Potential Energy Storage Research Articles

Self-supported iron-doped nickel oxide multifunctional electrodes for highly efficient energy storage and overall water-splitting uses

Caused by complex synthesis processes, slow diffusion rates, and the formation of undesired nanostructures, it is tedious to produce a high-quality nickel oxide (NiO) electrodes for potential energy storage and water splitting applications. This paper introduces a novel chemical technique for producing self-supported iron-doped NiO electrodes having a high concentration of oxygen vacancies by utilizing different iron-based salts i.e. iron nitrate, iron chloride, iron ammonium sulfate, iron fumarate, and iron sulfate salts. After examining physical properties, the electrochemical energy storage and water splitting measurements were performed where iron nitrate precursor-mediated self-supporting Fe-NiO electrode confirms the optimum performance. Specifically, it exhibits a specific capacitance (SC) of 3302.5 Fg−1 at a current density of 5 Ag−1. The as-fabricated Fe-NiO-A//Bi2O3 asymmetric supercapacitor has a broad voltage range of 1.5 V, a remarkable volumetric-energy-density of 98.2 W hkg−1 at a power density of 900 Wkg−1, and a long-lasting cycling life with 92.6 % capacity retention after 5000 cycles at a current density of 15 Ag−1. A bifunctional Fe-NiO//Fe-NiO electrocatalyst demonstrates a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and remarkable long-term durability of 75 h without any degradation while operating at an ultra-low cell voltage of only 1.51 V, specifying importance of self-supported Fe-doped NiO electrodes for electrochemical energy storage and water splitting applications.

Multiscale nanoengineering fabrication of air electrode catalysts in rechargeable Zn-air batteries

The development of cost-effective, high-activity and stable catalysts to accelerate the sluggish kinetics of cathodic oxygen reduction/evolution reactions (ORR/OER) plays a critical part in commercialization application of rechargeable Zn-air batteries (RZABs). Herein, a multiscale nanoengineering strategy is developed to simultaneously stabilize Co-doped Fe nanoparticles originated from metal-organic framework-derived approach and atomic Fe/Co sites derived from metal nanoparticle-atomized way on N-doped hierarchically tubular porous carbon substrate. Thereinto, metal nanoparticles and single atoms are respectively used to expedite the OER and ORR. Consequently, the final material is acted as an oxygen electrode catalyst, displaying 0.684 V of OER/ORR potential gap, 260 mW cm-2 of peak power density for liquid-state RZAB, 110 mW cm-2 of peak power density for solid-state RZAB, and 1000 charge-discharge cycles without decay, which confirms great potential for energy storage and conversion applications.

Revisiting the attenuation mechanism of alkaline all-iron ion redox flow batteries

Alkaline all-iron ion redox flow batteries (RFBs) based on iron (III/II) complexes as redox pairs are considered promising devices for low-cost and large-scale energy storage. However, present alkaline all-iron ion RFBs suffer from the issue of capacity decay, and the deeper mechanisms are elusive. Here, the attenuation mechanism of alkaline all-iron ion flow batteries is investigated by the capacity-unbalance cells combining iron (III/II)-cyanide complexes (Fe(CN)6) in positive electrolyte and iron (III/II)-sulfonated triethanolamine complexes (Fe(DIPSO)) in negative electrolyte. It is found that the Fe(CN)63− shows strong oxidizing power in the alkaline medium and can oxidize the free ligands migrated from the negative electrolyte. Further studies reveal that the chemical reaction between Fe(CN)63− and free ligands is intermediated by the hydroxyl radical (•OH). This side reaction leads to the capacity imbalance, which is the root cause of capacity decay. Thanks to without irreversible decomposition and deposition of redox species, the capacity decay can be completely restored by rebalancing capacity through an oxygen exposure process, indicating a great potential for long-duration energy storage. This work clarifies the attenuation mechanism and offers insights for the subsequent optimization of alkaline all-iron ion RFBs.

Elucidating the Lithiation Process in Fe3-δO4 Nanoparticles by Correlating Magnetic and Structural Properties.

