, T. Beuse, K. Borzutzki, J. E. Frerichs, J. Kasnatscheew, M. Winter, T. Placke ChemSusChem. 2021, 14, 595-613.[2] S. Klein, S. van Wickeren, S. Röser, P. Bärmann, K. Borzutzki, B. Heidrich, M. Börner, M. Winter, T. Placke, J. Kasnatscheew Advanced Energy Materials. 2021, 11, 2003738.[3] S. Klein, P. Harte, S. van Wickeren, K. Borzutzki, S. Roser, P. Barmann, S. Nowak, M. Winter, T. Placke, J. Kasnatscheew Cell Reports Physical Science. 2021, 2.[4] S. Klein, P. Harte, J. Henschel, P. Barmann, K. Borzutzki, T. Beuse, S. van Wickeren, B. Heidrich, J. Kasnatscheew, S. Nowak, M. Winter, T. Placke Advanced Energy Materials. 2021, 11.[5] S. Klein, J. M. Wrogemann, S. van Wickeren, P. Harte, P. Barmann, B. Heidrich, J. Hesper, K. Borzutzki, S. Nowak, M. Borner, M. Winter, J. Kasnatscheew, T. Placke Advanced Energy Materials. 2022, 12.[6] M. Kubot, L. Frankenstein, E. Muschiol, S. Klein, M. Esselen, M. Winter, S. Nowak, J. Kasnatscheew ChemSusChem. 2023, 16, e202202189.[7] S. Klein, P. Bärmann, O. Fromm, K. Borzutzki, J. Reiter, Q. Fan, M. Winter, T. Placke, J. Kasnatscheew J. Mater. Chem. A. 2021, 9, 7546-7555.[8] S. Klein, L. Haneke, P. Harte, L. Stolz, S. van Wickeren, K. Borzutzki, S. Nowak, M. Winter, T. Placke, J. Kasnatscheew ChemElectroChem. 2022, 9, e202200469.[9] S. Klein, P. Barmann, L. Stolz, K. Borzutzki, J. P. Schmiegel, M. Borner, M. Winter, T. Placke, J. Kasnatscheew ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 2021, 13, 57241-57251. Figure 1

Electrochemically enhanced hydrophobic modification of La-doped PbO2 anode by peroxymonosulfate for ceftazidime removal

In this study, a novel electrochemical anode-activated PMS system was constructed to degrade ceftazidime (CAZ) by peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-enhanced modified anode material, BTNA/Sb-SnO2/β-PbO2-La-PVDF. Numerous catalytically active sites are provided by doping La elemental and the hydrophobic alteration of PVDF, which can also facilitate the reaction process. In the PMS system, the anode of BTNA/Sb-SnO2/β-PbO2-La-PVDF has an oxidation rate of 1.3 (3.278×10–2 min-1). The oxidation rate was 1.4 times higher than in the non-PMS system and 1.3 times higher than before the modification. Moreover, the synergistic effect of BTNA/Sb-SnO2/β-PbO2-La-PVDF anode and PMS activation produced a synergistic effect on CAZ degradation, which was mainly reflected in the direct electron transfer of CAZ to PMS occurring on the surface of the BTNA/Sb-SnO2/β-PbO2-La-PVDF anode, and the contribution of free radicals to the degradation, respectively, was •OH (50.98 %), SO4•- (19.92 %), 1O2 (16.36 %) and other radicals (12.74 %). In addition, the effects of operating parameters (PMS concentration, current density, and initial pH) and electrolyte types on the removal of CAZ by the BTNA/Sb-SnO2/β-PbO2-La-PVDF-PMS system were investigated. Meanwhile, we predicted the possible degradation pathways for degrading CAZ. Based on the BTNA/Sb-SnO2/β-PbO2-La-PVDF, an electrochemical anode-activated PMS system is expected to provide an idea for efficient degradation of natural pharmaceutical wastewater.

Altering the Solid Electrolyte Interface Through Surface-Modification of Lithium Metal Anode for High-Voltage Lithium Battery

The physical structure and chemical composition of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) affect the performance of the lithium metal anode. The tuning of the chemical composition and structure of the SEI through the surface modification of the lithium metal anode has been conducted. A series of dicarboxylic acids, oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, and adipic acid have been utilized to modify the surface of the lithium anode. Physical characterization methods have been employed to study the surface morphology and chemical composition of the SEI. Symmetrical (Li/Li) and asymmetrical (NMC622/Li) cells with pristine lithium and surface modified lithium electrodes have been assembled and tested. NMC622/Li cell with surface modified lithium shows improved performance compared to that of pristine lithium. Malonic acid-treated lithium outperforms all the electrodes by retaining 141 mAh g−1 specific capacity even after 100 cycles of charge-discharge. XPS depth profiling analysis reveals that the SEI on the MA-Li contains evenly distributed organic and inorganic components which are responsible for the performance of MA-Li.

