Stable Capacity Research Articles

Remediation on antimony-contaminated soil from mine area using zero-valent-iron doped biochar and their effect on the bioavailability of antimony

Due to the bioavailability and movement of antimony in trophic web, the overexploitation of antimony mine resulted in antimony contamination that harmed the ecology nearby, raising concerns for public health. Whereas, most researches focused on the removal of antimony in the aqueous instead of the immobilization of antimony in the soil. Herein, the immobilized performance of biochar (BC) loaded with nano zero-valent iron (nZVI-BC) on antimony in the soil near the smelting area was researched through pot experiments for the first time, and its stabilization mechanism on antimony was investigated by valent state variation of antimony. The results demonstrated that BC restricted the cation exchange capacity and catalase activity in the soil, while nZVI-BC had a favorable and negative impact on two variables, respectively. The nZVI-BC showed more stable immobilization capacity on antimony over time than BC, whose exchangeable speciation only marginally rose (2%–6%), although the exchangeable speciation of antimony fell both from 15% to 2% after adding the BC and nZVI-BC, The electron attraction force between nZVI-BC and antimony was also intensified owing to the oxidation-reduction process, which was considered as the stabilizing principle of nZVI-BC on antimony in soil. Furthermore, the decreased bioaccumulation factor for the perennial ryegrass (0.46–0.21) and Galinsoga parviflora Cav. (0.26–0.17) stated that the BC effectively mitigated the bioaccumulation risk of antimony.

Copper Vanadium Oxide Yolk-Shell Microspheres with Excellent Capacitance and Cycling Performance for Electrochromic Supercapacitor.

Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) is considered a promising material for electrochromic supercapacitors due to its rich color transitions and excellent electrochemical capacity. However, V2O5 exhibits low electrical conductivity, and its volume changes dramatically during charge-discharge cycles, leading to structural collapse and poor long-term cyclability. These issues have hindered the development and application of V2O5. In this study, copper vanadium oxide yolk-shell microspheres (CVO) were synthesized through a one-step solvent heat treatment with an annealing process. With the doping of copper element, the capacitance, conductivity, and cyclic stability of CVO microspheres were significantly enhanced. Subsequently, the sphere-wire network structure was formed by blending Na2V6O16·3H2O nanowires (NVO), resulting in the formation of CVO/NVO composites. The three-dimensional sphere-wire network efficiently facilitates the acquisition of additional redox sites and strengthens the material-to-substrate bonding. Under the combined influence of these favorable factors, CVO/NVO achieved a high specific capacitance of 39.2 mF cm-2, with a capacitance retention of 84% after 7500 cycles at a current density of 0.7 mA cm-2. The fully inorganic solid-state electrochromic supercapacitor (ECSC), assembled on the basis of CVO/NVO, demonstrates a vivid and clearly distinguishable color change (ΔE* = 37). Even more impressive is the energy storage capacity (18.4 mF·cm-2) and the cycling stability (up to 89% retention after 10,000 cycles) exhibited by the devices. These key performances are superior to those of most of the previously reported V2O5-based ECSCs, opening a promising avenue for the development of V2O5-based electrochromic energy storage devices.

A Versatile Redox-Active Electrolyte for Solid Fixation of Polyiodide and Dendrite-Free Operation in Sustainable Aqueous Zinc-Iodine Batteries.

Practical utilization of zinc-iodine (Zn-I2) batteries is hindered by significant challenges, primarily stemming from the polyiodide shuttle effect on the cathode and dendrite growth on the anode. Herein, a feasible redox-active electrolyte has been introduced with tetraethylammonium iodide as an additive that simultaneously addresses the above mentioned challenges via polyiodide solidification on the cathode and the electrostatic shielding effect on the anode. The tetraethylammonium (TEA+) captures water-soluble polyiodide intermediates (I3 -, I5 -), forming a solid complex at the cathode, thereby suppressing capacity loss during charge/discharge. Furthermore, the TEA+ mitigates dendrite growth on the Zn anode via the electrostatic shielding effect, promoting uniform and compact Zn deposition at the anode. Consequently, the Zn||Zn symmetric cell demonstrates superior cycling stability during Zn plating/stripping over 4,200h at 1mA cm-2 and 1 mAh cm-2. The Zn||NiNC full-cell exhibits a stable capacity retention of 98.4% after 20000 cycles (>5 months) with near-unity Coulombic efficiency at 1 A g-1. The study provides novel insights for establishing a new direction for low-cost, sustainable, and long-lifespan Zn-I2 batteries.

