Ultra-high Energy Research Articles

In-situ synthesis AgO/AgNPs composite as binder-free cathode for high-performance aqueous AgO-Al batteries

Aqueous AgO-Al batteries are promising systems due to their ultrahigh specific capacity, energy density, and stable output voltage. However, they still suffer from the low utilization and sluggish kinetics of the cathode. In this study, the binder-free AgO/AgNPs composites were synthesized in-situ using a simple electrodeposition method. Due to the excellent conductivity and rich mesoporous structure of AgO/AgNPs materials, the electron and ion transfer kinetics were enhanced, thereby improving the charge storage performance of the electrode. As expected, the AgO-Al battery with the optimized AgO/AgNPs composite cathode demonstrated excellent rate performance, achieving a high discharge capacity of 325.1 mAh g−1, and a stable operating voltage platform of 1.55 V at the current density of 1000 mA cm−2. The maximum energy and power density were 687 Wh kg−1 and 6.2 kW kg−1, respectively. This work presents an effective strategy for designing high-performance AgO electrode materials for AgO-Al batteries.

Search for photons above 1018 eV by simultaneously measuring the atmospheric depth and the muon content of air showers at the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Pierre Auger Observatory is the most sensitive instrument to detect photons with energies above 1017 eV. It measures extensive air showers generated by ultrahigh energy cosmic rays using a hybrid technique that exploits the combination of a fluorescence detector with a ground array of particle detectors. The signatures of a photon-induced air shower are a larger atmospheric depth of the shower maximum (Xmax) and a steeper lateral distribution function, along with a lower number of muons with respect to the bulk of hadron-induced cascades. In this work, a new analysis technique in the energy interval between 1 and 30 EeV (1 EeV=1018 eV) has been developed by combining the fluorescence detector-based measurement of Xmax with the specific features of the surface detector signal through a parameter related to the air shower muon content, derived from the universality of the air shower development. No evidence of a statistically significant signal due to photon primaries was found using data collected in about 12 years of operation. Thus, upper bounds to the integral photon flux have been set using a detailed calculation of the detector exposure, in combination with a data-driven background estimation. The derived 95% confidence level upper limits are 0.0403, 0.01113, 0.0035, 0.0023, and 0.0021 km−2 sr−1 yr−1 above 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 EeV, respectively, leading to the most stringent upper limits on the photon flux in the EeV range. Compared with past results, the upper limits were improved by about 40% for the lowest energy threshold and by a factor 3 above 3 EeV, where no candidates were found and the expected background is negligible. The presented limits can be used to probe the assumptions on chemical composition of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays and allow for the constraint of the mass and lifetime phase space of super-heavy dark matter particles. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

The complex of ethyl viologen halides and UIO-67 as separator materials for upgrading performance of lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur (LiS) batteries are considered to be the most promising energy storage system to replace lithium-ion batteries due to their ultra-high energy density. However, the shuttling of polysulfides and the growth of lithium dendrites lead to several challenges for practical use. This study, UIO-67 separator modified material coating with zwitterionic of ethyl viologen halides (EV2+2X−, X = Cl, Br, I) is prepared by a simple one-step method. The cation (EV2+) can adsorb polysulfides through electrostatic interaction, and then promote the conversion of polysulfides. The free halogen anions contribute to the desolvation of Li+ by coordination, thereby accelerating the transport of Li+. Among them, the UIO-67@EV2+2I− modified separator exhibits the best electrochemical performance for LiS batteries. The capacity decay rate is 0.022 % after 800 cycles at 2C, and it still has excellent cycle stability under high sulfur loading of 5 mg cm−2 and lean electrolyte of E/S = 3 μL mg−1. This work sheds new light on the selection of modified materials for LiS battery separators.

Ultrarelativistic Fe plasma with GJ/cm3 energy density created by femtosecond laser pulses

The generation of a plasma with an ultrahigh energy density of 1.2 GJ/cm3 (which corresponds to about 12 Gbar pressure) is investigated by irradiating thin stainless-steel foils with high-contrast femtosecond laser pulses with relativistic intensities of up to 1022 W/cm2. The plasma parameters are determined by X-ray spectroscopy. The results show that most of the laser energy is absorbed by the plasma at solid density, indicating that no pre-plasma is generated in the current experimental setup.

