Search

Native crystallographic defects are often introduced during synthesis of battery materials, but has been overlooked. Here, using in situ synchrotron X-ray probes and electron microscopy, the authors have revealed their adverse effect during battery operation.

An experimental method is used to assign partial charges based on crystal structure determination through electron diffraction, applicable to any crystalline compound.

The preparation of unprotected alicyclic amines containing variable substituents in multiple ring positions typically requires multistep synthetic sequences. Now, an advance in C–H bond functionalization methodology that enables the convenient preparation of elusive endocyclic 1-azaallyl anions allows the introduction of up to three substituents in a single operation.

Single-crystal Ni-rich cathodes improve mechanical stability but suffer from long diffusion paths and structural strain. This study presents an intralattice-bonded design that achieves near-zero degradation and exceptional cycling performance.

The growth of Li dendrites and the accumulation of dead Li significantly undermine the safety and performance of Li metal batteries. Here, authors introduce the concept of “catalytic” effect for dead Li reconversion, leading to a Li plating/stripping efficiency of 99.89%.

Important biomolecules from the birth of our Solar System such as amino acids and polyaromatic hydrocarbons were analysed in the UK meteorite fall Winchcombe by synchrotron and electron microscopy techniques with unique high energy resolution.

Layered positive electrode materials inevitably face air exposure during manufacturing. Here, authors show that single-crystalline Ni-rich layered oxides suffer greater performance degradation upon air exposure due to the defects and strain caused by surface lattice distortion and phase transition.

Safe lithium-ion batteries require stable electrolytes with high chemical resistance and high thermal tolerance. Chen et al. find a solid lithium-salt electrolyte that is able to give rise to a prolonged battery life and a delayed decomposition of battery cathodes.

Sodium layered oxide-based cathodes of sodium-ion batteries commonly suffer from structural degradation. Here, authors propose entropy regulation with zero Li/Co usage to suppress lattice strain, enhancing structural stability and improving the electrochemical performance.

In Li-ion batteries, single crystalline cobalt-free lithium transition metal oxides are less understood than their polycrystalline counterparts. Here, authors show that the absence of cobalt in single crystalline oxides results in structural degradation that ultimately degrades battery performance.

Battery cathodes tend to degrade severely during high-voltage operations. Here the authors present a cathode design with a structurally coherent architecture, ranging from ordered to disordered frameworks, that addresses this issue.

Conversion electrodes with fast charging capability and extended lifespan remains challenging. Here, authors developed Cu_0.88Sn_0.02Sb_0.02Bi_0.02Mn_0.02S_0.9Se_0.1 with entropy-driven fast-charging capability as negative electrode for sodium-ion batteries, enabling fast charging up to 100 A g⁻¹.

Oxygen redox instability at high voltages hinders the application of high-energy battery cathodes. Here the authors report that elimination of domain boundaries in single-crystal cathodes improves the redox stability and consequently the electrochemical performance in extended high-voltage cycling.

Solvent plays a critical role in electron-transfer reactions, but short-range solvation dynamics are challenging to observe. Now, femtosecond X-ray solution scattering has been used to directly monitor the reorganization of water upon ultrafast intramolecular electron transfer in a bimetallic complex. Coherent motions of the first-shell water molecules are observed, arising from changes in solute–solvent hydrogen bonding.

Sodium layered metal oxides suffer from irreversible structural deterioration at high voltage in sodium-ion batteries. Here, authors develop a magnesium ion and vacancy dual-doping strategy to enhance the anionic redox reversibility and structural stability of layered oxides.

A new study reveals that bacterial partners supply essential metabolites to the vital microalgal symbionts of corals, including metabolites that boost symbiont growth. This breakthrough increases our understanding of coral microbial ecology and also opens the door to innovative ways of protecting coral reefs.

Nb-W-O materials enable rapid Li⁺ storage, yet sub-minute charging remains unlocked. Here, the authors investigate fast-charging of Nb₁₆W₅O₅₅ cathode, revealing rate-dependent lattice relaxation and [010]-preferred Li⁺ transport, proposing interface engineering to enhance intercalation and achieve ~116 mAh g⁻¹ at 80 C in 45 s.

This study presents an approach that directly converts commercial polycrystalline Li into various monocrystalline Li metal anodes with single facets via a recrystallization technique. Using monocrystalline Li(110), the critical current density can be raised by an order of magnitude in solid-state batteries.

Liquid glycan arrays (LiGAs), presented on M13 bacteriophage surface proteins through bioorthogonal chemistry, link surface glycans to genetic barcodes in phage DNA, enabling lectin–glycan interaction profiling by DNA sequencing.

In situ synchrotron X-ray tools are used to perform microstrain screening during solid-state synthesis of battery materials, leading to fewer structural defects and improved performance.

