Review
Chemistry, Physical
Lei Zhou, Dmitri L. Danilov, Ruediger-A. Eichel, Peter H. L. Notten
Summary: Lithium-sulfur batteries are seen as a viable alternative to future energy storage devices due to their high theoretical energy density. However, the main challenge lies in the leakage and migration of sulfur species. Recent research has focused on developing sulfur host materials that can effectively anchor polysulfides for improved battery performance.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Jake A. Klorman, Qing Guo, Kah Chun Lau
Summary: The Li-S battery shows great potential as an alternative to Li-ion battery technology due to its high specific energy capacity, but faces challenges such as polysulfide dissolution, shuttle effect, and cathode volume expansion. Atomistic simulation studies suggest that amorphous Al2O3 ALD surface has selective chemical adsorption towards lithium sulfide and polysulfide molecules, providing a promising coating material to mitigate the shuttling problem of soluble polysulfides in Li-S battery electrodes.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Jinlei Qin, Rui Wang, Pei Xiao, Deli Wang
Summary: Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are seen as promising next-generation batteries due to their high theoretical capacity and low cost. However, the electrochemistry of aprotic S is hindered by the shuttling effect and slow conversion of soluble lithium polysulfides (LiPSs). Various electrocatalysts have been developed to improve the conversion kinetics of LiPSs, with heteroatom doping and polar catalyst incorporation playing an important role in overcoming these limitations.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Electrochemistry
Shalev Blanga, Reut Yemini, Eti Teblum, Merav Tsubery, Sarah Taragin, Malachi Noked
Summary: Lithium-sulfur batteries are considered as an attractive alternative to lithium-ion batteries due to their high theoretical capacity and low cost. However, there are many challenges associated with the cathode and anode response to the electrochemical conditions, as well as the importance of the separator in preventing shuttle phenomenon.
JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yaochen Song, Pengkai Tang, Yi Wang, Linnan Bi, Qi Liang, Yilin Yao, Yuhong Qiu, Liang He, Qingyu Xie, Peng Dong, Yingjie Zhang, Yao Yao, Jiaxuan Liao, Sizhe Wang
Summary: In this study, a functional heterostructure of boron nitride (BN) and MXene was designed as a separator interlayer to overcome the sluggish redox kinetics and shuttle effect of polysulfides. The experiments and theoretical calculations confirmed that this heterostructure enabled high efficiency Li+ transmission, uniform lithium deposition, strong adsorption, and efficient catalytic conversion activities of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs). The alternately layered structure provided unblocked ion transmission channels and abundant active sites, leading to accelerated polysulfides redox kinetics with reduced energy barriers. As a result, the lithium-sulfur batteries demonstrated excellent performance, with an initial discharge capacity of up to 1273.9 mAh g(-1) and a low decay rate of 0.058% per cycle in long-term cycling.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yadong Yang, Xingxing Li, Rongjie Luo, Xuming Zhang, Jijiang Fu, Yang Zheng, Kaifu Huo, Tengfei Zhou
Summary: A novel flexible 3D nitrogen-doped graphene supported V2O3/VN heterogeneous host was constructed to promote the redox kinetics and restrain the shuttle effect of polysulfides in lithium-sulfur batteries, resulting in high reversible capacity and long-term cyclability. This work may provide a general approach for designing high-energy flexible Li-S batteries with heterostructured materials.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY FRONTIERS
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cheng Yuan, Hongtai Li, Genlin Liu, Pan Zeng, Jing Mao, Liang Zhang