Constructing three-dimensional GO/CNT@NMP aerogels towards primary lithium metal batteries

Abstract Graphene oxide (GO) can serve as cathode material for a viable primary lithium metal battery due to its richness in oxygen-containing functional groups. However, its application is hindered by non-conductivity of GO. Herein, a proposed electrode structure design strategy is carried to regulate the electron and ion conductivity of the graphene oxide aerogel (GO/CNT@NMP) electrode while retaining the original energy density. GO/CNT@NMP exhibits a discharge specific capacity of 703 mAh g−1 and an ultra-high energy density of 1655.76 Wh kg−1 at a low rate of 0.02 A g−1. Additionally, it achieves a maximum discharge rate of 1.4 A g−1, five times higher than the initial maximum discharge rate of GO. Characterization and electrochemical tests reveal that the excellent performance of GO/CNT@NMP can be attributed to its porous structure, high electrical conductivity, and large layer spacing. This study presents a potent strategy for the advancement of ultra-fast primary batteries, aiming to integrate ultra-high energy density and high-rate discharge capabilities.

Toward Practical Li–S Batteries: On the Road to a New Electrolyte

AbstractThe lithium–sulfur (Li–S) battery system has attracted considerable attention due to its ultrahigh theoretical energy density and promising applications. However, with the increasing demands on S loading and electrolyte content, practical Li–S batteries still face several serious challenges, such as slow reaction kinetics at the cathode interface, unstable anode interface reactions, and undesirable crosstalk effects between the cathode and anode. Traditional electrolyte systems often struggle to address these challenges under practical conditions, thereby rendering it imperative to establish a new electrolyte system for practical Li–S batteries. This review first discusses the necessity of establishing a new electrolyte and propose specific parameter requirements, such as the electrolyte‐to‐sulfur mass ratio (Em/S). Subsequently, some electrolyte modification strategies proposed by researchers are summarized to address the different challenges associated with practical Li–S batteries. Finally, the combination of different strategies is reviewed, aiming to reveal more effective design approaches that simultaneously address multiple challenges, while providing guidance for establishing a new balanced electrolyte for practical Li–S batteries. This article promotes the development of new electrolytes for practical Li–S batteries and can act as a reference for the development of electrolytes for other secondary batteries.

Lithium metal based battery systems with ultra-high energy density beyond 500 W h kg-1.

As industries and consumption patterns evolve, new electrical appliances are increasingly playing critical roles in national production, defense, and cognitive exploration. However, the slow development of energy storage devices with ultra-high energy density (beyond 500 W h kg-1) has impeded the promotion and widespread application of the next generation of intelligent, multi-scenario electrical equipment. Among the numerous ultra-high specific energy battery systems, lithium metal batteries (LMBs) hold significant potential for applications in advanced and sophisticated fields. This potential is primarily due to lithium metal's high specific capacity (3860 mA h g-1). However, LMBs face numerous challenges, including the growth of lithium dendrites, poor cycle stability, and safety concerns. In recent years, research on the mechanisms of Li metal-based battery systems, innovation in electrode materials, and optimization of device configurations have made significant progress. In this highlight, we provide a comprehensive overview of the storage mechanisms and the latest advancements in high-energy-density LMBs, represented by systems such as Li-Li1-xMO2, Li-S/Se, Li-gas (CO2/air/O2), Li-CFx, and all-solid-state LMBs. By integrating the current research findings, we highlight the opportunities and future research directions for high-energy-density LMBs, offering new guiding perspectives for their development under practical conditions.

Quantitative SPECT imaging of 155Tb and 161Tb for preclinical theranostic radiopharmaceutical development.

