Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chen-Chen Weng, Jin-Tao Ren, Hao-Yu Wang, Xian-Wei Lv, Yue-Jun Song, Yan-Su Wang, Lei Chen, Wen-Wen Tian, Zhong-Yong Yuan
Summary: The study focuses on the regulation of the reaction interface microenvironment by structural engineering of a hollow spherical bimetallic electrocatalyst. The well-constructed triple-phase contact points enhance the catalytic efficiency and introduce sulfur dopant to improve catalytic activity. The CoFe-SNC with such a designed microenvironment shows outstanding performance in oxygen reduction reaction and rechargeable Zn-air batteries.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Tingting Yu, Haitao Xu, Zeyu Jin, Yanyi Zhang, Hua -Jun Qiu
Summary: This study constructs electrocatalysts with high activity for both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in a multi-component high-entropy oxide (HEO) by adjusting the composition and proportion of metal elements. A highly bifunctional HEO/Co-N-C nanocomposite electrocatalyst is synthesized by integrating the highly ORR active Co-N-C with the multi-component HEO. When used in a Zn-air battery, this electrocatalyst achieves small charge/discharge voltage differences and ultralong lifespan.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Tao Yu, Xiaoting Cao, Ruili Song, Lvzhou Li, Xu Dong, Jiangnan Li, Xi Wang, Xiaoshuang Zhou, Ningyi Yuan, Jianning Ding
Summary: By adding an iron source and using pyrolysis and phosphorylation methods, an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst (FeCo-NC@Co2P-NC) was synthesized on ZIF-67, which exhibited excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activities, outperforming commercial Pt/C and RuO2 catalysts. This study provides a novel strategy for the rational design of efficient non-precious metal electrocatalysts.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiaoli Cui, Yuxuan Tao, Xinxin Xu, Guoping Yang
Summary: To enhance the performance of MoO2 in Zn-air battery, P-doped MoO2 (P-MoO2) is synthesized, which exhibits excellent ORR/OER activities. In Zn-air battery, using P-MoO2 as the cathode material, the open circuit voltage and power density reach 1.46 V and 121.9 mW cm(-2). At 10 mA cm(-2), the Zn-air battery has a specific capacitance of 838.7 mAh center dot g(Zn)(-1) and energy density of 927.8 Wh center dot kg(Zn)(-1). This study not only provides a feasible method to improve the performance of MoO2 in Zn-air battery, but also reveals the mechanism of enhanced ORR/OER activities after P-doping.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Lin-Bo Huang, Lu Zhao, Yun Zhang, Hao Luo, Xing Zhang, Jianan Zhang, Hui Pan, Jin-Song Hu
Summary: The morphology and structure of carbon shells significantly affect the performance of FeCo catalysts in Zn-air batteries. Well-graphitized carbon shells can maintain the stability and ORR activity of FeCo nanocrystals, while disordered and defect-rich carbon shells lead to a decrease in activity.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiangjun Zheng, Xuecheng Cao, Yu Zhang, Kai Zeng, Long Chen, Ruizhi Yang
Summary: A cobalt-doped Mn-2(OH)(3)VO3 catalyst was prepared by a facile hydrothermal method, with tuned ratios of cationic redox couples to achieve enhanced electrocatalytic performance. When employed as an air-cathode catalyst for rechargeable Zn-air batteries, the catalyst showed high power density, enhanced rate performance, and outstanding long-term stability.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lijuan Wang, Zixiang Xu, Tingyu Peng, Maosong Liu, Long Zhang, Jianming Zhang
Summary: A facile silica xerogel strategy was designed to synthesize uniformly dispersed and dense Co-N-x active sites, improving the performance of bifunctional catalysts.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Weikang Hu, Yuying Bai, Shengjie Yao, Qiang Liu, Xiaoxue Xu, Tianxi Lv, Dag Noreus
Summary: In this study, various morphological spinel oxides with one and two-modal pore size structures were examined. The bicomponent spinel exhibited a bimodal pore size distribution and good OER activity, while the single-component spinel showed better ORR activities. The morphology of the spinel oxides, resembling fish gills or window patterns, played a crucial role in enhancing their electrocatalytic performance.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sebastian Lorca, Javier Torres, Jose L. Serrano, Jose Perez, Jose Abad, Florencio Santos, Antonio J. Fernandez Romero