Due to their high potential energy storage, magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles have become appealing as anode materials in lithium-ion batteries. However, the details of the lithiation process are still not completely understood. Here, we investigate chemical lithiation in 70 nm cubic-shaped magnetite nanoparticles with varying degrees of lithiation, x = 0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5. The induced changes in the structural and magnetic properties were investigated using X-ray techniques along with electron microscopy and magnetic measurements. The results indicate that a structural transformation from spinel to rock salt phase occurs above a critical limit for the lithium concentration (xc), which is determined to be between 0.5< xc ≤ 1 for Fe3-δO4. Diffraction and magnetization measurements clearly show the formation of the antiferromagnetic LiFeO2 phase. Upon lithiation, magnetization measurements reveal an exchange bias in the hysteresis loops with an asymmetry, which can be attributed to the formation of mosaic-like LiFeO2 subdomains. The combined characterization techniques enabled us to unambiguously identify the phases and their distributions involved in the lithiation process. Correlating magnetic and structural properties opens the path to increasing the understanding of the processes involved in a variety of nonmagnetic applications of magnetic materials.

Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-based energy storage ceramics with excellent comprehensive performance by constructing dynamic nanoscale domains and high intrinsic breakdown strength

Lead-free ceramic-based dielectric capacitors show huge potential in electrical energy storage in pulsed power systems due to their fast charge/discharge rate, ultrahigh power density and environmental friendliness. However, unsatisfied charge/discharge performance characterized by inferior recoverable energy storage density (Wrec generally <5 J/cm3) has become a key bottleneck to restrict their applications in cutting-edge energy storage devices. In this paper, we focus on simultaneously realizing ultrahigh Wrec and efficiency (ƞ) in eco-friendly Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 (BNT)-based dielectric ceramics via chemical doping. Interestingly, highly dynamic polar nanoregions (PNRs) and nanodomains are constructed by incorporating Sr0.7Nd0.2TiO3 (SNT) into 0.94BNT-0.06BaTiO3. Of great importance, the resulting relaxor ferroelectrics (RFEs) exhibit high bulk resistivity, submicron grain size and wide band gap due to high level of SNT doping accompanying with 1 at% Nb donor doping. Therefore, excellent energy storage properties with ultrahigh Wrec∼8.08 J/cm3 and ƞ∼92.1% are achieved due to coexistence of large polarization difference (ΔP=Pmax−Pr) and giant dielectric breakdown electric field (Eb∼540 kV/cm). Furthermore, excellent temperature/frequency/cycling stability characterized by ΔWrec < ±4% and Δη < ±2% ensure the energy storage applications of the studied dielectric ceramics over an enormous range of scales.

Ion Transport Behavior in van der Waals Gaps of 2D Materials.

2D materials, with advantages of atomic thickness and novel physical/chemical characteristics, have emerged as the vital building blocks for advanced lamellar membranes which possess promising potential in energy storage, ion separation, and catalysis. When 2D materials are stacked together, the van der Waals (vdW) force generated between adjacent layered nanosheets induces the construction of an ordered lamellar membrane. By regulating the interlayer spacing down to the nanometer or even sub-nanometer scale, rapid and selective ion transport can be achieved through such vdW gaps. The further improvement and application of qualified 2D materials-based lamellar membranes (2DLMs) can be fulfilled by the rational design of nanochannels and the intelligent micro-environment regulation under different stimuli. Focusing on the newly emerging advances of 2DLMs, in this review, the common top-down and bottom-up synthesis approaches of 2D nanosheets and the design strategy of functional 2DLMs are briefly introduced. Two essential ion transport mechanisms within vdW gaps are also involved. Subsequently, the responsive 2DLMs based on different types of external stimuli and their unique applications in nanofluid transport, membrane-based filters, and energy storage are presented. Based on the above analysis, the existing challenges and future developing prospects of 2DLMs are further proposed.

Optimizing particle morphology: Atomic iron–nitrogen centers with graphitic‐N for highly efficient CO2 electroreduction

AbstractTransition metal‐coordinated nitrogen sites on carbon catalysts (M‐N‐C) hold potential for CO2 electroreduction (CO2ER), but optimal morphology and active sites are unclear. We introduce a novel approach, developing zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8)‐derived carbon catalysts with Fe‐N and graphitic‐N sites (Fe2‐NC) via molecular confinement and thermal activation. Fine‐tuning ZIF‐8 size and activation temperature yielded 44.98% active N sites. The 300 nm Fe2‐NC catalyst displayed outstanding CO2‐to‐CO conversion, with a 170 mV overpotential and 94.3% Faradaic efficiency at −0.5 V, outperforming state‐of‐the‐art materials. Enhanced CO2ER kinetics and conductivity contributed to this superiority. Results highlight the correlation between maximum CO Faradaic efficiency and cumulative Fe‐N/graphitic‐N sites, dependent on size and activation. The 300 nm Fe2‐NC in a gas diffusion electrode‐loaded flow cell achieved a 15.3‐fold CO partial current density increase. In a Zn‐CO2 battery, the 300 nm Fe2‐NC demonstrated a peak power density of 0.618 mW cm−2, showcasing energy storage potential.