Lithium Orbital Hybridization Chemistry to Stimulate Oxygen Redox with Reversible Phase Evolution in Sodium-Layered Oxide Cathodes.

Searching for high energy-density electrode materials for sodium ion batteries has revealed Na-deficient intercalation compounds with lattice oxygen redox as promising high-capacity cathodes. However, anionic redox reactions commonly encountered poor electrochemical reversibility and unfavorable structural transformations during dynamic (de)sodiation processes. To address this issue, we employed lithium orbital hybridization chemistry to create Na-O-Li configuration in a prototype P2-layered Na43/60Li1/20Mg7/60Cu1/6Mn2/3O2 (P2-NaLMCM') cathode material. That Li+ ions, having low electronegativity, reside in the transition metal slabs serves to stimulate unhybridized O 2p orbitals to facilitate the stable capacity contribution of oxygen redox at high state of charge. The prismatic-type structure evolving to an intergrowth structure of the Z phase at high charging state could be simultaneously alleviated by reducing the electrostatic repulsion of O-O layers. As a consequence, P2-NaLMCM' delivers a high specific capacity of 183.8 mAh g-1 at 0.05 C and good cycling stability with a capacity retention of 80.2% over 200 cycles within the voltage range of 2.0-4.5 V. Our findings provide new insights into both tailoring oxygen redox chemistry and stabilizing dynamic structural evolution for high-energy battery cathode materials.

Shortage of storage carbohydrates mainly determines seed abscission in Torreya grandis ‘Merrillii’

Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii is a well-known nut in South China with high nutritional value. Severe premature seed abscission limits the industrial development of T. grandis by causing serious economic losses. However, the physiological mechanisms of seed abscission in T. grandis remain poorly understood. To gain insight into the relationships between carbohydrate status and seed abscission, three-year-old seed-bearing branches were taken as representative materials for the entire tree. Furthermore, the time course of changes in the photosynthetic rate and the non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) dynamics were monitored in the main sources (the one-year-old and two-year-old shoots), and the dry weight and NSC levels of sinks (the seeds, current female cone cluster, and current vegetative cluster) across all seed development stages were recorded. The cumulative seed abscission rate significantly increased, reaching 91.5% from 0 to 72 days after seed protrusion time (SPT). NSC levels in the main sources significantly decreased by 56%–79%, accompanied by a significantly increased photosynthesis rate of 17.1%–49.1% during that period and increased NSC levels in the three sinks. The gene expression level of cell wall invertase (TgCWIN) was significantly correlated with sucrose, fructose, and glucose levels. The carbon storage capacity of the main sources significantly decreased from 6.03 to 3.14 mmol C · d−1, with a stable photosynthetic capacity, from 0 to 72 days after SPT, whereas the carbon demand of the three sinks showed a continuously increasing trend from 3.14 to 7.71 mmol C · d−1. In addition, sucrose supplementation significantly decreased the cumulative seed abscission rate. These results suggest that storage carbohydrates play a major role in the regulatory mechanism of seed abscission in T. grandis. Our study provides a theoretical basis for improving T. grandis yield through establishing a better carbon balance between sources and sinks using timely fertilization or proper pruning procedures.

High-performance MIM-type aluminum electrolytic capacitors with durable waterproof and wide temperature window

