Featured
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| Open AccessOptimizing potassium polysulfides for high performance potassium-sulfur batteries
Potassium-sulfur battery are promising materials for next-generation high energy, low cost batteries. Here the authors explore a tungsten based catalytic composite for optimizing potassium polysulfides and improve K-S electrochemistry in batteries
- Wanqing Song
- , Xinyi Yang
- & Wenbin Hu
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Comment
| Open AccessThe rise of high-entropy battery materials
The emergence of high-entropy materials has inspired the exploration of novel materials in diverse technologies. In electrochemical energy storage, high-entropy design has shown advantageous impacts on battery materials such as suppressing undesired short-range order, frustrating energy landscape, decreasing volumetric change and reducing the reliance on critical metals. This comment addresses the definition and potential improper use of the term “high entropy” in the context of battery materials design, highlights the unique properties of high-entropy materials in battery applications, and outlines the remaining challenges in the synthesis, characterization, and computational modeling of high-entropy battery materials.
- Bin Ouyang
- & Yan Zeng
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Article
| Open AccessIntegrated energy storage and CO2 conversion using an aqueous battery with tamed asymmetric reactions
A system integrating CO2 conversion and energy storage holds great promise, but faces a major challenge due to degraded catalysts on charge. Here, the authors present a highly efficient energy storage and CO2 reduction method in an aqueous battery, achieved through oxidation of reducing molecules.
- Yumei Liu
- , Yun An
- & Quanquan Pang
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Article
| Open AccessExperimentally validated design principles of heteroatom-doped-graphene-supported calcium single-atom materials for non-dissociative chemisorption solid-state hydrogen storage
Via the first-principles calculations and experimental verifications, a guiding principle is established to design heteroatom-doped-graphene-supported Ca single-atom carbon nanomaterials for efficient non-dissociative solid-state hydrogen storage.
- Yong Gao
- , Zhenglong Li
- & Hongge Pan
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Article
| Open AccessA rechargeable Ca/Cl2 battery
The development of practical Ca metal batteries has been hindered by the cathode chemistry. Here, the authors report a rechargeable Ca/Cl2 battery, which involves the reversible cathode redox reaction between CaCl2 and Cl2.
- Shitao Geng
- , Xiaoju Zhao
- & Hao Sun
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Article
| Open AccessHighly loaded bimetallic iron-cobalt catalysts for hydrogen release from ammonia
Inexpensive iron catalysts often exhibit low activity in ammonia decomposition due to a strong iron-nitrogen binding energy. Here the authors demonstrate that combining iron with cobalt to form a Fe-Co bimetallic catalyst overcomes this limitation, presenting a promising solution for enhancing ammonia decomposition efficiency.
- Shilong Chen
- , Jelena Jelic
- & Malte Behrens
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Article
| Open AccessEffect of solid-electrolyte pellet density on failure of solid-state batteries
A critical challenge of solid-state batteries is Li-filament penetration. Here, by quantifying microstructural properties and employing modeling techniques, the authors provide insight into solid-state battery failure modes and offer design guidelines to enhance safety and performance.
- Mouhamad S. Diallo
- , Tan Shi
- & Gerbrand Ceder
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Article
| Open AccessBoosting a practical Li-CO2 battery through dimerization reaction based on solid redox mediator
Li–CO2 batteries following Li2CO3-product route suffers from low output voltage and severe parasitic reactions. Here, the authors introduce a copper-based solid redox mediator in Li–CO2 batteries with an efficient Li2C2O4 product route to circumvent the shuttle effect and sluggish kinetics caused by soluble mediators.
- Wei Li
- , Menghang Zhang
- & Haoshen Zhou
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Article
| Open AccessAn extended substrate screening strategy enabling a low lattice mismatch for highly reversible zinc anodes
The growth of dendrites and the occurrence of side reactions at zinc anodes currently impede the practical use of aqueous zinc batteries. Here, the authors present an advanced substrate screening approach aimed at stabilizing zinc anodes, thereby enabling the development of high-rate zinc-metal batteries.
- Zhiyang Zheng
- , Xiongwei Zhong
- & Guangmin Zhou
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Article
| Open AccessRapid-charging aluminium-sulfur batteries operated at 85 °C with a quaternary molten salt electrolyte
Molten salt aluminium-sulfur batteries exhibit high-rate capability and moderate energy density, but suffer from high operating temperature. Here the authors demonstrate a rapidly charging aluminum-sulfur battery operating at 85 °C enabled by a quaternary alkali chloroaluminate electrolyte.