A novel two-dimensional all-carbon Dirac node-line semimetal

Carbon allotropes have vast potential in various applications, including superconductivity, energy storage, catalysis, and photoelectric semiconductor devices. Recently, there has been significant research interest in exploring new carbon materials that exhibit unique electronic structures. Here, we propose a novel two-dimensional (2D) carbon allotrope called TCH-SSH-2D, which possesses a Dirac node-line (DNL) semimetallic state. The structure of TCH-SSH-2D is derived from the TCH-type Archimedean polyhedral carbon cluster units, combined with the SSH lattice model, possessing a space group of tetragonal P4/mmm. Using first-principles calculations, we demonstrate that the system is dynamically, thermodynamically, and mechanically stable. It exhibits an energetically favorable structure with no imaginary frequency in the phonon dispersion curves and elastic constants satisfying the Born-Huang stability criterion. Our findings not only contribute to a deeper understanding of the carbon allotrope family but also provide an opportunity to explore unique Dirac states in two-dimensional pure carbon systems.

WITHDRAWN: Progress in the advancement of medium- and high-entropy catalysts for high performance lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur batteries have attracted significant attention as a potential new energy storage system, thanks to their high theoretical energy density, cost-effectiveness, and environmentally friendly nature. However, the practical implementation of lithium-sulfur batteries faces inherent challenges, such as rapid capacity decay and poor cycling stability due to the dissolution of lithium polysulfides during cycling. Recent advances have made considerable progress in addressing these challenges by incorporating catalysts to facilitate redox reactions and control the shuttle effect. A notable trend in this regard is the emergence of medium- and high-entropy materials as an innovative approach to designing advanced catalysts, positioning them as promising candidates for multimetallic-based catalysts in lithium-sulfur batteries. This review examines the progress and application of medium- and high-entropy materials, including alloys, oxides, sulfides, phosphides, and prussian blue analogues, as catalysts for lithium-sulfur batteries. It explores the effects of various factors and their synergistic impacts on electrochemical performance, along with discussions on strategies of optimizing catalyst design for the improved sulfur utilization and cycling stability. Additionally, the review discusses the challenges, potential future directions, and prospects for designing medium- and high-entropy materials-based catalysts, envisioning the development of high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries for future energy storage applications.

Atomic-Scale Cryo-TEM Studies of the Electrochemistry of Redox Mediator in Li-O2 Batteries.

Rechargeable aprotic lithium (Li)-oxygen battery (LOB) is a potential next-generation energy storage technology because of its high theoretical specific energy. However, the role of redox mediator on the oxide electrochemistry remains unclear. This is partly due to the intrinsic complexity of the battery chemistry and the lack of in-depth studies of oxygen electrodes at the atomic level by reliable techniques. Herein, cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) is used to study how the redox mediator LiI affects the oxygen electrochemistry in LOBs. It is revealed that with or without LiI in the electrolyte, the discharge products are plate-like LiOH or toroidal Li2O2, respectively. The I2 assists the decomposition of LiOH via the formation of LiIO3 in the charge process. In addition, a LiI protective layer is formed on the Li anode surface by the shuttle of I3 -, which inhibits the parasitic Li/electrolyte reaction and improves the cycle performance of the LOBs. The LOBs returned to 2e- oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) to produce Li2O2 after the LiI in the electrolyte is consumed. This work provides new insight on the role of redox mediator on the complex electrochemistry in LOBs which may aid the design LOBs for practical applications.

Insight into the Storage Mechanism of Sandwich-Like Molybdenum Disulphide/Carbon Nanofibers Composite in Aluminum-Ion Batteries.

