Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shimin Huang, Shenggong He, Yanzhao Li, Shaofeng Wang, Xianhua Hou
Summary: Flexible aqueous Zn-ion batteries (AZIBs) are a promising energy storage device due to their high security, low price, and competitive electrochemical performance. However, the dendrite growth of zinc anodes and the freezing of liquid electrolytes at subzero temperatures are significant drawbacks. In this study, a functional three-dimensional network hydrogel electrolyte lined with a hydrogen bond acceptor (PDC-20 gel electrolyte) was developed to overcome these challenges. By introducing dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as the hydrogen bond acceptor, the freezing point of the hydrogel electrolyte was greatly reduced, leading to improved performance and inhibition of dendrite growth. The Zn//Zn symmetry battery with PDC-20 gel electrolyte exhibited stable plating/stripping for 1300 hours, and the assembled Zn//MnO2/CNT battery showed high specific capacity and cycle stability at room temperature and -20 degrees C.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Tingting Wei, Yingke Ren, Zhaoqian Li, Xianxi Zhang, Denghui Ji, Linhua Hu
Summary: Aqueous zinc-ion batteries are promising energy storage devices due to their safety and abundant resources. However, the leakage, dendrites, and poor performance at high and low temperatures seriously limit the practical application. In this study, a functional gel electrolyte composed of polyacrylamide (PAM), ZnSO4 (ZS), glycerol (GL), and acetonitrile (AN) is proposed, which exhibits excellent mechanical properties, high ionic conductivity, and modulated bonding interaction. The batteries with gel electrolyte demonstrate high cycling stability, high reversibility, and enhanced electrochemical performance even at extreme temperatures.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Le Yu, Jing Huang, Sijun Wang, Luhe Qi, Shanshan Wang, Chaoji Chen
Summary: The use of water-immiscible ionic liquid diluent EmimFSI can suppress the reactivity of water in aqueous electrolytes toward metallic zinc and protect the zinc solvates, which is beneficial for the commercialization of aqueous zinc metal batteries. The ionic liquid diluent plays a role in regulating the reaction during zinc deposition, resulting in a highly uniform and stable zinc deposition layer. In addition, the low vapor pressure nature of the ionic liquid allows for efficient separation and recovery of high-value components from the spent electrolyte, promising a sustainable future for aqueous zinc metal batteries.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xilin Wang, Bin Wang, Jianli Cheng
Summary: Flexible aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are hindered by zinc dendrite growth and poor mechanical durability at the electrolyte-electrode interface. This study develops multi-healable and mechanically durable hydrogel electrolytes to improve the durability and extend the lifetime of flexible ZIBs. The obtained double cross-linked polyacrylamide electrolyte (PAAm-O-B) exhibits good mechanical properties and stable electrochemical performance, leading to high capacity and long cycle lifespan for flexible Zn//MnO2 batteries.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Electrochemistry
Xiaomin Zeng, Xiangjuan Meng, Wei Jiang, Min Ling, Lijing Yan, Chengdu Liang
Summary: The study focuses on improving the performance of zinc anodes by constructing a polyacrylamide interphase, which enables homogeneous nucleation and high coulombic efficiency, leading to an extended lifespan of the battery.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nannan Zhang, Shuo Huang, Zishun Yuan, Jiacai Zhu, Zifang Zhao, Zhiqiang Niu
Summary: In this study, an ultrathin and uniform MXene layer was assembled on the surface of zinc anodes using an in situ spontaneously reducing/assembling strategy. The integrated MXene layer reduced the zinc nucleation energy barrier and provided a more uniformly distributed electric field, resulting in low voltage hysteresis and excellent cycling stability with dendrite-free behaviors in zinc-ion batteries.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qiaoli Zhang, Jinrui Liang, Mengchao Li, Jinli Qin, Yajun Zhao, Longtao Ren, Wen Liu, Chengkai Yang, Xiaoming Sun
Summary: This study fabricates an organic-inorganic composite layer on the surface of zinc metal anode, which provides a rapid diffusion path for Zn2+ and suppresses dendrite growth and H2 evolution reaction. Experimental results show that this layer enables stable performance of the zinc anode under various test conditions, with 1000 cycles achieved in combination with VO2 cathode.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Electrochemistry
Leilei Du, Xu Hou, Xiaofei Yang, Vassilios Siozios, Bo Yan, Xiaokang Ju, Elie Paillard, Martin Winter, Tobias Placke, Jie Li
Summary: In this study, an artificial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer was designed to improve the cycling stability and polarization voltage issues of rechargeable aqueous zinc batteries (AZBs) by coating the zinc anode with a zinc-phytate (ZP) layer. Experimental results showed that the modified zinc anode exhibited better cycling stability and a smooth interface, demonstrating the potential application of the coating layer.