- Jiashen Meng
- , Xufeng Hong
- & Quanquan Pang
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Article
| Open AccessAlkaline-based aqueous sodium-ion batteries for large-scale energy storage
Aqueous sodium-ion batteries show promise for large-scale energy storage, yet face challenges due to water decomposition, limiting their energy density and lifespan. Here, the authors report a cathode surface coating strategy in an alkaline electrolyte to enhance the stability of both electrolyte and battery.
- Han Wu
- , Junnan Hao
- & Shi-Zhang Qiao
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Article
| Open AccessA dicarbonate solvent electrolyte for high performance 5 V-Class Lithium-based batteries
Rechargeable lithium batteries featuring 5 V cathodes offer high energy density yet struggle with stability. Here, the authors formulate an electrolyte incorporating dimethyl 2,5-dioxahexanedioate solvent, which facilitates stable lithium plating and stripping while offering an extended cycle life.
- Xiaozhe Zhang
- , Pan Xu
- & Alexandru Vlad
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Article
| Open AccessCobalt-free composite-structured cathodes with lithium-stoichiometry control for sustainable lithium-ion batteries
As electric vehicle batteries adopt cobalt-free layered cathodes to tackle supply chain issues, it greatly impacts battery lifespan. Here, the authors develop a lithium stoichiometry control method to synthesize cobalt-free composite-structured cathodes with high cycling stability, enabling long-life sustainable batteries.
- Ke Chen
- , Pallab Barai
- & Feng Wang
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Article
| Open AccessA cross-scale framework for evaluating flexibility values of battery and fuel cell electric vehicles
Electrified transportation exhibits great potential to provide flexibility. This article analyzed and compared the flexibility values of battery electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles for planning and operating interdependent electricity and hydrogen supply chains.
- Ruixue Liu
- , Guannan He
- & Benben Jiang
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Article
| Open AccessElectronic paddle-wheels in a solid-state electrolyte
Conduction in solid-state electrolytes composed of monatomic ions is found to be analogous to the paddle-wheel mechanism in molecular solid electrolytes, facilitated by rotational motion of lone pair electrons, helping unify understanding of mechanisms.
- Harender S. Dhattarwal
- , Rahul Somni
- & Richard C. Remsing
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Article
| Open AccessStructural regulation of halide superionic conductors for all-solid-state lithium batteries
Predicting the structure of lithium halide solid-state electrolytes from their composition alone is a challenge. Here, the authors introduce the “cationic polarization factor” that captures the key interactions of halide-based solid-state electrolytes and predicts the stacking structures.
- Xiaona Li
- , Jung Tae Kim
- & Xueliang Sun
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Article
| Open AccessAsynchronous domain dynamics and equilibration in layered oxide battery cathode
The battery performance at the cell level is an integration of contributions from many active particles. Here, the authors present a direct visualization of the active cathode particles that react heterogeneously and asynchronously by using coherent multi-crystal diffraction and optical microscopy.
- Zhichen Xue
- , Nikhil Sharma
- & Yijin Liu
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Article
| Open AccessAn inorganic-rich but LiF-free interphase for fast charging and long cycle life lithium metal batteries
Fluorinated interphases are often pursued as a design strategy for Li metal batteries. In contrast, here the authors show that an electrolyte with a non-fluorinated solvent and CsNO3 additive results in an LiF-free but inorganic-rich interphase that enables fast-charging of Li metal batteries.
- Muhammad Mominur Rahman
- , Sha Tan
- & Enyuan Hu
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Article
| Open AccessDiscovery of fast and stable proton storage in bulk hexagonal molybdenum oxide
Nanostructured electrode materials pose several challenges, including poor volumetric performance, severe side reactions, high costs, and complexity. Here, the authors develop a micrometer-sized bulk hexagonal molybdenum oxide with unconventional charge storage mechanism for fast and stable proton storage.
- Tiezhu Xu
- , Zhenming Xu
- & Laifa Shen
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Article
| Open AccessBreaking solvation dominance of ethylene carbonate via molecular charge engineering enables lower temperature battery
Low-temperature operation remains challenging for batteries. Here, the authors report an electrolyte solvation structure design strategy to break solvation dominance of ethylene carbonate to facilitate the desolvation process that improves the low-temperature performance of lithium-ion batteries even below −100 °C.