Aluminum-ion batteries (AIBs) have become a research hotspot in the field of energy storage due to their high energy density, safety, environmental friendliness, and low cost. However, the actual capacity of AIBs is much lower than the theoretical specific capacity, and their cycling stability is poor. The exploration of energy storage mechanisms may help in the design of stable electrode materials, thereby contributing to improving performance. In this work, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) was selected as the host material for AIBs, and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were used as the substrate to prepare a molybdenum disulfide/carbon nanofibers (MoS2/CNFs) electrode, exhibiting a residual reversible capacity of 53 mAh g-1 at 100 mA g-1 after 260 cycles. The energy storage mechanism was understood through a combination of electrochemical characterization and first-principles calculations. The purpose of this study is to investigate the diffusion behavior of ions in different channels in the host material and its potential energy storage mechanism. The computational analysis and experimental results indicate that the electrochemical behavior of the battery is determined by the ion transport mechanism between MoS2 layers. The insertion of ions leads to lattice distortion in the host material, significantly impacting its initial stability. CNFs, serving as a support material, not only reduce the agglomeration of MoS2 grown on its surface, but also effectively alleviate the volume expansion caused by the host material during charging and discharging cycles.

Optimized energy storage properties of Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-based lead-free ceramics by composition regulation

To meet the demand for miniaturization and integration of electronic and electrical equipments, developing dielectric capacitors with excellent energy storage properties is of utmost importance. Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-based ceramics have been investigated extensively for potential energy storage applications. However, its low breakdown strength Eb and high remnant polarization Pr limit the energy storage density and efficiency (η). Therefore, we explored a synergistic design strategy of domain control and grain size adjustment via La doping to successfully synthesize 0.8Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-0.2NaNbO3-xLa2O3 (0.8BNT-0.2NN-xLa2O3) ceramics with superior energy storage properties to overcome above issues. It shows that the composition regulation by antiferroelectric NaNbO3 results in improved disrupted long rang order ferroelectric domain structure, effectively promoting the formation of polar nanoregions, subsequently weakening Pr and enhancing relaxation behavior. The introduction of antiferroelectric NaNbO3 effectively improves the η of the system. Moreover, the grain size is decreased and densification is enhanced after La tailoring, which is beneficial for the Eb and recyclable energy storage density (Wrec). Finally, a high Wrec of 4.40 ± 0.20 J/cm3 and η of 80.1 ± 2.1% at 450 kV/cm are obtained in 0.8BNT-0.2NN-0.07La2O3 ceramic. Besides, the sample demonstrates admirable temperature stability (25–175 °C) and frequency stability (10–100 Hz). Simultaneously, it displays stable discharge energy density, rapid discharge time of 0.36 μs, and good fatigue endurance (105 cycles). The results offer useful guidance for the design of novel ceramic capacitors with comprehensive energy storage performance.

Coordinated scheduling of integrated electricity, heat, and hydrogen systems considering energy storage in heat and hydrogen pipelines

The increasing interdependency of electricity, heat, and hydrogen sectors in recent years provides a growing incentive to make use of the possible synergies obtained when coordinating these energy sectors from the perspective of an integrated energy system (IES). However, coordinated scheduling frameworks remain poorly developed for integrated electricity, heat, and hydrogen systems, and the energy storage potentials in heat and hydrogen pipelines have not been quantitatively analyzed. The present work addresses these issues by separately analyzing the energy storage value provided by district heat systems (DHSs) and hydrogen transmission systems (HTSs). These storage potentials are applied to develop an operation model that considers the delay characteristics of heat pipelines and hydrogen pipeline storage. Then, we develop a coordinated scheduling model for a power–heat–hydrogen IES. The analysis is facilitated by quantifying the value of energy storage in heat pipelines and hydrogen pipelines in terms of operation costs. Finally, a case study is conducted to verify the necessity of accounting for the dynamic energy storage potentials of the DHS and HTS during IES optimization. Numerical results verify the economic value of comprehensive consideration of heat and hydrogen pipeline storage, which results in higher operational flexibility of IES with lower operating cost and reduced wind power curtailment.

