The advancement of conversion-type anodes for Li/Na-ion batteries necessitates innovative strategies to synergistically address sluggish kinetics and structural degradation. Herein, a rational multi-scale engineering paradigm is proposed by constructing a MnO/MnSe-based heterostructure space-confined in a hierarchical carbon matrix. Such architecture synergizes oxygen vacancy (Vo) engineering, in situ phase-transition-driven heterointerface reconstruction, and dual-carbon space confinement. Systematic selenization control enables the formation of Vo-rich MnO coupled with metastable α-MnSe, which undergoes irreversible electrochemical transformation to conductive β-MnSe during initial cycling, creating dynamically stabilized heterointerfaces with optimized charge redistribution. First-principles calculations reveal that the α→β phase transition is thermodynamically driven by interfacial energy minimization, and the newly formed β-MnSe demonstrates robust structural stability and significantly enhanced Li/Na electrochemical kinetics. The space-confined carbon (scC) framework, integrating pyrolytic carbon and graphene confinement, orchestrates ion/electron highways while alleviating mechanical stress. The optimized MnO-Vo/β-MnSe@scC delivers exceptional rate capability and cycling performance, surpassing current state-of-the-art Mn-based anodes. This work establishes a universal materials design philosophy that couples phase transition manipulation, defect modulation, and heterointerface engineering with space hierarchical carbon confinement, providing transformative insights into overcoming intrinsic limitations of conversion materials for next-generation high-power energy storage systems.

Rechargeable Li─Cl2 batteries represent a promising high-energy-density technology. However, the open-pore structure of conventional cathode materials poses a fundamental challenge by permitting the uncontrolled diffusion of Cl2 into the electrolyte, resulting in severe local concentration dilution that plagues rate capability and specific capacity. Herein, a self-confinement strategy by hollow carbon nanoreactors (HCNRs) is proposed to regulate the local concentration of active Cl2 species with micropores (≈0.8nm) on their walls. These micropores act as size-selective barriers, allowing to block the escape of larger active Cl2 species (kinetic diameter ≈0.86nm), and mesopores (30-50nm) function as nanoreactors that concentrate active Cl2 species. This design enables the as-assembled Li─Cl2 cell to achieve an ultrahigh current density of 100mAcm-2 during the charge/discharge process and a record-breaking specific capacity of 8000 mAhg-1 (9 mAhcm-2), superior to the reported literature. This hollow nanoreactor design highlights the potential of Li─Cl2 batteries as high-power and energy-dense systems, paving the way for their practical application.

Resistive electrodes are a critical component of Micro-Pattern Gaseous Detectors (MPGDs) for dealing with discharges. This study introduces an advanced approach using germanium (Ge) thin films as resistive anodes in MPGDs. The Ge films are fabricated via vacuum thermal evaporation, which enables the production of large-area and uniform on rigid substrates. Characterization confirms the film stability for over 700 days, which is attributed to surface passivation. It also reveals an inverse correlation between resistivity and temperature. Micromegas detectors equipped with Ge resistive anodes achieve high gain, low spark rate and high rate capability. These results validate Ge-film resistive anodes as a reliable and scalable technology for improving the performance and stability of MPGDs in future particle physics experiments.

Nonaqueous lithium-carbon dioxide (Li-CO2) batteries exhibit great potential for energy storage but are limited by inherently low rate capability due to sluggish CO2 reduction kinetics arising from insufficient three-phase interfaces and product passivation layers at the electrode-electrolyte boundary. Aqueous Li-CO2 systems, leveraging gas-liquid-solid three-phase interfaces for enhanced mass transfer, offer a promising solution to mitigate kinetic bottlenecks and improve rate performance. However, the impact of the electrolyte concentration on reaction selectivity and rate-dependent behavior in such systems remains unexplored. Herein, we systematically investigate the effect of lithium bis((trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl)azanide (LiTFSI) concentration (1-21 M) on the solvation structure and electrochemical performance during the discharge process. The solvation environment is revealed to transition from a free water-dominated salt-in-water structure at low concentrations to a compact ionic cluster water-in-salt structure at high concentrations. At low salt concentrations, disordered three-dimensional deposition of CO2 reduction products and significant side reactions such as hydrogen evolution result in low electron utilization (∼15%). In contrast, the 21 M electrolyte induces the formation of a dense 2D product layer, enhancing the CO2 reduction efficiency while effectively suppressing parasitic reactions. This concentration-dependent modulation of the solvation microenvironment reduces interfacial impedance, limits free water activity, and improves Li+ transport kinetics, thereby shifting the reaction pathway from side-reaction-dominated to highly selective CO2 conversion. This work highlights electrolyte concentration as a critical knob to optimize three-phase interface dynamics, offering mechanistic insights to overcome rate-limiting barriers in both aqueous and nonaqueous Li-CO2 batteries.