- Yuqing Chen
- , Qiu He
- & Jilei Liu
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Article
| Open AccessNonintrusive thermal-wave sensor for operando quantification of degradation in commercial batteries
Monitoring real-world battery degradation is crucial for the widespread application of batteries in different scenarios. Here, the authors report a simple non-embedded thermal-wave sensing technique that can quantitatively distinguish different battery degradation sources during operation.
- Yuqiang Zeng
- , Fengyu Shen
- & Ravi S. Prasher
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Article
| Open AccessEnhanced formation of methane hydrate from active ice with high gas uptake
Gas hydrates have promising energy storage applications, a main bottleneck being their slow formation kinetics. Here, the authors demonstrate that by dispersing kinetic promoters in porous ice as active ice for gas hydrate formation, a minute-level formation process can be achieved for hydrate-based technologies.
- Peng Xiao
- , Juan-Juan Li
- & Guang-Jin Chen
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Article
| Open AccessDefective oxygen inert phase stabilized high-voltage nickel-rich cathode for high-energy lithium-ion batteries
The oxygen evolutions from layered cathode surfaces cause battery degradation during high-voltage operation and pose thermal safety concerns. Here, the authors propose a strategy to anchor and reserve surface oxygen with defective oxygen inert phase for high-voltage nickel-rich cathodes in lithium-ion batteries.
- Zhongsheng Dai
- , Zhujie Li
- & Li Li
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Article
| Open AccessElectrochemical nitrate reduction in acid enables high-efficiency ammonia synthesis and high-voltage pollutes-based fuel cells
Research on electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia in acidic conditions has been less extensive than that conducted in alkaline conditions. Here, the authors report a hybrid of iron phthalocyanine and TiO2 catalyst with improved efficiency toward acidic nitrate reduction and its application in Zn-nitrate batteries and high-voltage pollutes-based fuel cell.
- Rong Zhang
- , Chuan Li
- & Chunyi Zhi
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Article
| Open AccessCollaborative and privacy-preserving retired battery sorting for profitable direct recycling via federated machine learning
Unsorted retired batteries pose recycling challenges due to diverse cathodes. Here, the authors propose a privacy-preserving machine learning system that enables accurate sorting with minimal data, important for a sustainable battery recycling industry.
- Shengyu Tao
- , Haizhou Liu
- & Hongbin Sun
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Article
| Open AccessSingle-crystal ZrCo nanoparticle for advanced hydrogen and H-isotope storage
ZrCo, a promising hydrogen isotope storage material, has poor cyclic storage capacity. Here author reveal a defect-derived disproportionation mechanism and report a nano-single-crystal strategy to comprehensively improve performances.
- Zhenyang Li
- , Shiyuan Liu
- & Jianglan Shui
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Article
| Open AccessNonredox trivalent nickel catalyzing nucleophilic electrooxidation of organics
A good understanding of the mechanism behind organic electrooxidation is crucial for the development of efficient energy conversion technology. Here, the authors find that trivalent nickel is capable of oxidizing organics through a nucleophilic attack and electron transfer via a non-redox process.
- Yuandong Yan
- , Ruyi Wang
- & Zhigang Zou
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Article
| Open AccessStabilizing lattice oxygen redox in layered sodium transition metal oxide through spin singlet state
Oxygen redox in transition metal oxides enhances the energy content of Na-ion batteries but is typically plagued by poor reversibility. Here, the authors achieve non-hysteresis through the formation of a spin singlet state to stabilize the active oxygen redox reaction in P3-type Na2/3Cu1/3Mn2/3O2.
- Xuelong Wang
- , Liang Yin
- & Jue Liu
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Article
| Open AccessAtomic-scale probing of short-range order and its impact on electrochemical properties in cation-disordered oxide cathodes
Derivation of atomic arrangements of short-range-order from diffused intensity pattern in reciprocal space for Li-excess cation-disordered rocksalt cathode remains as a challenge. Here, the authors reveal the short-range-order is a convolution of three basic types: tetrahedron, octahedron, and cube.