NiFe layered double hydroxide (LDH) anchored, Fe single atom and nanoparticle embedded on nitrogen-doped carbon-CNT (carbon nanotube) framework as a bifunctional catalyst for rechargeable zinc-air batteries

Zinc-air batteries (ZAB) have significant potential for practical energy storage, but their rechargeability has been limited by the lack of a suitable bifunctional catalyst. Here, we developed NiFe LDH-A-Fe/NC-CNT, a remarkable bifunctional catalyst that is built on a hierarchically porous nitrogen-doped carbon and carbon nanotube (NC-CNT) framework enriched with iron single atoms and nanoparticles, with nickel‑iron layered double hydroxides (NiFe LDH) anchored onto it. The NiFe LDH-A-Fe/NC-CNT exhibited remarkable performance in the ORR, with Eonset of 0.94 V, a half-wave potential of 0.84 V, and a limited current of 6.89 mA cm−2. A remarkable Eonset of 1.47 V and a potential of 1.59 V at 10 mA cm−2 (Ej = 10) in the OER were also observed. Significantly, the difference in potential (ΔE) between the ORR and OER was only 0.74 V. The stability tests, tolerance assessments, and poisoning experiments consistently demonstrated the superior performance of this cutting-edge catalyst in comparison to the commercial Pt/C and RuO2. In ZAB tests, it achieves a discharge capacity of 818 mAhg−1 and an impressive power density of 293 mWcm−2, enduring nearly 1000 cycles (320h). Flexible ZABs with this catalyst maintain a 629 mAhg−1 capacity, a power density of 195 mWcm−2, and a lifespan of 95 h (280 cycles), outperforming benchmark catalysts. In conclusion, a remarkable bifunctional catalyst was synthesized, demonstrating its immense capacity for utilization in zinc-air batteries.

Machine learning in clarifying complex relationships: Biochar preparation procedures and capacitance characteristics

Supercapacitors as a new type of energy storage device play an important role in the development of renewable energy. Activated biochar-based electrode materials has good energy storage potential because of useful physicochemical properties and renewability. The optimal preparation method for biochar-based electrodes for supercapacitors is difficult to determine experimentally due to the complexity of influencing factors. Therefore, three machine learning models were developed to describe the relationship between the preparation process and the energy storage characteristics of activated biochar. The Gradient Boosting Regression (GBR) model provided the best prediction, with an R2 value of 0.93. Interestingly, the heating rate was the most important factor affecting the specific capacitance of activated biochar and showed a significant negative correlation, with a feature importance of 35.08 %. In addition, Micropore volume proportion and specific surface area showed a significant positive correlation with specific capacitance, with feature importance of 15.39 % and 9.23 %, respectively. Significantly, the specific capacitance could be improved by increasing the added amount of N source and activator and a higher activation temperature, as well as using a shorter activation time and slower heating rate during preparation. This study provides new insights into the applications of activated biochar for energy storage through data analysis.

NiFe2O4 nanoparticles as highly efficient catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction and energy storage in supercapacitor

Nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) nanostructures (NSs) were synthesized via a low-cost and reproducible co-precipitation method. The as-synthesized material was annealed at different temperatures to investigate electrochemical performances for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and energy storage capacity. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern confirmed the cubic structure of NiFe2O4 (NF) NSs. The decreased agglomeration and increased particle size were observed by field effect scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with annealing temperature. The presence of Ni–O and Fe–O bonds at tetrahedral and octahedral sites was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The electrochemical analysis studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) demonstrated that the NF NSs annealed at 900 °C exhibited impressive electrochemical activity with a specific capacitance of ∼136 F/g, outperforming samples synthesized at lower temperatures. Moreover, the electrode material displayed excellent long-term stability over 3000 cycles for ORR activity. The remarkable electrochemical performance of NF NSs at higher annealing temperatures highlights their potential for future energy storage and conversion devices.

Platinum-Modified Mixed Metal Oxide Electrodes for Efficient Chloralkaline-Based Energy Storage

In this work, a series of novel mixed metal oxide (MMO) electrodes with the composition Ti/RuO2Sb2O4Ptx (0 ≤ x ≤ 10.0) were developed, envisaging their application in a reversible electrochemical cell based on the chloralkaline process as an energy storage system. These electrodes were synthesized via the ionic liquid method. Comprehensive physical, chemical, and electrochemical characterizations were conducted to evaluate their performance. The feasibility of employing these electrodes within reversible processes was explored, using the products generated during the electrolytic operation of the system for fuel cell operation. During the electrolyzer operation, higher current densities resulted in enhanced current efficiencies for the production of oxidized chlorine species. Notably, the presence of platinum in the catalyst exhibited a negligible impact on the coulombic efficiency at low current densities where water oxidation predominates. However, at higher current densities, the presence of platinum significantly improved coulombic efficiency, approaching values of approximately 60%. Transitioning to a fuel cell operation, despite the improved kinetic performance associated with a higher platinum content, the process efficiency was predominantly governed by ohmic losses. Curiously, the MMO electrode made without platinum (Ti/(RuO2)70-(Sb2O4)30) displayed the lowest ohmic losses. This study establishes optimal conditions for future investigations into this promising possibility, which holds great potential for energy storage via chloralkaline-based reversible reactions.