Capacitors are indispensable components of electronic circuits. Filter capacitors, mainly dominated by electrolytic capacitors, are critical for the accurate power supply of integrated circuits for central processors and storage devices, affecting the performance of advanced and sophisticated electronic equipment. However, electrolytic capacitors are restricted in working temperatures (<150 °C) and humidity conditions due to the inherent characteristics of MnO2 or polymer cathodes that tend to deteriorate at high temperatures and moisture. Here, high temperature resistant and conductivity SnO2 cathode and MIM-like (SnO2/AAO/Al) structures are introduced into aluminum electrolytic capacitors via ALD technology. First achieved in a higher temperature window (-60 °C∼330 °C), the capacitor maintains a stable capacity (114.5 ± 3.6 μF/cm2) and phase angles (-89.5 ± 0.2°) at 120 Hz. The tight stacking and conformability of ALD even allows unencapsulated devices to exhibit durable waterproof, showing stable performance for immersion in water within 90 days. Moreover, a thin amorphous Al2O3 (A) as buffer layer is introduced at electrode/dielectric interface, aiming to barrier the interfacial atomic diffusion at the SnO2/AAO. A stable vdW SnO2/A/AAO interfaces is obtained, proven by MD and DFT calculations. Impressively, the capacitor exhibits high reliability with high breakdown field strength (5.5 MV/cm), low leakage current (7.2 × 10–7 A/cm2 at 1 V) and low loss (2% at 120 Hz). Applied in circuits, the capacitor filters 100 kHz signal with a Vripple of only 15 mV and shows excellent charging and discharging behaviors. The work may pave the way for the practical application of electrolytic capacitors in harsh working environments.

Tailoring crystal plane of short-process regenerated LiFePO4 towards enhanced rate properties

Captured by the environmental and economic value, the recycling of spent lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries has attracted numerous attentions. However, hydrometallurgical method still suffers from complex process, and hydrothermal method is limited by morphology control, ascribed to the strong polarity of water. Herein, supported by ethanol as crystal surface modifier, the regular (010) orientation and short b-axis are effectively tailored for regenerated LFP. As Li-storage cathode, the capacities of as-optimized LFP could reach up to 157.07 mA h g−1 at 1 C, and the stable capacity of 150.50 mA h g−1 could be remained with retention of 93.48% after 400 cycles at 1 C. Even at 10 C, their capacity could be still kept about 119.3 mA h g−1. Assisted by the detail analysis of adsorption energy, the clear growth mechanism is proposed, the lowest adsorbing energy (−4.66 eV) of ethanol on (010) crystal plane renders the ordered growth along (010) crystal plane. Given this, the work is expected to shed light on the tailoring mechanism of internal plane about regenerated materials, whilst providing effective strategies for high-performance regenerated LFP.

Enhancing the thermal stability of the dielectric property by tilting the NbO6 octahedra in (Na1-zKz)NbO3-SrTiO3 ceramics

(1-x) (Na0.2K0.8)NbO3-xSrTiO3 [(1-x) (N0.2K0.8)N-xST] ceramics with a homogeneous perovskite structure were well-sintered in the range of 1080–1160 °C. The 0.9(N0.2K0.8)N-0.1ST ceramic was found to have a temperature-stable dielectric constant (εr) that complies with the X9R multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) requirement. The temperature stability of the εr value was also investigated for the 0.9(N1-zKz)N-0.1ST ceramics (0.0 ≤ z ≤ 1.0). The results indicated that as z (or K+ ions) increased, the Curie temperature (TC) decreased, and its peak broadened. The broadening of the TC peak was attributed to the development of the relaxor property owing to the tilting of the NbO6 octahedra. The 0.9(N1-zKz)N-0.1ST ceramics (0.7 ≤ z ≤ 1.0) exhibited a temperature-independent εr value, thus fulfilling the X9R MLCC requirement because of the broad TC peak. The MLCC fabricated from 0.9(N0.2K0.8)N-0.1ST thick films complied with the X9R MLCC requirement with excellent capacitance stability under the supplied electric field. Hence, 0.9(N1-zKz)N-0.1ST ceramics (0.7 ≤ z ≤ 1.0) are good candidates for X9R MLCCs.