- Linze Li
- , Bin Ouyang
- & Chongmin Wang
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Article
| Open AccessDetangling electrolyte chemical dynamics in lithium sulfur batteries by operando monitoring with optical resonance combs
The shuttle effect of polysulfides in lithium sulfur batteries leads to performance degradation. Here, authors use fiber-based sensors to track and quantify the dissolved polysulfide concentration in the electrolyte during cell charge and discharge, revealing insights on stability and performance.
- Fu Liu
- , Wenqing Lu
- & Jean-Marie Tarascon
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Article
| Open AccessTailoring chemical composition of solid electrolyte interphase by selective dissolution for long-life micron-sized silicon anode
The severe volume expansion during the lithiation of micron-sized Si in Li-ion batteries requires a solid electrolyte interphase with reinforced mechanical stability. Here, the authors propose a solvent-induced selective dissolution strategy to regulate the mechanical properties of the interphase.
- Yi-Fan Tian
- , Shuang-Jie Tan
- & Yu-Guo Guo
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Article
| Open AccessTailoring grain boundary stability of zinc-titanium alloy for long-lasting aqueous zinc batteries
The electrochemical performance of metal electrodes is significantly influenced by their grain boundary stability. Here, the authors propose a zinc-titanium two-phase alloy via grain boundary engineering to inhibit intergranular corrosion and tailor deposition behavior for stable aqueous zinc batteries.
- Yunxiang Zhao
- , Shan Guo
- & Jiang Zhou
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Article
| Open AccessBoosting lithium ion conductivity of antiperovskite solid electrolyte by potassium ions substitution for cation clusters
All-solid-state electrolytes for lithium batteries generally suffer from low ionic conductivity. Here, authors manipulate the lattice of antiperovskite-type Li2OHCl by potassium ion substitution, which alters the lattice structure and improves the lithium ion transport properties.
- Lei Gao
- , Xinyu Zhang
- & Ruqiang Zou
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Article
| Open AccessManipulating coordination environment for a high-voltage aqueous copper-chlorine battery
Aqueous copper-based batteries suffer from low voltage due to the high copper negative electrode potential. Here, utilizing the coordination of chloride with copper ions, authors lower copper’s redox potential by 0.3 V, resulting in a high-voltage aqueous copper-chlorine battery.
- Xiangyong Zhang
- , Hua Wei
- & Zhuoxin Liu
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Perspective
| Open AccessBenchmarking organic active materials for aqueous redox flow batteries in terms of lifetime and cost
To guide research and implementation of aqueous organic redox flow batteries it is essential to estimate their potential costs. In this perspective, the authors present an overview of the potential cost of organic active materials for aqueous flow batteries and identify cost reduction routes.
- Dominik Emmel
- , Simon Kunz
- & Daniel Schröder
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Article
| Open AccessIntercalation-type catalyst for non-aqueous room temperature sodium-sulfur batteries
Sodium-sulfur batteries show potential as attractive alternatives to Li-ion batteries due to their high energy density but practicality is hampered by sodium polysulfide issues. Here, the authors introduce an intercalation-type catalyst MoTe2 to improve the redox kinetics in Na-S batteries.
- Jiarui He
- , Amruth Bhargav
- & Arumugam Manthiram
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Article
| Open AccessAmpere-hour-scale soft-package potassium-ion hybrid capacitors enabling 6-minute fast-charging
Fast charging of electrochemical energy storage devices in under 10 minutes is desired but difficult to achieve in Li-ion batteries. Here, authors present an ampere-hour-scale potassium-ion hybrid capacitor, combining the merits of a battery and capacitor, and demonstrate a 6-minute charging time.
- Huanxin Li
- , Yi Gong
- & Shenglian Luo
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Article
| Open AccessManipulating Li2S2/Li2S mixed discharge products of all-solid-state lithium sulfur batteries for improved cycle life
All-solid-state lithium sulfur batteries may avoid some of the drawbacks of their liquid electrolyte counterparts. Here, the authors elucidate the composition of discharge products in all-solid-state cells using spectroscopic techniques and propose a strategy to control the discharge product.
- Jung Tae Kim
- , Adwitiya Rao
- & Xueliang Sun
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Article
| Open AccessPhase regulation enabling dense polymer-based composite electrolytes for solid-state lithium metal batteries
Polymer electrolytes based on poly(vinylidene fluoride) with residual solvents are appealing for room-temperature battery operations. Here, the authors present a phase regulation approach to achieve a dense electrolyte and enhance ionic conductivity through the incorporation of MoSe2 sheets.