Summary: Incorporating efficient electrocatalysts into sulfur cathodes is a promising strategy for improving the performance of lithium-sulfur batteries. However, the dynamic evolution of electrocatalysts during electrochemical reactions has been largely ignored. This review provides a comprehensive description of the occurrence, mechanism, and applications of electrocatalyst evolution, as well as strategies for regulating and characterizing this evolution.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY FRONTIERS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Tao Feng, Teng Zhao, Shuangfei Zhu, Ziheng Wang, Lei Wei, Nanxiang Zhang, Tinglu Song, Li Li, Feng Wu, Renjie Chen
Summary: By grafting a supramolecular polymer onto carbon materials, a network structure capable of engulfing polysulfides is formed to address the dissolution and shuttling issues in lithium-sulfur batteries, improving battery performance and stability.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xi Zhou, Xuelin Huang, Guang Li, Peng Zeng, Xiaolin Liu, Hong Liu, Manfang Chen, Xianyou Wang
Summary: A novel metal-organic framework (MOF) derivative called ZnCoFe-NC was designed and synthesized as a sulfur host for Li-S batteries. Its special hollow polyhedral structure provides physical trapping ability and chemisorption space for lithium polysulfides (LiPSs). The Zn, Co, Fe, and N doping not only have excellent chemisorption ability, but also high electrocatalytic activity, which accelerates the transformation of LiPSs and reduces their dissolution, improving the performance of Li-S batteries significantly.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Yuanyuan Shi, Zengjie Fan, Bing Ding, Zhiwei Li, Qingyang Lin, Shuang Chen, Hui Dou, Xiaogang Zhang
Summary: Depositing an ultrathin Al2O3 layer on the CPE can build a stable electrolyte/lithium interface, improving the cycling stability of solid-state LiS batteries. These batteries exhibit high initial capacity, reversible capacity, and durability under harsh conditions, showing great potential for practical application.
JOURNAL OF ELECTROANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Deobrat Singh, Rajeev Ahuja
Summary: The experimentally synthesized polypeptoid nanosheet crystal structure has brought significant advances in soft material imaging and designing biomimetic nanomaterials. By investigating the electronic structure and charge-transfer mechanism of the polypeptoid material, it was found that the material can effectively suppress the shuttle effect of LiPSs.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Puspamitra Panigrahi, Yash Pal, Tanveer Hussain, Rajeev Ahuja
Summary: The GeM monolayer demonstrates outstanding anchoring effect on LPSs, enhancing the cyclic performance of Li-S batteries and preventing the shuttle-effect. Additionally, GeM's electronic properties improve upon LPSs adsorption, ensuring ultrafast diffusion during the charge/discharge process.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ting Zhou, Jianneng Liang, Shenghua Ye, Qianling Zhang, Jianhong Liu
Summary: Li-S batteries have the advantages of high energy density and low cost, making them promising energy storage devices for future electric vehicles. However, their practical application is limited by the slow conversion reactions of LiPSs and the shuttle effect. Single atom catalysts (SACs) are being explored as efficient catalysts to promote LiPSs conversion reactions and increase the utilization of active material. This review comprehensively summarizes the mechanisms, structures, and practical applications of SACs in Li-S batteries, aiming to inspire novel ideas for designing high-performance SACs and better understand their mechanism.
ENERGY STORAGE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Donghong Duan, Wenwen Zhao, Kaixin Chen, Yunfang Wang, Shibin Liu, Xianxian Zhou, Liang Chen, Yu Li
Summary: The study synthesized layered cobalt phosphide CoP/C nanoparticles as the sulfur host to improve the electrochemical performance of Li-S batteries, showing excellent discharge specific capacity and long-cycle stability.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Changyu Yang, Ning Gong, Tao Chen, Yang Li, Wenchao Peng, Fengbao Zhang, Xiaobin Fan
Summary: This research developed a functional separator for high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries. The study also investigated the contributions of crystal structure, sulfur vacancy defects, and edges to the battery performance. The results showed that the modified separator demonstrated efficient electrocatalytic conversion and improved battery performance.