One-step synthesis of g-C3N4/TiVCTx MXene electrodes for lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors

The wide-ranging application of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is currently restricted by their slow ion dynamics and low capacity, which hinders the development of innovative electrode materials. Herein, the graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)/TiVCTx composite was fabricated through in situ pyrolysis of urea to generate g-C3N4 nanosheets on the surface of TiVCTx nanosheets. The as-prepared g-C3N4 protective layer can reduce the degree of oxidation of TiVCTx MXene, restrain the re-stacking of TiVCTx nanosheets and minimize the risk of undesirable side reactions. As expected, the g-C3N4/TiVCTx electrode exhibits remarkable specific capacity of 1025.3 mAh/g after 150 cycles at 0.1 A/g and 558.3 mAh/g after 1000 cycles at 1.0 A/g for LIBs and a high specific capacitance of 508.9F g−1 in 0.5 M Na2SO4 electrolyte at 1.0 A/g after 7000 cycles for supercapacitors (SCs). Furthermore, the assembled g-C3N4/TiVCTx-30//LiFePO4 full cell presents stable specific capacity of 505.5 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g after 100 cycles and 255.2 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g along with a Coulombic efficiency of 97.9 % after 50 cycles at − 20 °C, demonstrating excellent low temperature tolerance. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation results indicated that the g-C3N4/TiVCTx-30 exhibits strongest adsorption capacity for Li+ with an adsorption energy of −3.85 eV. The introduction of g-C3N4 improves the insertion and extraction kinetics of Li+, effectively reducing the diffusion barrier. Consequently, the g-C3N4/TiVCTx-30 electrode exhibits potential application prospects in high-performance electrochemical energy storage devices. Our work provides valuable insights and significant research implications for improving the specific capacity and stability of TiVCTx MXene in the field of energy storage.

Silver nanowires/WO3 quantum dots electrode with enhanced vertical electric field gradient for Al3+/Li+ dual-functional electrochromic supercapacitor

Dual-functional electrochromic supercapacitors (DECSs), which demonstrate the substantial potential for reversible changes in optical properties and energy storage capabilities, hold considerable promise for a wide range of applications in areas such as smart windows, displays, and wearable electronics. Nevertheless, challenges still exist in effectively optimizing their capacitance, ensuring cycling stability, and achieving cost-effective fabrication. Herein, this study explores an approach by integrating Al3+ and Li+ ions as hybrid electrolyte to enhance electrochemical activity. Utilizing WO3 quantum dots (WQDs) embedded within Ag nanowires (Ag NWs) grids offers a promising strategy to augment the vertical electric field gradient and prevent the self-agglomeration of WQDs. In addition, the integration of hybrid electrolyte comprising Al3+ and Li+ ions not only enhance electrochemical activity but also serves to mitigate the high-cost lithium sources. The resulting Ag NWs/WQDs electrode exhibits an impressive specific capacitance of 681.6 F g−1 at 0.25 mA cm−2 in Al3+/Li+ hybrid electrolyte, a notable 5-fold increase compared to the pristine WQDs electrode in Li+ electrolyte (139.3 F g−1). Simultaneously, this dual-function electrode demonstrates a large optical modulation (81.8 % at 700 nm), a fast switching-speed (tbleaching=7 s, tcoloring=5 s), and a long cycling life (maintaining 84.6 % of its original capacitance after 5000 cycles). Noteworthy insights from COMSOL simulations highlight the Ag NWs grid's "conductive bridge" function, which shows a positive attribution in optimizing the vertical electric field gradient. As a demonstration of proof-of-concept, a large-size flexible dual-functional electrochromic supercapacitor (DECS, 15 cm×10 cm) confirms energy-saving and storage dual-functionality device. Typically, the DECS-equipped inner room experiences a temperature 10°C lower than that of a room with a blank PET within 10 min, indicating the significant irradiation shielding. In addition, this device exhibits a remarkable specific capacitance of 9.25 mF cm−2 at 5 mV s−1, accompanied by an exceptional stability under simulated solar irradiation. The innovation of 0D/1D hierarchical structure of the electrodes together with the hybrid electrolyte not only reduce costs but also enhance the capacitance and cycle stability of DECSs, offering new insights for the development of next-generation flexible electronic wearables.