- Qian Wu
- , Mandi Fang
- & Yingying Lu
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Article
| Open AccessRevealing the aging process of solid electrolyte interphase on SiOx anode
Observing the evolution of the solid electrolyte interphase on SiOx-based electrodes in Li-ion batteries is challenging. Here, authors use three-dimensional tomography to visualize the growth of the interphase on single SiOx particles and propose a mechanical confinement strategy to prevent aging.
- Guoyu Qian
- , Yiwei Li
- & Feng Pan
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Article
| Open AccessRevealing the closed pore formation of waste wood-derived hard carbon for advanced sodium-ion battery
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.
- Zheng Tang
- , Rui Zhang
- & Minhua Shao
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Article
| Open AccessLow-temperature anode-free potassium metal batteries
Low temperature operation of anode-free batteries is limited by poor reversibility of metal plating/stripping. Here, via electrolyte engineering, authors enable −40 °C operation of an anode-free K metal battery by tailoring a weakly solvating electrolyte with a silicone polymer additive.
- Mengyao Tang
- , Shuai Dong
- & Hua Wang
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Article
| Open AccessRealistic fault detection of li-ion battery via dynamical deep learning
Accurate evaluation of Li-ion battery safety conditions can reduce unexpected cell failures. Here, authors present a large-scale electric vehicle charging dataset for benchmarking existing algorithms, and develop a deep learning algorithm for detecting Li-ion battery faults.
- Jingzhao Zhang
- , Yanan Wang
- & Minggao Ouyang
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Article
| Open AccessRegulating electrostatic phenomena by cationic polymer binder for scalable high-areal-capacity Li battery electrodes
Binders employed in battery electrodes are conventionally neutral linear polymers. Here, authors present a cationic semi-interpenetrating polymer network binder to regulate electrostatic phenomena, improving the properties and performance of high-capacity positive electrodes for Li metal batteries.
- Jung-Hui Kim
- , Kyung Min Lee
- & Sang-Young Lee
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Article
| Open AccessBroad-high operating temperature range and enhanced energy storage performances in lead-free ferroelectrics
One of the key challenges in dielectric ceramics for energy storage lies in the comprehensive optimization of their properties. Here, the authors establish an equitable system considering performance and structure evolution in a lead-free ceramic capacitor, achieving a broad-high temperature performance.
- Weichen Zhao
- , Diming Xu
- & Di Zhou
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Article
| Open AccessA CO2 electrolyzer tandem cell system for CO2-CO co-feed valorization in a Ni-N-C/Cu-catalyzed reaction cascade
Tandem concepts for electroreduction of CO2 offer a valuable toolkit to tackle sluggish reaction kinetics and raise the production of e-chemicals. Here, the authors report a cascade system with two coupled electrolyzers using Ni-N-C and Cu-based catalysts for enhanced CO2 to multi-carbon conversion
- Tim Möller
- , Michael Filippi
- & Peter Strasser
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Article
| Open AccessA twelve-electron conversion iodine cathode enabled by interhalogen chemistry in aqueous solution
Enhancing energy density of batteries is a crucial focus within the field of energy storage. Here, the authors introduce a twelve-electron conversion iodine cathode (iodide/iodate) for high energy density zinc-iodine batteries, achieved through interhalogen chemistry in an acidic aqueous electrolyte.
- Wenjiao Ma
- , Tingting Liu
- & Xiao Liang
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Article
| Open AccessDiscovery of a three-proton insertion mechanism in α-molybdenum trioxide leading to enhanced charge storage capacity
The proton insertion mechanism in α-molybdenum trioxide remains incompletely elucidated. Herein, the authors uncover a three-proton intercalation mechanism within α-molybdenum trioxide using a specially designed electrolyte, which endows α-molybdenum trioxide with an improved specific discharge capacity.
- Yongjiu Lei
- , Wenli Zhao
- & Husam N. Alshareef
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Article
| Open AccessAdaptive multi-temperature control for transport and storage containers enabled by phase-change materials
Reliable transportation of multiple goods with different temperature requirements can logistically challenging. Here, the authors propose an adaptive multi-temperature control system using liquid-solid phase change materials to achieve effective thermal management using just a pair of heat and cold sources.
- Xinchen Zhou
- , Xiang Xu
- & Jiping Huang