Based on its advantages of high specific capacity, excellent rate capability, and low cost, Nickel-rich layered oxide cathode materials LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2 (Ni-rich NCM, x≥0.9) have become a key choice for the new energy vehicle industry. During electrochemical cycling, however, multiple phase transitions-particularly the detrimental H2-H3 transformation induces abrupt anisotropic lattice distortion along the c-axis. This leads to the formation of microcracks within Ni-rich NCM, which results in the gradual degradation of capacity retention and thermal stability. This study reports an ultra-high nickel cathode material with an in situstable rock-salt layer constructed on the surface. The NiO rock-salt layer can serve as a covering layer for the material, reducing its direct contact with the electrolyte. Additionally, due to the dispersed primary particles of single-crystal LiNi0.9Co0.05Mn0.05O2 cathodes (NCM90-S), anisotropic stress change is avoided, and crack formation is effectively suppressed during cycling, demonstrating exceptional cycle performance. Consequently, compared to polycrystalline LiNi0.9Co0.05Mn0.05O2 cathodes (NCM90-P), NCM90-S achieves superior capacity retention after 300 cycles at 1C (80.2%vs. 60.3%).

Graphitic seeding strategy enables superior ICE, high capacity and rate capability in hard carbon anodes for sodium-ion batteries

Oxygen redox pathway reconstruction via ZrO polarized layer and transition metal vacancies: a dynamic confinement strategy for high-performance sodium-ion battery.

Although graphite is widely used as the primary anode material in commercial lithium-ion batteries, it suffers from inherent limitations in specific capacity, rate capability, and long-term cycling stability. To overcome these challenges, this study successfully introduced fluorinated graphdiyne into graphite anodes via a simple and cost-effective physical mixing approach. These findings indicate that fluorinated graphdiyne modified graphite (F-G) effectively reduce the energy barrier for lithium ions migration, enhance ion diffusion within graphite electrodes, significantly reduce interfacial impedance, and suppress harmful side reactions. As a result, the cycle durability of the battery is improved. This work provides theoretical insights into the regulatory mechanism of modification on the electrochemical performance of graphite anodes, offering a new perspective for the design of high-performance lithium-ion battery materials, with certain scientific and practical significance.

Super capacitors (SCs) are significant because of their unique characteristics, which include long cycle life, high strength, and environmental friendliness. SCs use electrode substances with high specific surface area and thinner dielectrics. Referring to the energy storage mechanism, all kinds of SCs were reviewed in this review paper; a quick synopsis of the materials and technology used for SCs is provided. Materials such as conducting polymers, carbon materials, metal oxides, and their composites are the main focus. The performance of the composites was evaluated using metrics such as energy, cycle performance, power capacitance, and rate capability, which also provides information on the electrolyte materials. To precisely appraise the state of Charge (SoC) in the super SCs cell module, its identical model o is used. It is expected that this model will accurately capture the features of the cell module, specifically its standing-related self-discharge behavior, and the outcomes of parameter identification directly impact its accuracy. Engine downsizing is a result of the requirement to increase fuel efficiency and lower CO2 and other hazardous pollutant emissions from internal combustion engine cars. However, smaller turbocharged engines have a relatively poor torque capability at low engine speeds. To solve this issue, an electrical torque boost based on SCs may be used to help recover energy during regenerative braking as well as during acceleration and gear changes.

We report the first characterization results of an optical time-stamping camera based on the Timepix4 chip coupled to a fully depleted optical silicon sensor and fast image intensifier, enabling sub-nanosecond scale, time-resolved imaging for single photons. The system achieves an RMS time resolution of 0.3 ns in direct detection mode without the intensifier and from 0.6 to 1.5 ns in the single-photon regime with an intensifier for different amplitude-based signal selections. This shows that Timepix4 provides a significant improvement over previous Timepix3-based cameras in terms of timing precision, and also in pixel count and data throughput. We analyze key factors that affect performance, including sensor bias and timewalk effect, and demonstrate effective correction methods to recover high temporal accuracy. The camera's temporal resolution, event-driven readout and high rate capability make it a scalable platform for a wide range of applications, including quantum optics, ultrafast imaging, and time-correlated photon counting experiments.