BATTERIES & SUPERCAPS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Miao Sun, Guochen Ji, Junping Zheng
Summary: A novel semi-interpenetrating network P(PEGMEA-AM)/PAM hydrogel electrolyte (s- PPMHE) with molecular chain designability was successfully constructed in this study. The abundant C-O-C functional groups in the linear polymer chain of s-PPMHE could significantly accelerate Zn2+ migration and regulate the electric field distribution of Zn2+, resulting in excellent electrochemical performance.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Zhuoyuan Zheng, Haichuan Cao, Wenhui Shi, Chunling She, Xianlong Zhou, Lili Liu, Yusong Zhu
Summary: A zinc-alginate hydrogel-polymer electrolyte was prepared to solve the issues of dendrite growth, capacity degradation, and short lifetime in aqueous zinc-ion batteries. The hydrogel-polymer electrolyte exhibited high ionic conductivity, excellent mechanical properties, and good thermal and electrochemical stability.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Minfeng Chen, Jizhang Chen, Weijun Zhou, Xiang Han, Yagang Yao, Ching-Ping Wong
Summary: A all-round hydrogel electrolyte was developed using cotton, tetraethyl orthosilicate, and glycerol, exhibiting high ionic conductivity and excellent mechanical properties.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Wenxi Wang, Gang Huang, Yizhou Wang, Zhen Cao, Luigi Cavallo, Mohamed N. Hedhili, Husam N. Alshareef
Summary: A 3D zinc foil with hierarchical porous architecture is developed using a non-aqueous organic acid etching strategy, which significantly enhances the accessibility to aqueous electrolytes. The 3D zinc anode enables preferential plating of zinc in the porous texture with suppressed dendrite growth, leading to a long cycle life and improved rate performance.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yu Zhang, Zeping Liu, Xin Li, Lishuang Fan, Yong Shuai, Naiqing Zhang
Summary: Aqueous zinc ion batteries with improved zinc transfer ability have been achieved by modifying the structural unit of the polymer separator. Experimental results and theoretical simulations showed that modifying the polymer skeleton with carbonylation side groups weakened the interaction between zinc and the polymer, leading to improved zinc ion transfer capability and stable performance of the metal anodes. This research opens up promising strategies for stabilizing metal anodes in polymeric separators.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Wenjing Feng, Zengteng Liang, Wei Zhou, Xingpeng Li, Wenbo Wang, Yonglei Chi, Weidong Liu, Duojie Gengzang, Guoheng Zhang, Qiong Chen, Peiyu Wang, Wanjun Chen, Shengguo Zhang
Summary: Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries face challenges such as corrosion, passivation, hydrogen evolution reaction, and the growth of severe zinc dendrites. In this study, the introduction of sodium bicarbonate additive into the zinc sulfate electrolyte effectively inhibits the growth of zinc dendrites and improves the performance and cycle life of the batteries. This finding has the potential to benefit research on using inorganic additives to inhibit zinc dendrites and parasitic reactions in electrochemical and energy storage applications.