A Nitrogen/Oxygen Dual-Doped Porous Carbon with High Catalytic Conversion Ability toward Polysulfides for Advanced Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) have attracted widespread attention due to their high theoretical energy density and low cost. However, their development has been constrained by the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides and their slow reaction kinetics. In this work, a nitrogen/oxygen dual-doped porous carbon (N/O-PC) was synthesized by annealing the precursor of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 grown in situ on MWCNTs (ZIF-8/MWCNTs). Then, the N/O-PC composite served as an efficient host for LSBs through chemical adsorption and providing catalytic conversion sites of polysulfides. Moreover, the interconnected porous carbon-based structure facilitates electron and ion transfer. Thus, the S/N/O-PC cathode exhibits high cycling stability (a stable capacity of 685.9 mA h g−1 at 0.2 C after 100 cycles). It also demonstrates excellent rate performance with discharge capacities of 1018.2, 890.2, 775.1, 722.7, 640.4, and 579.6 mAh g−1 at 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 5.0 C, respectively. This work provides an effective strategy for designing and developing high energy density, long cycle life LSBs.

Bionic Capsule Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes for Efficiently Inhibiting Volume Expansion.

Magnetite (Fe3O4) has a large theoretical reversible capacity and rich Earth abundance, making it a promising anode material for LIBs. However, it suffers from drastic volume changes during the lithiation process, which lead to poor cycle stability and low-rate performance. Hence, there is an urgent need for a solution to address the issue of volume expansion. Taking inspiration from how glycophyte cells mitigate excessive water uptake/loss through their cell wall to preserve the structural integrity of cells, we designed Fe3O4@PMMA multi-core capsules by microemulsion polymerization as a kind of anode materials, also proposed a new evaluation method for real-time repair effect of the battery capacity. The Fe3O4@PMMA anode shows a high reversible specific capacity (858.0 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C after 300 cycles) and an excellent cycle stability (450.99 mAh g-1 at 0.5 C after 450 cycles). Furthermore, the LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2/Fe3O4@PMMA pouch cells exhibit a stable capacity (200.6 mAh) and high-capacity retention rate (95.5 %) after 450 cycles at 0.5 C. Compared to the original battery, the capacity repair rate of this battery is as high as 93.4 %. This kind of bionic capsules provide an innovative solution for improving the electrochemical performance of Fe3O4 anodes to promote their industrial applications.

Oriented structural design of MXene electrodes for lithium sulfur catalysis

The lithium-sulfur reaction can contribute to the chemical electrical energy conversion capacity due to the multi-level ion/electron transfer process. However, the appearance of soluble intermediate products prevents efficient electron transfer, making it impossible to achieve stable cycling and capacity contribution. Restricted catalysis provides a solution for inhibiting the shuttle of soluble lithium polysulfides. Herein, MXene aerogel with optimized channel utilization is designed as S host according to the polysulfide control strategy of localization, adsorption, and catalysis. With the help of the results of oriented channels, the polysulfide conversion process is optimized, providing a comprehensive scheme for inhibiting the shuttle effect. Lithium sulfur catalytic batteries have achieved high capacity and stable cycling. This system provides a comprehensive solution for lithium sulfur reaction catalysis and a new perspective for the functional application of MXene based lithium sulfur batteries.

Defect-engineered TiNOx catalyst targeted to activate rate-determining step for highly efficient K-SeS2 batteries

SeS2 material is attracting intensive attention in the potassium ion storage system due to its high theoretic capacity and compensated physicochemical properties. However, the actual capacity (usually below 400 mAh g−1) in practical studies is far below its theoretical value. This is mainly due to the notorious “shuttle effect” of soluble intermediates and some unknown sluggish conversion steps involved in the SeS2 cathode. In this work, the whole kinetic reaction mechanism is revealed for the first time by in situ Raman and DFT calculations, and the rate-determining step also is identified as the conversion step from K2S2 to K2S. Based on this insight, we synthesized an electrocatalyst (labeled as TiNOx) to maximize the conversion of the SeS2 cathode. The regulated Fermi level and d-band center of the Ti atoms can greatly enhance the adsorption of dissolvable intermediates and especially can be targeted to accelerate the rate-determining step. Consequently, the resultant K-SeS2@TiNOx battery displays a high capacity of 806.6 mAh g−1, two times that of the raw K-SeS2 battery, and achieves a stable capacity retention after 800 cycles. Moreover, the whole smooth conversion process on SeS2@TiNOx is reasonably explained by in situ monitoring techniques and DFT calculations.