Tin-based dual-modification enabling enhanced air stability and electrochemical performance for Li5.5PS4.5Cl1.5 in all-solid-state lithium metal batteries

As one of sulfide electrolytes, chlorine-rich lithium argyrodites (Li5.5PS4.5Cl1.5) have significant advantages as solid state electrolytes (SSEs) in all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) due to their ultra-high conductivity. However, their practical application is limited by poor air stability and weak compatibility with Li metals. Herein, we enhance the performance of Li5.5PS4.5Cl1.5 by doping it with SnO2, resulting in the formation of the Li5.58P0.92Sn0.08S4.34O0.16Cl1.5 electrolyte. The introduction of Sn and O dopants forms strong Sn-S and P-O bonds in the electrolyte, replacing the sensitive P-S bonds and suppressing H2S release. Additionally, this doped electrolyte demonstrates an impressive Li-ion conductivity of 5.71 mS cm−1, a high critical current density of 2.9 mA cm−2, and significantly improved air and moisture stability. Moreover, the Sn dopant produces a Li-Sn alloy layer on the bare Li metal anode, endowing the ASSB with an initial discharge capacity of 146.7 mAh/g at 0.2C and a capacity retention of 86.2 % after 200 cycles at 0.5C. Combining with a 10 wt% SnF2-treated Li metal anode to further strengthen the electrode interfacial stability by the in-situ formed Li-Sn and LiF derivatives, the resultant full cell delivers a promoted initial discharge capacity of 179.5 mAh/g at 0.2C and a high discharge capacity of 112.2 mAh/g after 300 cycles at 0.5C. The dual strategy of electrolyte doping and Li anode modification achieves a synergistic effect that enables the ASSB to exhibit superior electrochemical performance, providing an effective way of preparing stable sulfide-based SSEs for large-scale applications.

Effect of electrochemical anodic oxidation modification on the interfacial properties of carbon fiber reinforced polyimide composites

Effect of electrochemical anodic oxidation modification on the interfacial properties of carbon fiber reinforced polyimide composites

Ultrasonication-Boosted Resorcinol-Formaldehyde Resin Nanoparticle Bromine Fixation and Corresponding Upgraded Aquatic Applications.

Bromine (Br2) and related species removal from water systems are rather complicated due to the complicated chemistry instability, and materials with high Br2 removal rate and efficiency, along with stimuli/apparatus suitable for highly corrosive environments, are necessary. Ultrasonication as a non-destructive process is especially suitable in scenarios where conventional stir apparatus is not applicable, such as highly corrosive environments. Considering the validity nature of Br2 and combining the advantages of ultrasonic with a highly stable Br2 fixation method through aromatic polymer nanoparticles, we demonstrate highly efficient acoustic-aided Br2 removal in aqueous solutions with two times capacity compared to the non-treated sample. Related aquatic applications are also proposed for the materials to be cost-effective, including silver (Ag) recovery, recyclable MnO2-mediated Br2 deep removal, and aqueous zinc anode modification. The coupled novel-material-based processes motivate the strategic design of water purification with high-safety and sustainable industrial procedures and post-value-added utilizations.

Study on an Interpenetrating Artificial SEI for Lithium Metal Anode Modification and Fast Charging Characterization.