Element-equivalent matched theranostic pairs facilitate quantitative in vivo imaging to establish pharmacokinetics and dosimetry estimates in the development of preclinical radiopharmaceuticals. Terbium radionuclides have significant potential as matched theranostic pairs for multipurpose applications in nuclear medicine. In particular, 155Tb (t1/2 = 5.32 d) and 161Tb (t1/2 = 6.89 d) have been proposed as a theranostic pair for their respective applications in single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging and targeted beta therapy. Our study assessed the performance of preclinical quantitative SPECT imaging with 155Tb and 161Tb. A hot rod resolution phantom with rod diameters ranging between 0.85 and 1.70mm was filled with either 155Tb (21.8 ± 1.7 MBq/mL) or 161Tb (23.6 ± 1.9 MBq/mL) and scanned with the VECTor preclinical SPECT/CT scanner. Image performance was evaluated with two collimators: a high energy ultra high resolution (HEUHR) collimator and an extra ultra high sensitivity (UHS) collimator. SPECT images were reconstructed from photopeaks at 43.0keV, 86.6keV, and 105.3keV for 155Tb and 48.9keV and 74.6keV for 161Tb. Quantitative SPECT images of the resolution phantoms were analyzed to report inter-rod contrast, recovery coefficients, and contrast-to-noise metrics. Quantitative SPECT images of the resolution phantom established that the HEUHR collimator resolved all rods for 155Tb and 161Tb, and the UHS collimator resolved rods ≥ 1.10mm for 161Tb and ≥ 1.30mm for 155Tb. The HEUHR collimator maintained better quantitative accuracy than the UHS collimator with recovery coefficients up to 92%. Contrast-to-noise metrics were also superior with the HEUHR collimator. Both 155Tb and 161Tb demonstrated potential for applications in preclinical quantitative SPECT imaging. The high-resolution collimator achieves < 0.85mm resolution and maintains quantitative accuracy in small volumes which is advantageous for assessing sub organ activity distributions in small animals. This imaging method can provide critical quantitative information for assessing and optimizing preclinical Tb-radiopharmaceuticals.

Ultra-high energy storage characteristics under low electric field in Sm-doped Bi5Mg0.5Ti3.5O15 films through defect dipole engineering

The sol–gel method was used to fabricate lead-free Bi5-xSmxMg0.5Ti3.5O15 (BSxMTO, x = 0.25) relaxor ferroelectric film, which exhibited a recoverable energy storage density of 64 J/cm3 and an energy efficiency of 81.1 % under 1856 kV/cm. The energy storage response specifically reaches as high as 0.1824 J/kV·cm2. Enhancing the ergodic relaxor characteristics, improving the defect dipole driving, and reducing defect concentration are essential factors for BSxMTO (x = 0.25) film to collaboratively achieve enhanced relaxor characteristics and polarization intensity, thereby resulting in excellent medium- and low-field energy storage performances. Furthermore, the BSxMTO (x = 0.25) film also exhibits excellent stability in frequency (1 kHz − 20 kHz) (Ure ∼ (40.95 ± 1.01) J/cm3, η ∼ 85.7 % ± 4.4 %) and temperature (20 °C − 150 °C) (Ure ∼ (40.87 ± 0.30) J/cm3, η ∼ 80.4 % ± 2.2 %) under 1387 kV/cm, offering promising prospects for the application of lead-free dielectric energy storage films in low and medium electric fields.

Unprecedented mechanical wave energy absorption observed in multifunctional bioinspired architected metamaterials

In practical engineering, noise and impact hazards are pervasive, indicating the pressing demand for materials that can absorb both sound and stress wave energy simultaneously. However, the rational design of such multifunctional materials remains a challenge. Herein, inspired by cuttlebone, we present bioinspired architected metamaterials with unprecedented sound-absorbing and mechanical properties engineered via a weakly-coupled design. The acoustic elements feature heterogeneous multilayered resonators, whereas the mechanical responses are based on asymmetric cambered cell walls. These metamaterials experimentally demonstrated an average absorption coefficient of 0.80 from 1.0 to 6.0 kHz, with 77% of the data points exceeding the desired 0.75 threshold, all with a compact 21 mm thickness. An absorptance-thickness map is devised for assessing the sound-absorption efficiency. The high-fidelity microstructure-based model reveals the air friction damping mechanism, with broadband behavior attributed to multimodal hybrid resonance. Empowered by the cambered design of cell walls, metamaterials shift catastrophic failure toward a progressive deformation mode characterized by stable stress plateaus and ultrahigh specific energy absorption of 50.7 J/g—a 558.4% increase over the straight-wall design. After the deformation mechanisms are elucidated, a comprehensive research framework for burgeoning acousto-mechanical metamaterials is proposed. Overall, our study broadens the horizon for multifunctional material design.