Summary: A synthetic route involving thermal treatment of Ru co-ordination complexes was used to prepare RuO2-based materials with catalytic activity for ORR and OER reactions. Characterization confirmed the presence of Ru metal and RuP3O9 in the materials, with improved electrocatalytic performance obtained from calcinated RuCl2(PPh3)3. The catalysts were tested in all-solid and flooded alkaline Zn/air batteries, showing high specific discharge capacity and power density.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Lili Bo, Wenping Shi, Fang Nian, Yusen Hu, Lumei Pu, Ping Li, Zhixia Zhang, Jinhui Tong
Summary: In this study, Co3S4@Co3O4/NSC composite materials with core@shell nanostructures were successfully fabricated using a two-step pyrolysis-oxidation strategy. The composited catalysts exhibited tailorable and excellent bifunctional electrocatalytic activities on oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) through the construction of heterointerfaces and control of surface oxidation degree. The optimized catalyst Co3S4@Co3O4/NSC-260-8 showed superior performance as the air cathode in a rechargeable Zn-air battery (ZAB), with high specific capacity and energy density surpassing those of the comparison catalyst Pt/C (20%) + RuO2. The catalyst also demonstrated robust stability with no significant decrease in voltage after 200 hours of charging and discharging cycles. This work presents a feasible concept for designing and constructing heterostructural and multifunctional composite catalysts with heterointerfaces.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chen-Chen Weng, Xian-Wei Lv, Jin-Tao Ren, Yan-Su Wang, Wen-Wen Tian, Li-Jiao Gao, Hao-Yu Wang, Zhong-Yong Yuan
Summary: Recent research on rechargeable metal-air batteries has achieved improved electrocatalytic activity and battery performance by embedding FeOx-Co3O4 solid solution in nitrogen-doped porous carbon frameworks. The reconstructed functionalized surface, consisting of highly conductive CoFe alloy and defect-rich structure, enhances conductivity and reactivity.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Evgeny V. Rebrov, Peng-Zhao Gao
Summary: Zn-air batteries are a promising power source for small electronic devices and electric vehicles due to their high specific energy density and low cost. This review summarizes exciting advancements and challenges in the development of molecular catalysts for cathode reactions in Zn-air batteries, with a focus on bifunctional electrocatalysts for ORR and OER. Strategies for catalyst development and enhancing performance through the application of a magnetic field are discussed. Properly designed bifunctional molecular ORR/OER catalysts can significantly improve battery reversibility and energy efficiency.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chao Zhang, Huifeng Dong, Binling Chen, Tianxu Jin, Jun Nie, Guiping Ma
Summary: The study successfully prepared 3D-structured catalysts with bifunctional activity and long durability, showing outstanding electrocatalytic performance in aqueous and flexible ZABs, with promising applications in the future.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Emanuele Marini, Danilo Oliveira De Souza, Giuliana Aquilanti, Michael Liebert, Francesca Rossi, Benedetto Bozzini
Summary: This study utilized operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy to investigate the chemical changes of manganese oxide component in a newly developed O-2 bi-functional gas diffusion electrode under normal operating conditions and conditions simulating oxygen starvation.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Rui Wang, Zihan Meng, Xuemin Yan, Tian Tian, Ming Lei, Rami Adel Pashameah, Hala M. Abo-Dief, Hassan Algadi, Nina Huang, Zhanhu Guo, Haolin Tang
Summary: This study prepared a sulfurized iron and nitrogen codoped carbon material by using Te nanowires as an in-situ intervening agent. The bonding of Te with Fe increased the N content and the proportion of pyridinic N on the material surface, thereby improving the catalytic performance for oxygen reduction reaction. The assembled Zn-air battery exhibited a maximum power density of 250 mW/cm 2 and excellent rate capability, outperforming Pt/C.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sailin Liu, Jitraporn (Pimm) Vongsvivut, Yanyan Wang, Ruizhi Zhang, Fuhua Yang, Shilin Zhang, Kenneth Davey, Jianfeng Mao, Zaiping Guo