DALTON TRANSACTIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Young-Hoon Lee, Yunseo Jeoun, Ji Hwan Kim, Jaehyuk Shim, Kwang-Soon Ahn, Seung-Ho Yu, Yung-Eun Sung
Summary: This research achieved uniform Zn deposition, suppression of corrosion, and vanadium oxide-based cathode dissolution in aqueous zinc-ion batteries by using a selective ion transport layer composed of MOF-801, thereby improving the performance and stability of the batteries.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ning He, Wei Ling, Xixi Ji, Chengrong Yu, Shang Liu, Bao Qin, Xuan Zhang, Yexin Zhou, Funian Mo, Hao Lei, Lin Zeng, Meng Lin, Zheng Zhong, Jie Yu, Yan Huang
Summary: This study presents the design of an automatic snorkeling electronic equipment driven by a self-breathing flexible aqueous aluminum-air battery. It integrates the functions of snorkeling and electric energy supply, promoting high efficiency in underwater operations.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Qingjiang Liu, Zhenyuan Ji, Funian Mo, Wei Ling, Jiaqi Wang, Hao Lei, Mangwei Cui, Zishuai Zhang, Yao Liu, Lukuan Cheng, Wenzheng Li, Yan Huang
Summary: This study developed a hydrogel-based zinc-ion yarn battery with excellent thermochromic features and electrochemical performance. It has great potential for high-temperature warning and effectively avoiding low-temperature scalding, providing a new approach and application for developing reliable, durable, and wearable smart batteries.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Sheng Chen, Yihan Wang, Guo Pu, Yi Xue, Kun Zhang, Yan Huang
Summary: This paper provides a systematic review of recent advances in high-entropy materials (HEM) in the fields of electrocatalysis and energy storage. It focuses on controlled syntheses, atomic-scale structural analyses, progress in electronic properties, and quantum calculations. The electrochemical performances of HEM in representative reactions and batteries are discussed to demonstrate structure-composition-property relationships. Finally, the future development prospects of HEM in terms of controllable syntheses, deep characterizations and analyses, and applications are discussed and anticipated.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Jiaqi Wang, Ning He, Jinbo Fei, Zhiyuan Ma, Zhenyuan Ji, Zhe Chen, Ningyuan Nie, Yan Huang
Summary: This paper reviews the primary configuration strategies for fabricating flexible and wearable fuel cells and discusses their future applications. It aims to contribute to the development of flexible and wearable fuel cells by comprehensively understanding the current strategies and further research directions.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Yao Liu, Shuailong Guo, Wei Ling, Mangwei Cui, Hao Lei, Jiaqi Wang, Wenzheng Li, Qingjiang Liu, Lukuan Cheng, Yan Huang
Summary: As a general problem in battery field, materials produced on a large industrial scale often have unsatisfactory electrochemical performances. However, a highly reversible Mn-based cathode has been developed from industrial-scale MO, which triples the ion diffusion rate and greatly promotes charge transfer. It exhibits improved electrochemical performance and energy density, providing new opportunities for large-scale application of high-performance and low-cost batteries.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Xiaoxiong Zheng, Qiuchen Ma, Yuan Tao, Yan Huang, Mingyu Li, Hongjun Ji
Summary: High-efficiency seamless ultrasonic welding of reprogrammable silver nanowire-LCE composites (AgNW-LCEs) has been achieved without any auxiliary reagents based on dynamic silver-disulfide coordination interactions. The welding technology combines the silver-disulfide coordination interactions and ultrasonic vibration to effectively weld AgNWs and dynamic LC networks. The welded AgNW-LCEs show exceptional strain healing efficiency, stress healing efficiency, and maintained LC alignment. This work enables the development of multi-responsive entirely soft actuators based on smart polymers.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zishuai Zhang, Wei Ling, Ninggui Ma, Jiaqi Wang, Xiaoyang Chen, Jun Fan, Miao Yu, Yan Huang
Summary: In this study, a layered Mo4/3B2T2 MBene with in-plane ordered metal vacancies was proposed as an iodine species host for an aqueous Zn||I-2 battery, demonstrating high rate tolerance and long cycle life. The performance was attributed to the strong affinity with iodine species and accelerated redox kinetics provided by the conductive MBene with metal vacancies. This work presents a new route for the development of other batteries with superior durability and kinetics.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kefeng Ouyang, Sheng Chen, Wei Ling, Mangwei Cui, Qing Ma, Kun Zhang, Peixin Zhang, Yan Huang