Room-temperature sodium-sulfur (RT Na-S) batteries are promising candidates for large-scale energy storage owing to their high energy density and low cost, yet their practical deployment is hindered by sluggish sulfur redox kinetics and severe polysulfide shuttling. Here, guided by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we develop a class of axially oxygen-coordinated ferromagnetic single-atom catalysts (SACs) with enhanced spin polarization to accelerate sulfur conversion. Among Fe-, Co-, and Ni-based SACs, Co-N2O3 is theoretically identified as the most effective configuration, featuring an optimized electronic structure with a minimal energy offset (0.26 eV) between the Co d-band and S p-band centers, which facilitates Na+ diffusion and lowers the activation barrier for polysulfide conversion. Experimentally, Co-N2O3 atoms anchored on hollow mesoporous carbon spheres (Co-N2O3@MCS) exhibit outstanding catalytic activity as the sulfur host, achieving an ultrahigh rate capability (330.5 mAh g-1 at 10 A g-1) and excellent durability over 600 cycles at 1 A g-1. In situ characterizations reveal that the enhanced ferromagnetism effectively suppresses polysulfide shuttling, underscoring the crucial role of coordination-engineered spin polarization in boosting the redox kinetics of RT Na-S batteries.

Unveiling the mechanism of in situ construction of heterostructured SnS2@MXene/porous carbon nanofibers enabled superior lithium-ion batteries.

Dual-enhanced sodium storage: High capacity and stability performance simultaneously in SnS₂@GO anodes.

Plasma-engineered LiF/Al2O3 hybrid CEI for high-rate and stable LiFePO4 cathodes.

Lithium-rich layered oxides are promising high-capacity cathodes for lithium-ion batteries, but their commercialization is hindered by severe capacity loss and voltage decay. Herein, we develop a full concentration gradient Li-rich Mn-based layered oxide with gradually decreased Mn and increased Ni concentration from the center to the surface. The gradient material delivers exceptional cycling stability and rate capability, offering a high capacity of 216 mAh g-1 at 1 C and outstanding retention of 91.8% after 200 cycles at 2 C. To elucidate the underlying atomic-level interaction mechanism behind them, in situ magnetism characterization is employed and reveals that the gradient design effectively stabilizes Mn-O interaction and suppresses O-O dimer formation, alleviating irreversible anionic oxygen redox and undesirable structural degradation after long-term cycling. This work affords an effective gradient strategy to regulate the Mn-O interaction, opening up a new perspective for developing Li-rich Mn-based cathode materials.

ABSTRACT Hard carbons, despite their cost‐efficient production and precursor availability, face critical electrochemical performance constraints from excessive defects, limited closed‐pore structures, and poor interfacial stability. Herein, a multi‐scale structural regulation strategy is proposed to tailor both micro‐ and nanoscale architectures of polymer‐derived hard carbons for efficient sodium storage under both ambient and subzero conditions. The pitch‐modulated carbonization directs the self‐assembly of polyphosphazene (PZS) precursors into monodisperse microparticles while in situ forming nanoscale short‐range‐ordered graphitic domains. The resulting hard carbons integrate enhanced bulk conductivity, abundant closed pores, and defect‐tailored low‐surface‐area microparticles, collectively enabling an inorganic‐rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), fast Na + transport, and suppressed side reactions. The optimized sample delivers a remarkable reversible capacity (413.7 mAh g −1 at 0.05 A g −1 ) with high initial Columbic efficiency (ICE) (87.1%) and excellent rate capability. More notably, it demonstrates high reversible capacity and exceptional cycling stability at −20°C, achieving a remarkable capacity retention of 98.8% after 3000 cycles and highlighting its practical viability under extreme conditions. The sodium storage mechanisms and accelerated kinetics are revealed through various in situ characterizations and computational techniques, providing deep insights into microstructure tailoring of hard carbons for high‐performance sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs).

The isolated single-active sites of single-atom catalysts (SACs) often suffer from simultaneously maintaining the optimal adsorption states of multiple lithium polysulfide intermediates in sulfur redox reactions of Li-S batteries. Herein, we report a homo-triatomic molybdenum cluster catalyst with Mo3-O3N3 motifs embedded within a carbon matrix (Mo3/ONC) that addresses this challenge. The Mo3-O3N3 motifs with a triangular configuration feature multi-active sites and interatomic synergies, which can flexibly adjust the corresponding Mo─S pathway according to different intermediate sulfur species, thereby making the adsorption strength of all species favorable. Meanwhile, the optimized Mo─S interactions can induce more electrons to transfer from the intermediate sulfur species to the Mo3-O3N3 catalytic sites, thus weakening the S─S bond and remarkably reducing the energy barriers for the sulfur conversion. Besides, the electrochemical and in situ spectroscopic experiments disclose that the sulfur redox kinetics on Mo3/ONC is significantly improved compared to the Mo-single-atom catalyst (Mo1/ONC) counterpart. As thus, the as-designed Mo3/ONC catalyst renders the Li-S battery with a large rate capability of 661.2 mAh g-1 and a capacity decay as low as 0.027% per cycle at 10 C for 1200 cycles. This work provides a new perspective on the fundamental design principles of triatomic catalysts for improving the Li-S performance.