Summary: To stabilize the zinc anode in zinc metal batteries, researchers have developed a controlled electrolytic method using a high dipole moment solvent dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) to create a monolithic solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). This DMMP-based electrolyte generates a homogeneous and robust phosphate SEI (Zn-3(PO4)(2) and ZnP2O6). With the protection provided by this in situ monolithic SEI, the zinc electrode exhibits long-term cycling performance and high Coulombic efficiency in both zinc|zinc and zinc|copper cells. The use of a DMMP-H2O hybrid electrolyte in a full V2O5|zinc battery also results in high capacity retention following a large number of cycles.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hao Li, Quanwei Ma, Yizhi Yuan, Rui Wang, Ziyang Wang, Qianyu Zhang, Longhai Zhang, Jian Zhu, Shilin Zhang, Jianfeng Mao, Hongbao Li, Svetlana Eliseeva, Veniamin Kondratiev, Yun Zhang, Chaofeng Zhang, Yuping Wu
Summary: In this study, N, S co-doped carbon hollow nanospheres (NS-HCSs) were synthesized and used as an anode material for potassium ion batteries. The NS-HCSs exhibited high reversible capacity and excellent long-term cycling performance. The K-storage mechanism and dynamic evolution processes of the NS-HCSs were revealed through combined experiment and theoretical computation.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Guanjie Li, Liang Sun, Shilin Zhang, Chaofeng Zhang, Huanyu Jin, Kenneth Davey, Gemeng Liang, Sailin Liu, Jianfeng Mao, Zaiping Guo
Summary: Growth in intermittent renewables has led to increased interest in electrical energy storage. Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are a promising option, but face restrictions due to drawbacks in cathode materials. This study provides a comprehensive summary of the latest cathode materials, critical review of problems and causes, evaluation of practical challenges, and discussion of potential solutions. The findings will be of interest and benefit to researchers and manufacturers working on AZIBs for grid-scale energy storage.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zixiang Liu, Rui Wang, Quanwei Ma, Jiandong Wan, Shilin Zhang, Longhai Zhang, Hongbao Li, Qiquan Luo, Jiang Wu, Tengfei Zhou, Jianfeng Mao, Lin Zhang, Chaofeng Zhang, Zaiping Guo
Summary: Tripropylene glycol (TG) is used as an organic electrolyte additive to significantly improve the reversibility of aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs). TG participates in the solvation sheath of Zn2+, regulating overpotential and inhibiting side reactions, while also inhibiting the deterioration of dendrites and modifying the direction of zinc deposition. This method can result in dendrite-free, high-performance, and low-cost energy storage systems.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yanqiu Lyu, Jodie A. Yuwono, Pengtang Wang, Yanyan Wang, Fuhua Yang, Sailin Liu, Shilin Zhang, Baofeng Wang, Kenneth Davey, Jianfeng Mao, Zaiping Guo
Summary: A class of N-containing heterocyclic compounds acts as organic pH buffers in aqueous Zn-Iodine (I-2) batteries to mitigate issues such as Zn dendrites, hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), corrosion, and polyiodines shuttle. These compounds regulate electrolyte pH, inhibit HER and anode corrosion, and preferentially absorb on Zn metal, achieving non-dendritic Zn plating/stripping. The batteries with these buffers exhibit high Coulombic efficiency, long-term cycling stability, and improved conversion kinetics.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xin Hui, Jiachang Zhao, Jianfeng Mao, Hongbin Zhao
Summary: CuCo2Se4/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites were prepared for the first time by a solvothermal method, and applied as anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with excellent performance. CuCo2Se4/rGO showed a reversible capacity of 845.49 mAh g-1 (0.1 A g-1) after 200 cycles, significantly better than CuCo2Se4 (36.90 mAh g-1). The rate performance of CuCo2Se4/rGO (318.4 mAh g-1 at 2 A g-1) was much better than the pure CuCo2Se4 (15.1 mAh g-1 at 2 A g-1). The results indicate a promising future for CuCo2Se4/rGO in LIBs.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2023)
Review
Physics, Applied
Sailin Liu, Ruizhi Zhang, Jianfeng Mao, Jodie Yuwono, Cheng Wang, Kenneth Davey, Zaiping Guo
Summary: Aqueous alkali and multivalent metal-ion batteries have advantages in large-scale energy storage due to safety and environmental friendliness. However, they suffer from low energy density and short life due to limited electrochemical stability windows and rapid degradation of electrode materials. This review provides a systematic analysis of electrolyte design strategies, interfacial stability, and electrode/electrolyte interphases for boosted aqueous rechargeable batteries. The findings suggest that high-concentration electrolytes and hybrid solvent design show promise for high energy density ARBs, but there is a need for longer cycling life improvement and boosting electrolyte stability.