Summary: This study develops a synergistic modulation strategy based on electrolyte modification to achieve stable zinc anode performance in aqueous zinc-ion batteries. By inhibiting pH variation and parasitic side reactions, accelerating dissolution and regulating ion diffusion behavior, the modified zinc anode demonstrates impressive lifespan and excellent cycle stability and rate performance in high-loading zinc-ion batteries.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hao Lei, Mangwei Cui, Wenzheng Li, Yan Huang
Summary: Noble metal catalysts are currently the most effective choice for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in direct methanol fuel cells, as the onset potential of non-noble metal-based catalysts is much higher than that of Pt, making it impossible to form a cell. In this study, a high-performance non-noble-metal-based (CoSn) MOR catalyst with a small amount of Pt (3.2 wt%) was developed. It exhibited even lower overpotential than Pt/C (260 mV lower), exceptional stability (retaining 610 mA mg(Pt)(-1) after 28 hours of chronoamperometry testing, the highest reported value for methanol oxidation), and high methanol oxidation activity (3680 mA mg(Pt)(-1)). This CoSn-Pt catalyst was synthesized by utilizing a Pt plate as a counter electrode, innovatively realizing composite electrodeposition in a deep eutectic solvent.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Quan Wu, Yan Huang, Jie Yu
Summary: The rational design of low-cost and efficient catalysts is crucial for hydrogen energy production. In this study, a novel N-VGSs@CB/CoP catalyst is fabricated and shows remarkable catalytic performance in alkaline medium, with low overpotentials and stable operation.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiuling Shi, Yuchuan Sun, Yibo Weng, Xiaoying Long, Tongxing Lei, Jianli Zhou, Deping Li, Jin Zhang, Yan Huang, Lijie Ci, Kaikai Li, Tong-Yi Zhang
Summary: In this study, the structure of the cathode material for zinc-ion batteries is modified to improve the stability and cycle life of the batteries. The introduction of CNTs is found to reduce the strain in the cathode material, leading to enhanced stability, high capacity, and long cycle life.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Hao Lei, Mangwei Cui, Yan Huang
Summary: This study presents a facile and scalable catalyst doping scheme to prepare S-doped carbon nitride (S-C3N4) as a metal-free catalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The S-doped catalyst exhibits excellent OER and ORR electrocatalytic activities in alkaline electrolytes, comparable to commercial Pt/C. It is found that S doping enhances the catalytic activity by increasing lattice defects and promoting the conversion of nitrogen species.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Review
Electrochemistry
Liangliang Yang, Qingjiang Liu, Youfa Liu, Xiaoyang Chen, Jinhao Luo, Yan Huang
Summary: With the rapid development of rechargeable energy storage devices, smart electrochemical energy storage devices with shape memory function have attracted attention as a new intelligent solution. This review provides a brief introduction to the mechanisms and materials of shape memory, summarizes the recent research progress and applications of electrochemical energy storage devices with shape memory function, and discusses the challenges and opportunities in the development of shape memory electrochemical devices.
BATTERIES & SUPERCAPS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Youfa Liu, Mangwei Cui, Wei Ling, Lukuan Cheng, Hao Lei, Wenzheng Li, Yan Huang
Summary: This article comprehensively summarizes thermo-electrochemical cells (TECs) from their foundations to materials, strategies to engineering designs, and opportunities to challenges, aiming to promote the development of TECs towards superior performance and practicability.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qifan Liu, Zhiyuan Ma, Zhe Chen, Mangwei Cui, Hao Lei, Jiaqi Wang, JinBo Fei, Ning He, Yao Liu, Qingjiang Liu, Wenzheng Li, Yan Huang
Summary: A modification strategy of polyaniline (PANI) coating on zinc ferricyanide (ZnHCF) is proposed to inhibit the dissolution of ZnHCF and achieve two stable discharge voltage platforms and high capacity in Zn-ion batteries. The battery also exhibits high stretchability and maintains stable electrochemical properties during stretching.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