GREEN ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Heng Zhang, Haomin Chen, Jeng-Hun Lee, Eunyoung Kim, Kit-Ying Chan, Harun Venkatesan, Miracle Hope Adegun, Okikiola Ganiu Agbabiaka, Xi Shen, Qingbin Zheng, Jinglei Yang, Jang-Kyo Kim
Summary: This study presents the design of a chromotropic ionic skin that can detect and decouple multiple external stimuli, including strain, temperature, and pressure. The ionic skin shows highly sensitive responses to selective stimuli while remaining insensitive to unwanted ones.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Xi Shen, Jang-Kyo Kim
Summary: This review summarizes the recent progress in developing porous composites and structures for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding using graphene and MXene nanosheets. The relationships between material properties, microstructures, and EMI shielding performance are explored, and different technological approaches to constructing porous structures are compared. The review also highlights the multifunctional applications of porous composites and their unique compositions and microstructures.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kit-Ying Chan, Xi Shen, Jie Yang, Keng-Te Lin, Harun Venkatesan, Eunyoung Kim, Heng Zhang, Jeng-Hun Lee, Jinhong Yu, Jinglei Yang, Jang-Kyo Kim
Summary: Cooling in buildings is crucial for human well-being, but it consumes significant energy. Thermally superinsulating aerogels are promising for energy-efficient cooling, but they tend to absorb sunlight and scaling up their production is challenging. In this study, the authors develop a thermally insulating and solar-reflective anisotropic cooling aerogel panel using a freeze-casting technique, which shows excellent performance in minimizing heat gains and achieving lower interior temperatures.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yuyin Li, Hoilun Wong, Jun Wang, Weiliang Peng, Yidi Shen, Mengyang Xu, Qi An, Jang-Kyo Kim, Bin Yuan, William A. Goddard, Zhengtang Luo
Summary: Researchers have developed a novel zinc metal anode material by combining hexagonal 1T-vanadium diselenide film with graphene, which promotes more efficient zinc electrodeposition and effectively inhibits dendrite growth. Experimental results show that this material can enhance zincophilicity, reduce nucleation overpotential, and exhibit an ultra-stable cyclic life.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Manufacturing
Dan Liu, Heng Zhang, Haomin Chen, Jeng-Hun Lee, Fengmei Guo, Xi Shen, Qingbin Zheng, Jang-Kyo Kim
Summary: In this work, highly sensitive and stretchable strain sensors are designed using single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT)/graphene oxide (GO) hybrid thin films with unique wrinkled, cracked and bridged morphologies. The sensors exhibit a wide sensing range and high stability, enabling them to monitor full range human motions.
COMPOSITES PART A-APPLIED SCIENCE AND MANUFACTURING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiawen You, Jie Pan, Shun-Li Shang, Xiang Xu, Zhenjing Liu, Jingwei Li, Hongwei Liu, Ting Kang, Mengyang Xu, Shaobo Li, Deqi Kong, Wenliang Wang, Zhaoli Gao, Xing Zhou, Tianyou Zhai, Zi-Kui Liu, Jang-Kyo Kim, Zhengtang Luo
Summary: This study reports the epitaxial growth of monolayer vanadium diselenide on a mica substrate using chemical vapor deposition. The research reveals that the monolayer H-phase vanadium diselenide with a large lateral size is energetically favorable and exhibits a honeycomb-like structure with broken symmetry. Additionally, the study demonstrates the p-type transport behavior of the material.
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Sheron Tavares, Kesong Yang, Marc A. Meyers
Summary: Heusler alloys have emerged as exciting materials for various functional applications due to their ordered structure and unique properties. This review article discusses the discovery, magnetic and electronic properties, mechanical properties, and computational design of Heusler alloys. It also explores the challenges and future directions in this field.