Regulating the coordination environment of atomically dispersed Fe-N4 moieties in carbon enables efficient oxygen reduction for Zn-air batteries

Fe-N-C single-atom catalysts exhibit the highest oxygen reduction reaction catalytic activity among reported transition metal-based SACs. However, the intrinsic activity of atomically dispersed Fe-N4 moieties in carbon limits the ORR catalytic activity of current Fe-N-C. This work describes a simple method for synthesizing single-atom catalysts with atomically dispersed FeN4CxSy active sites, referred to as FeZ-N/S0.6-C. It also developed a radical polymerization approach to encapsulate ZnCl2 and [Fe(Phen)3]3+ within a polyacrylamide matrix. Due to abundant -CO and –NH2 groups in polyacrylamide, the Zn2+ and Fe complexes could be evenly distributed throughout the polymer. Subsequent one-step pyrolysis allowed the generation of nitrogen-sulfur co-doped catalysts with well-defined pore structures and uniform active sites. The introduction of S atoms by ammonium persulfate extended the Fe-N bond of the Fe-N4 moiety, while the ZnCl2 template aided in fine-tuning the channels within the catalyst. As a result, the FeZ-N/S0.6-C catalyst showed a record high half-wave potential (E1/2 = 0.93 V vs. RHE) among the reported non-noble metal catalysts regulated by S elements. Moreover, FeZ-N/S0.6-C-based aqueous Zn-air and quasi-solid Zn-air batteries achieved excellent performance and showed great application potential in energy storage and conversion devices. This work provides a new approach to encapsulate metal ions in polymers and optimize the single-atom catalyst structure by heteroatom doping to enhance the performance for sustainable applications.

Ni foam-supported Cu0.33Co0.67Se2 and modified NiCo-layered double hydroxide nanoarray composites for high-energy-density hybrid supercapacitors

High-performance supercapacitors, valued for their extended operational lifespan and remarkable power density, have garnered significant attention as potential energy storage solutions. Nevertheless, their practical application has been impeded by the limited energy density and unsatisfied rate capability of conventional electrode materials. To address these challenges, we developed an effective approach for crafting a composite material, featuring a core-shell nanostructure comprised of dodecyl sulfate (DS) ions intercalated Cu0.33Co0.67Se2/NiCo-DS-LDH nanostructures. The synergistic inter-component effect between copious active sites of Cu–Co–Se and DS-modified NiCo-LDH readily boosts the high specific capacity as ∼488 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 with an enhanced capacity retention of ∼36.3%. In this material system, the Cu0.33Co0.67Se2/NiCo-DS-LDH cathode-integrated hybrid supercapacitor device, with the N, S co-doped porous carbon anode achieves an energy density of ∼54.4 Wh kg−1 at a power density of ∼801 W kg−1. These exceptional electrochemical performances can be attributed to the combinatorial effect of the high conductivity of the Ni network, the high activity of the bimetallic selenide, and the expanded interlayer spacing of the NiCo-LDH. The current work presents a newly developed strategy for the design of promising transition metal-based composites with a rational architecture, offering significant potential for next-generation energy storage systems.

Thioacetamide Additive Homogenizing Zn Deposition Revealed by In Situ Digital Holography for Advanced Zn Ion Batteries

HighlightsDigital holography can realize the in situ observation of electrode/electrolyte interface and provide dynamic evolution information of the liquid phase of electrode, which is both efficient and effective in investing the interficial electrochemical mechanism and screening electrolyte additives.Thioacetamide electrolyte additive effectively enhances the electrochemical performance of Zn anode by regulating the interficial ion flux to induce dendrite-free Zn deposition and constructing adsorption molecule layers to inhibit side reactions.