MXene Supported Electrodeposition Engineering of Layer Double Hydroxide for Alkaline Zinc Batteries

AbstractThe main challenges faced by aqueous rechargeable nickel‐zinc batteries are their comparatively low energy density and poor cycling stability, mainly due to the limited capacity and reversibility of existing Ni‐based cathodes. Moreover, the preparation procedures of these cathodes are complex and not easily scalable, which makes them less promising for large‐scale energy storage. Herein, we utilized MXene as a functional additive to effectively improve the electrodeposition preparation of NiCo layered double hydroxides (LDH). Benefiting from the improved interfacial contact between nickel foam (NF) and platting solution and the enhanced ionic conductivity of platting product based on MXene additives, the resulting binder‐free NiCo LDH electrode can achieve ultrahigh areal loading (~65 mg cm−2) with abundant active surface for redox reactions and maintained short transport pathway for ion diffusion and charge transfer. Furthermore, the as‐fabricated alkaline NiCo LDH‐based battery delivers high discharge capacity, up to 20.2 mAh cm−2 (311 mAh g−1), accompanied by remarkable rate performance (9.6 mAh cm−2 or 148 mAh g−1 at 120 mA cm−2). Due to the high structural and chemical stability of MXenes/LDH‐based electrode, excellent cycling life can also be achieved with 88.6 % capacity retention after 10000 cycles. In addition, ultrahigh areal energy density (31.2 mWh cm−2) and gravimetric energy density (465 Wh kg−1) can be simultaneously achieved. This work has inspired the design of advanced cathode materials to develop high‐performance aqueous zinc batteries.

Modeling hadronic interactions in ultra-high-energy cosmic rays within astrophysical environments: A parametric approach

Interactions of ultra-high energy cosmic-rays (UHECRs) accelerated in astrophysical environments have been shown to shape the energy production rate of nuclei escaping from the confinement zone. To address the influence of hadronic interactions, Hadronic Interaction Models (HIMs) come into play. In this context, we present a parameterization capable of capturing the outcomes of two distinct HIMs, namely EPOS-LHC and Sibyll2.3d, in terms of secondary fluxes, including escaping nuclei, nucleons, neutrinos, photons, and electrons. Our parameterization is systematically evaluated against the source codes, both at fixed energy and mass, as well as in a physical case scenario. The comparison demonstrates that our parameterization aligns well with the source codes, establishing its reliability as a viable alternative for analytical or fast Monte Carlo approaches dedicated to the study of UHECR propagation within source environments. This suggests the potential for utilizing our parameterization as a practical substitute in studies focused on the intricate dynamics of ultra-high energy cosmic rays.

Ultrahigh Energy Storage in (Ag,Sm)(Nb,Ta)O3 Ceramics with a Stable Antiferroelectric Phase, Low Domain-Switching Barriers, and a High Breakdown Strength.

AgNbO3 (AN) antiferroelectrics (AFEs) are regarded as a promising candidate for high-property dielectric capacitors on account of their high maximum polarization, double polarization-electric field (P-E) loop characteristics, and environmental friendliness. However, high remnant polarization (Pr) and large polarization hysteresis loss from room-temperature ferrielectric behavior of AN and low breakdown strength (Eb) cause small recoverable energy density (Wrec) and efficiency (η). To solve these issues, herein, we have designed Sm3+ and Ta5+ co-doped AgNbO3. The addition of Sm3+ and Ta5+ reduces the tolerance factor, polarizability of B-site cations, and domain-switching barriers, enhancing AFE phase stability and decreasing hysteresis loss. Meanwhile, adding Sm3+ and Ta5+ leads to decreased grain sizes, increased band gap, and reduced leakage current, all contributing to increased Eb. As a benefit from the above synergistic effects, a high Wrec of 7.24 J/cm3, η of 72.55%, power density of 173.73 MW/cm3, and quick discharge rate of 18.4 ns, surpassing those of many lead-free ceramics, are obtained in the (Ag0.91Sm0.03)(Nb0.85Ta0.15)O3 ceramic. Finite element simulations for the breakdown path and transmission electron microscopy measurements of domains verify the rationality of the design strategy.