PROGRESS IN MATERIALS SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Okikiola Ganiu Agbabiaka, Miracle Hope Adegun, Kit-Ying Chan, Heng Zhang, Xi Shen, Jang-Kyo Kim
Summary: In this study, a high dielectric energy storage composite was designed using a novel technique. The composite, consisting of reduced graphene oxide and boron nitride nanosheets as fillers, exhibited remarkable dielectric performance and ultra-low dielectric loss, achieving high energy density.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Heng Zhang, Haomin Chen, Jeng-Hun Lee, Eunyoung Kim, Kit-Ying Chan, Harun Venkatesan, Xi Shen, Jinglei Yang, Jang-Kyo Kim
Summary: This research aims to design a flexible optical/electrical skin capable of responding to complex stimuli with interactive feedback of human-readable structural colors. The OE-skin consists of various layers including an ionic electrode, elastomer dielectric layer, chromotropic layer, and a conductive carbon nanotube/MXene layer. It delivers an ultrafast, accurate response for capacitive pressure sensing and visualizes complex deformations in high-resolution spatial colors.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qun Liu, Zhenlu Yu, Qiuna Zhuang, Jang-Kyo Kim, Feiyu Kang, Biao Zhang
Summary: Hydrogel electrolytes have been widely studied in Zn metal batteries for wearable electronics, but the mechanical stability of the hydrogel under repeated deformation has been overlooked, resulting in unsatisfactory performance. This study explores the compressive fatigue-resistance properties of the hydrogel electrolyte and identifies the critical roles of the salt and copolymer matrix in crack initiation and propagation. An optimal Zn(ClO4)(2)-polyacrylamide/chitosan hydrogel electrolyte (C-PAMCS) is found to exhibit an unprecedented lifespan and high areal capacity for Zn//Zn cells, enabling potential applications in flexible Zn-ion batteries.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jie Yang, Xi Shen, Wei Yang, Jang-Kyo Kim
Summary: This review summarizes recent advances in the development of thermally conductive polymer composites using various templating methods, including self-templating, sacrificial templating, foam-templating, ice-templating, and template-directed chemical vapor deposition techniques. These unique methods allow for the fabrication of three-dimensional interconnected fillers with segregated, cellular, lamellar, and radially aligned structures, which are correlated to the thermal conductivity of the composites. Moreover, the review highlights the use of multiscale structural design strategies combined with different templating methods to further improve the thermal conductivity of the composites.
PROGRESS IN MATERIALS SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yang Li, Liangyu Li, Yunhe Zhao, Canbin Deng, Zhibin Yi, Diwen Xiao, Nauman Mubarak, Mengyang Xu, Jie Li, Guangfu Luo, Qing Chen, Jang-Kyo Kim
Summary: A hierarchical nanoporous electrode is developed by alloying Cu foam with Zn to homogenize the deposition and create nanoscale pores. This electrode shows uniform Zn deposition and stable performance in a Zn-I-2 flow battery, meeting practical demands.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mengyang Xu, Zhenjing Liu, Yang Li, Nauman Mubarak, Hoilun Wong, Mohsen Tamtaji, Yunhe Zhao, Yuyin Li, Jun Wang, Jiawen You, Hongwei Liu, Yuting Cai, Kenan Zhang, Feng Xu, Khalil Amine, Jang-Kyo Kim, Zhengtang Luo
Summary: This study presents the synthesis of tin selenide nanoparticles grown on highly conductive, porous 3D graphene foam as a stable host for sodium metal anodes and reveals their energy storage mechanism through conversion reactions. The SnSe@GF electrode exhibits remarkable reversibility after 1500 cycles in asymmetric cells and extraordinary cyclic stability and low overpotentials for 2000 h in symmetric cells. The outstanding performance is attributed to the conversion of crystalline SnSe into low-crystallinity Na15Sn4 and Na2Se dual nucleation sites after pre-sodiation, which enables the formation of a unique interface with high sodium affinity and abundant active sites, resulting in uniform sodium nucleation/plating and dendrite suppression.
ENERGY STORAGE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Eunyoung Kim, Kit-Ying Chan, Jie Yang, Harun Venkatesan, Miracle Hope Adegun, Heng Zhang, Jeng-Hun Lee, Xi Shen, Jang-Kyo Kim
Summary: In this study, the microstructure and thermal conductivity of waterborne polyurethane (WPU) aerogels were tailored through unidirectional freeze-casting at different freezing temperatures. The addition of two-dimensional boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) further intensified the anisotropy of WPU aerogels. The resulting composite aerogel exhibited low density and low thermal conductivity, making it suitable for efficient thermal insulation applications and offering better thermal management under direct sunlight.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yunhe Zhao, Yang Li, Jiatao Mao, Zhibin Yi, Nauman Mubarak, Yiting Zheng, Jang-Kyo Kim, Qing Chen
Summary: The use of iodine in aqueous flow batteries shows potential for high-performance energy storage, but the low solubility of iodine limits its efficiency. By adding acetonitrile as a cosolvent, the solubility of iodine is enhanced, leading to significantly improved current efficiency and stable charging current in the Zn-I-2 flow battery.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2022)