Artificial SEI is one of the effective strategies to improve lithium dendrites and suppress side reactions. However, the role of SEI components and distribution on the modification of the lithium metal anode remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, the oxygen-sulfur (O-S) component and its distribution in SEI were modulated by designing experiments, and then the mechanism of its action was deeply investigated. The study is based on an in-depth analysis of the properties of lithium sulfide (Li2S) and lithium oxide (Li2O) as SEI layer materials and effectively combines them in an ether electrolyte environment to form an innovative SEI structure. The experimental results show that the optimal SEI modulation condition is O120-S10. O120-S10 significantly improves the kinetic performance of electrochemical reactions, reduces the film resistance, and achieves cycling stability of up to 2100 h during high-capacity lithium deposition/stripping at 5 mAh cm-2. When used in conjunction with a ternary cathode material (NCM811), the O120-S10 demonstrates excellent performance under high rate charge/discharge conditions at 10C. After 1500 cycle tests, the battery's specific capacity was maintained at 90 mAh g-1 and the Coulombic efficiency reached 98.52%. Through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, the vertical structure and ratio distribution of components in SEI were revealed in detail, and the optimal component ratios of Li2S 46.48%, Li2O 46.02%, and Li2CO3 7.50% were determined. The mechanism of action is to achieve a 1 + 1 > 2 superlinear synergistic effect and fast charging performance by combining the ability of Li2O's low lithium ion diffusion barrier with Li2S's ability to inhibit the growth of lithium dendrites.

Cu-doped Fe3O4 supported on porous NC-coated carbon cloth for robust flexible nickel–iron batteries

The pursuit of safe, cost-efficient, environment-friendly and portable energy storage devices has greatly stimulated the exploitation of aqueous flexible batteries that are green and stable. Ni-Fe aqueous batteries have become an ideal choice for flexible energy storage devices due to the advantages such as large theoretical capacity, good safety and low cost. In this work, Fe3O4 is chosen as the active material for the anode of Ni-Fe batteries, which is grown on a modified carbon cloth of PNC/CC with a coating layer of porous nitrogen-carbon. The PNC/CC, as a flexible current collector, has higher hydrophilicity, porosity and conductivity. To further improve the electronic conductivity, ionic adsorption ability, morphology and capacity of the Fe3O4 anode, Cu2+ is added during Fe3O4 growth, which not only brings more homogeneous and full coverage of spherical Cu/Fe3O4 particles on PNC/CC, but also greatly lowers its electrode–electrolyte charge transfer resistivity, increases its ionic diffusion and accelerates its redox reaction activity. With optimized electrochemical reactions, the Cu/Fe3O4@PNC/CC anode shows a much higher capacity of 170.7 mAh/g than bare Fe3O4/CC anode (1 A/g). Solid-state aqueous Ni-Fe batteries are assembled using the Cu/Fe3O4@PNC/CC anode and a NiCoLDH cathode, exhibiting a capacity of 88.56 mAh/g at 1 A/g, capacity retention of 88.19 % during 2000 cycles, as well as the energy density reaching 96.6 Wh kg−1 and the power density reaching 9.7 kW kg−1. Moreover, flexible Ni-Fe battery devices are also fabricated, which can maintain relatively stable electrochemical performance at various bending angles and low temperatures. This works brings some insights for the synthesis and modification of Fe3O4-based anodes for flexible and solid-state Ni-Fe batteries.

Enhancing microbial fuel cell performance for distillery wastewater treatment and bioelectricity generation: harnessing niacin as a redox mediator.

The role of redox mediators in improving electron transport from electrochemically active bacteria to the anode is crucial for enhanced bioelectricity output from microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which makes the selection of an ideal mediator very important. This study aims at exploring a new redox mediator niacin (vit B3) for enhanced bioelectricity generation in MFC while treating distillery wastewater through facile modification of anode electrode by niacin doping (MFC-NME) and simple application of niacin to the anolyte (MFC-NAA). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) of NME confirmed the effective adsorption of niacin onto the carbon felt surface. Notably, MFC-NME exhibited a significantly higher power density (PD) of 6.36 W/m3 compared to MFC-NAA (4.59 W/m3) and control MFC (3.49W/m3). The charge transfer resistance (RCT) in MFC-NME (1.73 Ω) and MFC-NAA (2.06 Ω) were lowered by more than half than that in control MFC (4.33 Ω), which underscores the efficacy of niacin as a redox mediator. SEM analysis revealed improved bacterial attachment over the bioanode in the MFC-NME as compared to that of MFC-NAA and control MFC. Removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) was higher in MFC-NAA (85%) and MFC-NME (80%) than in control MFC (73%) suggesting that niacin in the anolyte supported greater organic matter removal due to enriched microbial activity. Niacin used in anode modification shows great potential for improved electron transfer and enhanced bioelectricity production and supports greater wastewater treatment performance. The modified bioanode NME exhibits excellent stability.