The MIZAR ASIC: 64-channel zone-sampling based ASIC for Cherenkov light detection from sub-orbital and orbital altitudes

This work describes the implementation of a 64-channel Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) developed in a commercial 65 nm CMOS technology to readout the signals collected by a camera plane made of Silicon Photo-Multipliers. The aim of the application is the identification of Extensive Air Showers (EASs) by detecting optical Cherenkov light generated by Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECRs) and Neutrinos (UHENUs) from sub-orbital and orbital altitudes. In this context, the ASIC is designed to store each event into an analog memory based on 256 configurable cells per channel. Then the chip forms a hitmap sent to an Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) to recognize a pattern of interest. If the signal is externally validated, the digital conversion can occur on-board using an array of 12-bits Wilkinson analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) at 200 MHz of clock. The readout is realized with two serializers running at 400 MHz in double data rate (DDR). Both the number of cells and the resolution can be configured into partitions of 32, 64 or 256 cells and in the range 8–12 bits respectively, becoming a key feature of this ASIC. The chip submission and testing are planned for the forthcoming months.

Engineering nanocluster and pyrochlore phase in BiFeO3-based ceramics for electrostatic energy storage

BiFeO3, known for its exceptional spontaneous polarization and high Curie temperature, stands as a pivotal component in power electronics. However, its relatively low breakdown strength has been a bottleneck in improving energy storage performance. Herein, we present an innovative approach to constructing nanoclusters and pyrochlore phases within BiFeO3-based ceramics. Specifically, the integration of the pyrochlore phase and nanoclusters (less than 10 nm) effectively reduces grain size and extends the growth path of electric trees, while imbuing the material with relaxor properties, which contribute to a significant enhancement in breakdown strength. As a result, this method achieves an ultrahigh energy storage density of 7.2 J/cm3 under 800 kV/cm, coupled with remarkable stability of temperature (20–180 °C), frequency (1–500 Hz), and fatigue resistance (over 10, 000 cycles). This work provides a viable pathway for the development of dielectric materials with superior energy storage performance to meet the stringent demands of advanced capacitor applications.

Surface engineered covalent bridging strategy to in-situ fabricate MXene-based core-sheath fiber for flexible supercapacitors with ultrahigh volumetric energy density and mechanical properties

MXene fiber-based supercapacitors (SCs) are expected to make a major contribution to the ongoing development of wearable electronics and metaverse technologies in future. However, to fabricate fiber electrodes with high energy density and strong mechanical properties remains a major challenge for their usage in SCs. Herein, we fabricated a flexible core-sheath structural Ti3C2Tx MXene@polyaniline (MX@PA) fiber electrode with ultrahigh volumetric energy density and good tensile strength through surface engineered covalent bridging strategy via wet spinning and in situ oxidant-freepolymerization processes. Benefiting from the high-order core-sheath structure and strong Ti-O-N covalent bonds between MXene and PANI, an ultrahigh tensile strength (∼168.1 MPa) and super-toughed (∼1.75 MJ cm−3) fiber electrode was achieved. The assembled SC provided much higher volumetric capacitance of 631F cm−3 (based on the SC device) at a current density of 0.5 A cm−3 and ultralong-term cycling stability with 92.6 % capacitance retention after 10000 cycles due to the rapid electron conduction of core (MXene) and large pseudocapacitive charge transfer of the sheath (PANI). As a result, the SC delivers excellent volumetric energy density of 56.1 mWh cm−3 at a power density of 204.9 mW cm−3. The integrated SC found actual application to power a 2.5 V red LED.

Robust oxygen adsorbent mediated oxygen redox reactions for high performance lithium-oxygen battery

Lithium-oxygen batteries (LOBs) have been widely studied because of their ultra-high energy density (∼3500 Wh kg−1). However, the reversibility and stability of LOBs are greatly limited by the sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction/evolution reactions (ORR/OER) and severely parasitic reactions on oxygen electrodes. Electrolyte in LOBs plays an important role in the transport of reactive oxygen species and Li+, which greatly affects the kinetics and reversibility of the charging and discharging processes of batteries. In this work, perfluorooctane (PFO) is used as the additive in 1.0 M LiTFSI/TEGDEM electrolyte for LOBs to regulate the kinetics of oxygen electrode reactions. Due to the strong adsorption ability of PE toward oxygen, the oxygen concentration inside the electrolyte is greatly increased after the addition of PE. In addition, the PE-added electrolyte also exhibits superior electrochemical stability and is capable of triggering solution-mediated Li2O2 growth pathway during the discharge process of the LOBs. Therefore, with the increased oxygen concentration and the optimized electrode/electrolyte interface, the ORR/OER kinetics on the oxygen electrode is significantly promoted, which enables the LOBs with excellent energy efficiency and cycling life. This work provides a new idea for the design of oxygen-rich and high-performance electrolyte for lithium-oxygen batteries.