Lithium-carbon dioxide (Li-CO2) batteries have attracted extensive attention since they provide a distinctive approach to mitigate CO2 accumulation and simultaneously deliver high-energy-density electricity. However, an abnormally high voltage is usually applied to decompose lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) discharge products in a reversible charge direction, which leads to low energy efficiency and poor reversibility, thereby seriously hindering the advancement of Li-CO2 batteries. Herein, a novel chloride-regulated CuxO/RuCu heterostructure (CuxO-Cl/RuCu) electrocatalyst is designed and prepared for considerably reducing the decomposition barrier of Li2CO3 in Li-CO2 batteries. CuxO-Cl/RuCu is characterized by a porous octahedral microstructure with numerous Cuδ+/Cu0 heterointerfaces modified by both non-metallic Cl and metallic Ru. Thus, the CuxO-Cl/RuCu electrocatalyst with a downshifted d-band center exhibits a boosted electrocatalytic decomposition ability towards Li2CO3. The Li-CO2 battery with CuxO-Cl/RuCu displays a large discharge capacity of 8041.73 μAh cm-2, a durable cycling performance of 180 cycles, and an impressive rate capability at 200 μA cm-2, outperforming its Cu2O counterpart. The diverse characterizations after charge-discharge periods and systematic theoretical calculations further confirm the superb electrocatalytic ability and durability of CuxO-Cl/RuCu for Li2CO3 decomposition. Notably, these results offer new insights into the previously unknown role of chloride residues and a strategy to improve the performance of Cu-based electrocatalysts for Li-CO2 batteries.

Layered lithium-rich manganese oxide cathode materials (LMRO), characterized by their high theoretical specific capacity, are auspicious for lithium-ion batteries. However, low initial Coulombic efficiency, poor cycling stability, and inadequate rate capability remain significant challenges in practical applications. Herein, a strategy of surface modification coupling ion doping is developed to improve both the rate performance and cycling stability of LMRO. On the one hand, MXene was oxidized into a TiO2 coating layer for LMRO, simultaneously inducing the generation of a spinel phase on the LMRO surface. The in situ formed spinel phase provides a three-dimensional diffusion pathway for lithium ions, which greatly improves the initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and rate performance. On the other hand, aluminum doping forms a strong Al-O bond, which improves the cycling stability of LNCMAO. The obtained MXT@LNCMAO cathode materials displayed a high discharge specific capacity of 270.0 mAh/g and a commendable initial Coulombic efficiency of 91.2% at a 0.2 C current density. After 400 cycles tested at 5 C, the capacity retention rate stood at 86.1%. Therefore, the MXene surface modification coupling doping strategy has shown promising competence in enhancing the electrochemical performance, which may become a general strategy to improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries.

Cathode-solid electrolyte (SE) interfacial instability poses a major challenge for achieving stable and high-power operations in all-solid-state batteries, which promise superior energy density, thermal stability, and safety over the current Li-ion technology. For technologically important Ni-rich NMCs (LiNixMnyCozO2 or NMCxyz; x/y/z: Ni/Mn/Co stoichiometry) paired with sulfide SEs, redox-mediated instability of the SE is often blamed for rapid cathode deterioration. Here, in-depth spectroscopic and electrochemical analyses of Ni-rich NMCs with a promising sulfide SE reveal hitherto unrecognized electrochemical isolation of active NMC particles driven by rapid interfacial degradations, sparking accelerated capacity fading and poor thermal stability. Introducing a functionalized conductive carbon into the cathode suppresses sulfide SE degradation into reactive polysulfides that drive NMC deterioration. Consequently, NMC622 and NMC811-based cells display high active material utilization, enhanced stability, attractive rate capability and thermal resilience - illustrated by 1C (1C: 160mAg-1) capacity of ∼150mAhg-1, 5C rate retention of 95% after 500 cycles with high active loading (≥12mgcm-2), and an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.8% even for high-temperature cycling. This study uncovers a critical performance degradation pathway in a key cathode-SE pairing and presents a scalable strategy for its in situ regulation, enabling significant performance gains.