Although Li–O₂ batteries offer high theoretical capacities, redox mediators are necessary to control intermediate reaction kinetics and to limit electrode passivation. Now it has been shown that a family of triarylmethyl cations can rival top-performing quinone-based redox mediators. Cations with sluggish catalytic rates were found to suppress surface-mediated O₂ reduction and achieve higher capacitances.

Aqueous Zn-ion batteries are promising devices but their energy storage mechanism remains elusive. Now it is shown that these involve a catalytic mechanism based on water dissociation.

Layered Ni-rich oxide cathodes are susceptible to challenges with surface reconstruction and strain propagation, limiting their cyclability. The authors propose a solution involving oriented attachment-driven reactions, utilizing Wadsley–Roth nanocrystals and layered oxide to induce an epitaxial entropy-assisted coating, effectively addressing these issues.

The use of Mn-rich layered cathodes in Na-based batteries is hindered by inadequate cycling reversibility and sluggish anionic redox kinetics. Here, the authors report a strategy to stabilize the structure and promote anionic redox via configurational entropy and ion-diffusion structural tuning.

LiMn₂O₄ spinel has a robust structure with a three-dimensional network of channels for fast Li⁺ conduction. Despite its relatively low electrochemical capacity, LiMn₂O₄ has found success as a cost-effective and high-power cathode for the Li-ion battery industry.

Lithium-sulfur batteries promise high energy density, but polysulfide shuttling acts as a major stumbling block toward practical development. Here, a redox-active interlayer is proposed to confine polysulfides, increase the cell capacity and improve cell cycle life.

Almost 30 years since the inception of lithium-ion batteries, lithium–nickel–manganese–cobalt oxides are becoming the favoured cathode type in automobile batteries. Their success lies primarily with their superior energy density relative to lithium–cobalt oxide, lithium–manganese oxide and lithium–iron phosphate electrodes.

Li-ion cathode active materials are transitioning from poly- to single-crystal structures. However, the performance of high Ni-content single-crystal cathodes remains below expectations. Here, via Al/Zr co-doping, the authors propose a strategy to mitigate structural degradation in this class of materials.

The poor structural stability of cathode materials is responsible for the rapid capacity loss of sodium-ion batteries during cycling. This work addresses the instability by introducing vacancies into the transition metal layers and realize long-life pouch cells.

It is essential to investigate the formation mechanism of closed pore, which contributes to low-voltage plateau capacity of hard carbon anode in sodium ion batteries. Herein, the authors explore the impact of wood precursor components and carbonization temperature on closed pore formation in hard carbon for enhanced battery performance.

Ensuring safety during operation is a major issue in the development of lithium-ion batteries. Coating the electrode current collector with thermoresponsive polymer composites is now shown to rapidly shut the battery down when it overheats, and to quickly resume its function when normal operating conditions return.

To unlock the potential of Mn-based cathode materials, the fast capacity fading process has to be first understood. Here the authors utilize advanced characterization techniques to look at a spinel LiMn₂O₄ system, revealing that a combination of irreversible structural transformations and Mn dissolution takes responsibility.

Lithium-oxygen batteries can deliver high-energy densities, but their performance suffers from large charge-discharge overpotential. Lu et al.design a cathode by integrating electrode coating and electrocatalyst in a nanostructured architecture, whereby the overpotential is reduced to 0.2 V.

Metal oxides with a tunnelled structure are attractive as charge storage materials for rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors. Here, the authors investigate the role of tunnel cations in governing and enhancing the electrochemical properties of electrode materials.

Insights into active sites on cathode surfaces are important in developing lithium–oxygen batteries. Here, Lu et al.present a cathode architecture deposited with precisely controlled small metal clusters, and report a cluster size-dependence of the battery discharge product morphology.

Lithium manganate is an important cathode material for lithium-ion batteries; however, its capacity-fading mechanism is unclear. Zhan et al. identify the oxidation state of manganese deposited on the anode, which leads to an irreversible rising in anode resistance and consequently a shortened battery life.

Dissolution of manganese from the cathode in lithium manganate based batteries is a major cause for the capacity decay. Here, the authors show a nanoscale surface-doping approach to mitigate the problem and to improve the battery capacity and cycleability.

The high cost of Pt severely limits fuel cell deployment, but alternative Pt-free catalysts suffer from a low activity and, especially, durability. Now, a low-Pt-content catalyst consisting of Pt and Fe single atoms, dispersed on a nitrogen-doped carbon matrix, and Pt–Fe nanoparticles is shown to exhibit excellent activity and durability in fuel cells.

Diffractive imaging of an important class of battery electrodes during cycling shows that lattice strain is a crucial yet overlooked factor that contributes to voltage fade over time.

Layered oxide cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries often experience irreversible phase transitions and structural instability. Now researchers have developed a P2-type oxide containing earth-abundant elements, featuring an intergrowth phase structure that enables long-cycle, high-energy sodium-ion batteries.