APPLIED PHYSICS REVIEWS
(2023)
Review
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Qi Chen, Hongwei Kang, Yuchen Gao, Longhai Zhang, Rui Wang, Shilin Zhang, Tengfei Zhou, Hongbao Li, Jianfeng Mao, Chaofeng Zhang, Zaiping Guo
Summary: Organic compounds have great potential as electrode materials for rechargeable batteries, but their inherent defects limit their cycling life and capacity. nanostructured porous polymers (NPP) have been designed and prepared to overcome these limitations, showing superior lithium storage performance.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rui Wang, Quanwei Ma, Longhai Zhang, Zixiang Liu, Jiandong Wan, Jianfeng Mao, Hongbao Li, Shilin Zhang, Junnan Hao, Lin Zhang, Chaofeng Zhang
Summary: In this study, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (DG) was introduced as an electrolyte additive to enhance the reversibility and long-term cycling stability of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) in a wide temperature range. The addition of DG disrupted the hydrogen bonding network of the electrolyte, mitigated water-induced parasitic reactions, and formed a self-healing solid electrolyte interphase, leading to improved battery performance.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kaiping Zhu, Can Guo, Wenbin Gong, Qinghua Xiao, Yagang Yao, Kenneth Davey, Qinghong Wang, Jianfeng Mao, Pan Xue, Zaiping Guo
Summary: In this study, an electrostatic field layer (EFL) was established using an electrolyte additive of cobalt tetraaminophthalocyanine (Co(TAPC)) to address the instability issue of the Zn metal/electrolyte interface, parasitic reactions, and dendritic growth, resulting in low Coulombic efficiency (CE) and poor cycle life. The Co(TAPC) with a planar and large conjugated ring structure could preferentially absorb on the Zn metal anode to form a zincophilic EFL, which prevents direct contact of Zn and water, suppresses side reactions, promotes desolvation and Zn2+ diffusion kinetics, and balances the space electric field, thereby enabling high-rate and dendrite-free Zn deposition.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mingnan Li, Caoyu Wang, Kenneth Davey, Jingxi Li, Guanjie Li, Shilin Zhang, Jianfeng Mao, Zaiping Guo
Summary: Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) have high energy density but face challenges with the instability of the Li metal/electrolyte interface. This review provides a systematic summary of recent progress in electrolytes for high-performance LMBs, including understanding the mechanism, addressing challenges, and analyzing various electrolyte strategies. Suggestions for optimum electrolyte properties and promising research directions are also discussed.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yaqin Zhu, Yan Wu, Jiachang Zhao, Xiaohui Zeng, Jianfeng Mao, Jiajun Chen
Summary: Bismuth-based anodes have attracted significant attention for lithium-ion batteries due to their high theoretical capacity. However, they suffer from excessive volume expansion during cycling, leading to reduced cycling stability. In this study, a nitrogen-doped carbon-coated Bi2Se3-xTex composite was synthesized using a solvothermal method followed by heat treatment, demonstrating excellent electrochemical properties.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chengxin Peng, Linlin Xue, Zhengfei Zhao, Longyuan Guo, Chenyue Zhang, Aoxuan Wang, Jianfeng Mao, Shixue Dou, Zaiping Guo
Summary: This study proposes a new amine mediated chemistry strategy to achieve a highly reversible and high-rate Mg-CO2 battery in a conventional electrolyte. Experimental characterization and theoretical computation reveal that the introduced amine can modify the reactant state of CO2 and Mg2+ simultaneously, accelerating CO2 cathodic reactions and facilitating the formation of a highly reversible Mg anode. The results show that the Mg-CO2 battery exhibits excellent cyclability and high-rate capability.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jianfeng Mao, Chao Ye, Shilin Zhang, Fangxi Xie, Rong Zeng, Kenneth Davey, Zaiping Guo, Shizhang Qiao
Summary: This article reviews the advances and advantages of automotive LIB recycling, as well as the evaluation of new cycling-oriented designs. The research shows that practical battery recycling can address environmental pollution and resource waste, while promoting sustainability.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Jianfeng Mao, Caoyu Wang, Yanqiu Lyu, Ruizhi Zhang, Yanyan Wang, Sailin Liu, Zhijie Wang, Shilin Zhang, Zaiping Guo
Summary: Potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) are considered a low-cost and complementary technology to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to the abundance of potassium. Electrolyte plays a crucial role in the electrochemical performance of PIBs. Recent research on electrolyte engineering has shown promising results, but there are still limitations for practical applications. Further analysis and improvement are necessary.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2022)