Design Unsaturated Selenium Coordinated NbSe2-x as Multifunctional Sulfur Electrocatalyst toward Fast and Durable Sulfur Reduction Reaction.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery are considered as the next generation energy storage system owing to their ultra-high theoretical specific capacity and energy density. However, the commercialization of Li-S battery is still hindered by the intrinsically low conductivity of sulfur, sluggish catalytic conversion and notorious shuttle effect of polysulfides. The implantation of defects in sulfur electrocatalyst can effectively increase its conductivity and catalytic efficiency of lithium polysulfides, but the current mainstream defective materials are limited and lack of in-depth research. Herein, a defective niobium selenide (NbSe2-x) nanosheet sulfur electrocatalyst is constructed with enriched selenium defects, which demonstrates strong interaction with sulfur species, endowing NbSe2-x with rapid and reliable sulfur reduction reaction. As a result, the Li-S cell with NbSe2-x exhibits excellent multiplicative performance in both coin cell and pouch cell, which maintains stable cycling for over 2000 cycles under 5 C, corresponding to a low-capacity fading rate of 0.024% per cycle. Ah level pouch cell is also fabricated, showing a decent energy density of 378Wh kg-1. This creative strategy not only emphasizes the importance of selenium defect engineering in Li-S batterie toward practical application, but also enlightens the material engineering to realize superior performance in related energy storage and conversion area.

B-meson production at forward rapidities in pp collisions at the LHC: estimating the intrinsic bottom contribution

The production of B mesons at forward rapidities is strongly sensitive to the behavior of the gluon and bottom distribution functions for small and large values of the Bjorken-x variable. In this exploratory study, we estimate the cross-section for the B±\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$B^{\\pm }$$\\end{document} meson production in the kinematic range probed by the LHCb detector and that will be analyzed by the future Forward Physics Facility (FPF) considering the hybrid formalism, the solution of the running coupling Balitsky–Kovchegov equation and distinct descriptions for the bottom distribution function. We assume an ansatz for the intrinsic bottom component in the proton wave function, and estimate its impact on the transverse momentum, rapidity and Feynman-x distributions. Our results indicate that the presence of an intrinsic bottom strongly modifies the magnitude of the cross-section at ultra-forward rapidities (y≥6\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$y \\ge 6$$\\end{document}), which implies an enhancement of the B±\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$B^{\\pm }$$\\end{document} production at the FPF. Possible implications on the prompt neutrino flux at ultra-high energies are also briefly discussed.

Accelerating Lithium‐Ion Transfer and Sulfur Conversion via Electrolyte Engineering for Ultra‐Stable All‐Solid‐State Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

AbstractOffering ultrahigh energy density and exceptional safety, all‐solid‐state lithium–sulfur batteries (ASSLSBs) can be one of the most promising energy storage systems if their inherent challenges, including slow Li+ mass transport and insufficient sulfur utilization efficiency, are completely tackled. In this work, an amide‐based electrolyte additive with a high Gutmann donor number is used to construct a deep eutectic system, a “one‐stone‐two‐birds” solution to address these issues. In particular, an acetamide is used to interact with the insulative Li2S via a strong S─H bond and Li─O bond to boost the electrochemical reaction kinetics of lithium‐sulfur (Li─S) chemistry and sulfur utilization and simultaneously form a deep eutectic LiTFSI‐acetamide system to enhance ionic conductivity of solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs). Such a seamless integration of this system into the solid‐state LSBs helps deliver a high initial discharge specific capacity of 1012 mAh g−1 at 0.05 C and attain a stable cyclability for 1300 cycles at 0.1 C. This remarkable achievement in high performance and stability can effectively facilitate the commercialization of ASSLSBs.