Tailoring particle size/morphology for the stable cathode performance of polygonal-shaped Li(Ni,Mn)2O4 single crystals

We regulate the particle size and crystallographic facet of single-crystal (SC) Li(Ni,Mn)2O4 (LNMO) cathode materials via flux-selective molten salt method. By simply adjusting Li2MoO4 or LiI as sintering aids, we synthesized size controlled SC particles, both small and large, and comparatively investigated their electrochemical behavior focusing on the lithiation/delithiation reactivity in conjunction with the particle size and surface planes. Considering the growth mechanism of a SC particles with a specific crystal plane, such particle size control is not determined solely by the synthetic condition but must also consider the interfacial energy of the crystal planes in conjunction with the fluxes what we used. While the initial charge capacity is similar, the given cathode using a small SC LNMO (using LiI) with uniform particle sizes (≤5 μm) exhibits outstanding rate capability with stable capacity retention under changing current density, which indicates stable lithium transport during the repetitive electrochemical reactions. The dependency of the impedance response with change in the electrode resistances as well as the stability during the cycle reactions in conjunction with the post-mortem Li distribution by using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy as a function of porosity change and cell degradation are thoroughly discussed from the standpoint of regulated particle property.

Photocatalytic removals of imidacloprid insecticide in TiO2- and Fe2O3-immobilized porous geopolymer granules

In this study, geopolymer catalysts were synthesized by incorporating different TiO2 (0, 7, and 14 wt%) and Fe2O3 content (0, 7, 14, and 20 wt%) into porous metakaolin-based geopolymer granules. TiO2- and Fe2O3-immobilized geopolymer granules were applied for photocatalytic removals of imidacloprid under UV-C irradiation. The analysis of the surface morphology of the Fe2O3 catalyst revealed its larger surface area predominated with meso- and macro-pores thus providing a larger area for photocatalysis. Meanwhile, the TiO2 catalyst had TiO2 nanoparticles filled up those mesopores and macropores in geopolymer resulting in its denser structure therefore limiting access of imidacloprid to the reactive sites. To maximize its photocatalytic activities, Fe2O3 and TiO2 could be immobilized into porous geopolymer matrix up to 20 and 14 wt%, respectively. The developed porous geopolymer had relatively stable imidacloprid adsorption capacities regardless of the TiO2 and Fe2O3 contents in their texture. After UV irradiation, their removal efficiencies were 94.85–100% and the photocatalytic degradation increased with the increase in TiO2 content (from 0 to 14 wt%) and Fe2O3 content (from 14 to 20 wt%). Nevertheless, Fe2O3-immobilized geopolymer granules posed a significantly higher kinetic rate (1.966 h−1) compared to that of TiO2 (0.154 h−1) at the same catalyst content (14 wt%). The newly developed Fe2O3-immobilized porous geopolymer catalysts could be effectively reused over 10 successive cycles during which the imidacloprid could be completely removed.

Thermally modified sepiolite integrated with aluminum chloride for phosphorus loading management of heavily polluted urban waters

Phosphorus (P) is one of the characteristic pollutants in urban heavily polluted river waters. How to control P enrichment and manage the P loading by a green and efficient adsorbent is an important challenge to control polluted waters. Modified sepiolite is often utilized for the regulation of phosphate in contaminated urban aquatic environments due to its excellent adsorption capacity. In the research, the modification of natural sepiolite with chloride at high temperature (C/Al-Sep) was conducted to enhance its P adsorption capacity and effectively manage the P loading in polluted waters. Batch adsorption experiments demonstrated that the capacity of phosphate adsorbed by C/Al-Sep was significantly improved after composite modification. Adsorption isotherm results indicated that the maximum phosphate adsorption capacity was approximately 13.75 mg/g. Furthermore, the modified sepiolite maintained a stable adsorption capacity over a wide pH range, except CO32- and HCO3-. The adsorption capacity of these common anions in water was almost unaffected. The characterization and adsorption experiments showed that the phosphate adsorption by C/Al-Sep was primarily driven by chemisorption. Additionally, the modification treatment increased the specific surface area of the sepiolite. The main mechanism of phosphate adsorption by the modified sepiolite was the formation of calcium-phosphate precipitates with the inner layer of Al-OP complexes. The results of the research indicate that the use of thermally modified sepiolite in combination with aluminum chloride provides an all-purpose, environmentally friendly material for the subsequent in-situ coverage of contaminated substrates and for the remediation of phosphates in heavily polluted urban waters.