Systematic anode engineering enabling universal efficiency improvements in organic solar cells

Anode modification and optimization is crucial towards improving performance of organic solar cells (OSCs). PEDOT:PSS is the most common choice as a hole transport layer (HTL) material, but suffers from issues including low conductivity. In this work, three alkyl amine derivatives - methylamine hydrochloride (MA), ethylamine hydrochloride (EA) and propylamine hydrochloride (PA) are doped into the commercially available Al 4083 PEDOT:PSS to form PEDOT:PSS-MA, PEDOT:PSS-EA and PEDOT:PSS-PA, as modified HTLs. All these modified HTLs exhibit improved chemical and electrical properties including work functions (WF), conductivities and charge carrier motilities. The alkyl amine doping shows compatibility in both Small Molecular Acceptors and All-Polymer OSCs. With PEDOT:PSS-MA demonstrates a highest PCE of 18.49 % compared to the 17.84 % of OSC devices prepared with pristine PEDOT:PSS with the PM6:L8-BO system, while PM6:PY-IT all-polymer OSCs improve PCE from 14.53 % to 15.22 %. AFM characterizations reveal that the introduction of the dopants have smoothened the surface morphology of spin-coated HTL films, which contributes towards more efficient charge extraction. In summary, this study not only presents a method of improving OSC efficiencies, but also provides insight and further possible directions towards anode optimization of OSCs.

Facile and binder free nano-architecturing of anode with biocompatible g-C3N4-PPy for bacterial community enrichment and green energy generation in microbial fuel cells

The adoption of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) as waste-to-power solution for green energy generation while treating wastewater has attracted considerable attention. However, their wide-scale expansion requires further improvements, particularly by anode modifications which necessitates the development of anodes with large surface area, high electrical conductivity, and biocompatibility. Thus, herein, we present a novel and facile approach for the modification of carbon felt (CF) with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and polypyrrole (PPy) to create a highly biocompatible anode following a binder-free route. Increased surface area with microporous rough surface of modified electrodes was confirmed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The g-C3N4@PPy-CF anode exhibited minimal water contact angle of 0.9°, in contrast to g-C3N4-CF (53.5°) and pristine CF (123.8°), indicating enhanced hydrophilicity essential for biofilm formation. The synergy between g-C3N4 and polypyrrole results in remarkable 80.7% higher power output (205.8 ± 7.36 mW/m2) and 47% higher current response (8.24 mA) as compared to pristine-CF. Efficient extracellular electron transport (EET) was enacted through better interfacial contact between electrode and electroactive bacteria (EAB), as evidenced by the minimal charge transfer resistance in g-C3N4@PPy-CF (4.21 Ω) and g-C3N4-CF (6.47 Ω), while 68% higher resistance (7.06 Ω) with pristine-CF. Microbial characterization of biofilms showed enrichment of electroactive bacteria, mainly the Proteobacteria phylum comprised 79–82% of total microbial community in modified electrodes while it was 74% in pristine CF. Acinetobacter (25.9%) and Desulfuromonas (17.9%) emerges as major electroactive genera on g-C3N4@PPy-CF contributing to its excellent bio-electrogenic performance. Thus, the low-cost, binder-free and facilely fabricated novel anode with stable electrogenic efficiency provides solution to longstanding challenge of suboptimal anode performance and opens new avenues for scale-up of sustainable energy generation from wastewater using MFCs.

Emerging strategies for the improvement of modifications in aqueous rechargeable zinc–iodine batteries: Cathode, anode, separator, and electrolyte

AbstractAqueous rechargeable zinc–iodine batteries have gained traction as a promising solution due to their suitable theoretical energy density, cost‐effectiveness, eco‐friendliness, and safety features. However, challenges such as the polyiodide shuttle effect, low iodine cathode conductivity, zinc anode dendritic growth, and the requirement for efficient separators and electrolytes hinder their commercial prospects. Hence, this review highlights recent progress in refining the core optimization strategies of zinc–iodine batteries, focusing on enhancements to the cathode, anode, separator, and electrolyte. Cathode improvements involve the addition of inorganic, organic, and hybrid materials to counteract the shuttle effect and boost redox kinetics, where these functional materials also are applied in anode modifications to curb dendritic growth and enhance cycling stability. Meanwhile, cell separator design approaches that effectively block polyiodide shuttle while promoting uniform zinc deposition are also discussed, while electrolyte innovations target zinc corrosion and polyiodide dissolution. Ultimately, the review aims to map out a strategy for developing zinc–iodine batteries that are efficient, safe, and economical, aligning with the demands of contemporary energy storage.