Low-carbon emitting Fe-cycle recovery of battery-grade FePO4 from biogas slurry for Li-battery application

Under the background of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality in China, anaerobic digestion of sludge to produce methane was an important way to recover biomass energy. But plenty of as-generated biogas slurry (BS) with high P concentration was valuable and difficult to dispose. Here, this work proposed a low-carbon emitting Fe-cycle strategy to recover battery-grade FePO4 from BS. At pH=1.0, the P-leaching rate of Fe-sludge (42.93 ± 1.49 mg g−1) generated by polymerized ferrous sulfate (an inorganic polymer coagulant) addition into BS was 93.46 ± 3.56% and high-purity FePO4 (99.0%) could further be obtained by Fe3+ supplement and pH adjustment (pH=2.0). The contents of all elements in recovered FePO4 product fully complied with the battery grade of national industry standard of China (HG/T 4701-2021). After battery-grade FePO4 precipitate separation, recovery solution (RS) with remaining Fe3+ was reutilized to remove 88.05 ± 1.77% of P when mixed with BS wit RS/BS ratio of 2:1, thus achieving a Fe cycle utilization. Meanwhile, the recovery cost of 5.42 $/kg P and CO2 emissions of 80.83 kg/kg P were lower than those of current FePO4 industrial production (14.60 $/kg P and 110.60 kg/kg P). Finally, the LiFePO4/C cathode material based on recovered FePO4 from BS exhibited stable discharge specific capacity of 84.6–100.2 mAh/g during 100 charge–discharge cycles. In general, this study successfully manifested the feasibility of novel Fe-cycle battery-grade FePO4 recovery strategy from wastewater, paving a viable low-carbon emitting pathway for future Li-battery manufacture industry.

KHCO3 chemical-activated hydrothermal porous carbon derived from jackfruit inner skin for supercapacitor applications

The reuse of waste biomass resources had become a hot spot in the sustainable development of human society. Due to the complexity of biomass composition and microstructure, the quality reproducibility of biomass porous carbon was poor. Therefore, it was of great significance to develop a reliable method for preparing porous carbon from biomass. In this paper, a combination of hydrothermal carbonization treatment and mild activation of KHCO3 was used to prepare iron-modified porous carbon with carbon spheres/nanoplates structure, which promoted ion/electrolyte diffusion and increased the accessibility between surface area and electrolyte ions. Therefore, the active porous carbon from the Jackfruit inner skin has good specific capacitance (273.2 F/g at 1 A/g) and good cycle stability, and the capacitance loss is only 6.6 % after 10,000 charge discharge cycles. The above results showed that hydrothermal treatment and mild activation methods provided an effective way to transform waste biomass into high-performance electrode material.

Post-mortem study and long cycling stability of silica/carbon composite as anode in Li-ion cells

The present work emphases on the post-mortem study of silica/carbon composite as functional anode in Li-ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, the silica/carbon composite is synthesized by facile in-situ hydrothermal technique. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern indicates the amorphous nature of silica/carbon composite. The stacked sheet-like morphology of silica/carbon composite is seen in the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) & scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. In addition, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDAX), and x-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) characterizations of silica/carbon composite has been studied in detail. The rate capability of silica/carbon composite anode in LIB indicates 99% capacity retention after applying current density ranging from 50 mA g−1 to 1000 mA g−1, successively. The composite anode delivers a stable specific capacity ∼300 mAh g−1 at a current density of 100 mA g−1 for 500 cycles. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) study analyzed the faster Li-ion diffusion and increment in the diffusion coefficient by a factor of 1000 after 500 cycles. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work on the post-mortem study of silica/carbon composite as anode in LIB. Post-cycling characterizations including XRD, FTIR, and SEM reveal the absence of any impurity phases and negligible volumetric expansion after prolonged cycling. It further confirms that the carbon present in the silica/carbon composite helps to accommodate the volumetric expansion of silica and prevents cracking of the anode over 500 cycles.