Latest ArticlesThe bulk anomalous photovoltaic effect (BAPV) in non-centrosymmetric materials can produce photovoltage exceeding the bandgap, distinguishing them from traditional semiconductors and offering substantial potential in photovoltaics. Chiral hybrid perovskites, characterized by asymmetric structure and structural tunability, present promise to generate BAPV with desired optoelectronic properties. Herein, we introduced chiral (S)- and (R)-α-methylbenzylamine (S/R-α-MBA) cations to construct a pair of lead-free chiral-polar perovskites, denoted as (S-α-MBA)4Bi2I10 and (R-α-MBA)4Bi2I10 (1S and 1R). Remarkably, 1S and 1R exhibited the distinctive BAPV effect with an impressive photovoltage of 15 V, highlighting the potential for prominent photovoltaic performance. Furthermore, self-powered broadband photoresponse is realized via photo-induced pyroelectricity based on inherent spontaneous polarization in 1S and 1R. The fabricated photodetectors demonstrated enhanced photocurrent response compared to those relying on the photovoltaic effect alone. This innovation eliminates the confinement of photodetection by material semiconductor properties, thereby effectively broadening their application scope.
The Sierpiński triangle (ST) is a widely-known deterministic fractal structure that has attracted considerable attention recently. The fabrication of nitrogen-doped defect-free STs is appealing yet challenging. This is due to factors such as the increase in active sites, the random generation of nucleation centers, and the experimental growth conditions. In this contribution, we utilize a combination of density functional theory (DFT), Monte Carlo simulation (MC) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to investigate the formation of nitrogen-doped STs. These STs are formed with nitrogen-rich, conformationally flexible 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine-6,6′′-dicarbonitrile (TDBT) molecules and Fe atoms on Au(111). The replacement of benzenes with three pyridine side groups facilitates the formation of the nitrogen-doped STs with a relatively high order because of the energetic preference of molecular configurations. The introduction of the rigid 4,4″-dicyano-1,1′:3′,1″-terphenyl (C3PC) molecules markedly induces the structural transformation of the STs from ordered to high-entropy. Moreover, the nitrogen-doped STs with an order of up to 4 can be directly visualized by low-temperature STM.
Sodium-based batteries (SBBs) are considered as promising next-generation energy storage devices owing to the low cost and natural abundance of raw materials. As the blood of SSBs, electrolytes are required to exhibit specific properties, including broad electrochemical stability windows, high thermal stability, prior ionic conductivity, and so on. Therefore, a diverse array of materials and compositions were developed to form novel electrolytes, thereby satisfying the practical requirements of SSBs. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the latest advances and the corresponding electrochemical properties of different electrolytes for SBBs. First, this review describes the desirable characteristics of electrolytes in detail. Subsequently, the latest progress in the design and regulation of electrolytes is systematically analyzed from four key aspects: organic liquid electrolytes, aqueous electrolytes, solid-state electrolytes, and quasi-solid-state electrolytes. Finally, this review delivers an exhaustive illustration on the challenges and research prospects concerning the further development of electrolytes in SBBs.
Lithium metal anodes are a compelling option for high-energy-density rechargeable batteries. However, they face challenges such as uncontrolled dendrite growth and unstable interphase, particularly at elevated areal capacities. In this study, we introduce a multi-functional skeleton design that promotes uniform nucleation and growth of Li metal, enhancing interfacial stability. Our innovation features a skeleton-alloy-fluorinated hybrid framework, incorporating abundantly N-doped lithiophilic sites and MgF2 particles within a carbon fiber matrix. The lithophilic carbon fiber provides numerous Li nucleation sites, mitigating Li deposition inhomogeneity and suppressing dendrite formation. The LiMg alloy phase formed by MgF2 further promotes homogeneous Li growth. Additionally, the resulting LiF can passivate and protect Li metal at the electrode-electrolyte interface, enhancing the cycling stability of Li anode. Employing this co-engineering strategy, the as-designed composite Li anode lasts over 1000 h in symmetric cells. Li-S full cells deliver 3.9 mAh/cm2 after 200 cycles at a high sulfur loading of 11.0 mg/cm2. This multi-functional approach provides insights for advancing lithium metal battery applications.
We report a facile low-temperature synthesis of Fe-doped NiSe2 nanoparticles as an efficient pre-catalyst, which undergoes complete electrochemical reconstruction into amorphous γ-FexNi1-xOOH nanosheets (< 2 nm thickness) during activation process of cyclic voltammetry. The reconstituted catalyst achieves record-low overpotentials of 163 mV at 20 mA/cm2 and 230 mV at 300 mA/cm2, with a Tafel slope of 33.8 mV/dec and a turnover frequency (TOF) of 0.1 s-1 at overpotential of 210 mV. Remarkably, it shows outstanding operational stability with negligible activity decay after 300 h chronopotentiometry at 100 mA/cm2. Through multimodal ex situ/in situ characterizations, we conclusively identify the in situ-formed amorphous γ-FexNi1-xOOH nanosheets as the active phase, where Fe doping optimizes the electronic structure of Ni sites while the ultrathin morphology maximizes exposed active centers. This work establishes a universal precatalyst engineering strategy through controlled structural evolution of metastable precursors, applicable to diverse energy conversion systems.
Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) are a promising class of functional nanomaterials with significant potential for energy-related applications. However, a universal synthesis method that is both efficient and scalable remains a challenge. This study introduces an ultrafast carbothermal shock (UCS) technique as efficient method for synthesizing various TMPs, including Rh2P, Ir2P, Pd5P2, RuP and PtP2, in just 15 s under ambient air conditions. Notably, the as synthesized Rh2P exhibits remarkable hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance with low overpotentials of 13 and 70 mV to reach current densities of 10 and 100 mA/cm2, respectively, coupled with excellent operational stability for over 20 h. This technique not only provides a universal platform for producing various metal phosphides, but also holds significant promise for advancing their applications in energy conversion and storage devices, catalysis, and biosensors.
The emergence of aqueous K/Zn dual-ion batteries has opened a promising new frontier in energy storage by leveraging the high energy density of zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) and the voltage enhancement provided by cation intercalation mechanisms. However, the lifespan of these batteries has been significantly limited by dendrite growth and side reactions at the zinc negative electrode. To address this challenge, we successfully fabricated an organic framework, Zn-MOF-74, in-situ on the surface of the zinc negative electrode. The large-pore, one-dimensional channel structure of Zn-MOF-74 effectively enhances electrolyte permeability, reduces steric hindrance, and promotes efficient battery operation. Moreover, the open metal sites in Zn-MOF-74 effectively suppress side reactions, further improving battery performance. Notably, the average CE remained remarkably high at 99.43% after 1000 cycles. Furthermore, the Zn-MOF-74@Zn//ZnHCF configuration demonstrated exceptional cycling stability, retaining 88% of its initial capacity even after 1000 cycles at a current density of 1 A/g.
Porous single crystal (PSC) materials have a large specific surface area, higher structural stability, and more active sites by combining porosity and structural coherence, which provide a clear advantage in the field of catalysis. Platinum-based catalysts are precious metal catalysts commonly used in the dehydrogenation of low-carbon alkanes, with excellent dehydrogenation activity and good catalytic activity for the anaerobic dehydrogenation of ethane. By lattice reconstruction strategy we grow PSC MgO from the parent MgF2 single crystal and load Pt nanoparticles on its surface for growing PSC Pt/MgO. Oxygen vacancies are introduced by constructing active sites on a clear surface structure, which improve catalytic activity and durability. The PSC Pt/MgO catalyst for the direct dehydrogenation of ethane achieves an ethane conversion rate of approximately 28% and ethylene selectivity of over 97%, with good stability over 100 h. The present work offers significant value for the growth and application of porous single crystal oxides loaded with metal nanoparticles.
Metal-organic framework (MOF) derived metal oxides and their composites have shown remarkable potential in enhancing the sensitivity and lowering the detection limits of gas sensors, emerging as promising candidates for volatile organic compound (VOC) detection. Here, the Pt-sensitized In2O3 hollow microtubes were synthesized from MIL-68 via hydrothermal and sacrificial template methods, demonstrating exceptional trace detection capability (0.01–1 ppm) to p-xylene. The 2% Pt NPs-In2O3 showed the highest response of 68.7 at 50 ppb, with a theoretical detection limit as low as 0.027 ppb. The role of Pt was elucidated through comprehensive characterization, revealing that highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles form a well-defined interface with In2O3, enhancing gas adsorption, electron transfer, and reaction kinetics, thereby significantly boosting sensor performance. By integrating in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), this study provides fundamental insights into gas-solid interfacial sensing mechanisms, elucidating how Pt modulation enhances gas sensor performance at the molecular level. Additionally, the aging mechanisms of 2% Pt NPs-In2O3 sensors were explored through in situ characterization, revealing the evolution of surface morphology and gas adsorption capacity before and after aging under different conditions: 200 ℃/0% RH, 200 ℃/50% RH, and 250 ℃/0% RH for 20 days. These findings offer valuable guidance for improving the long-term stability and reliability of Pt-modified In2O3 gas sensors.
Graphite, the most widely used anode material in lithium-ion batteries, faces significant limitations due to sluggish lithium-ion diffusion across the conventional organic solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) during cycling. In this work, we propose the incorporation of SO3Li-grafted graphene as an ion-conducting agent (ICA) to enhance lithium-ion transport kinetics within graphite anodes. The –SO3Li functional groups regulate the Li+ solvation structure through anion-solvent dipole interactions, promoting the formation of a lithium fluoride (LiF)-rich SEI that ensures uniform lithium-ion flux and significantly extends battery cycle life. This SO3Li-grafted ICA also mitigates mechanical strain within the graphite anode during repeated cycling, improving structural integrity over long-term operation, evidenced by fiber optic sensing technology. As a result, a 3 Ah GrLiFePO4 pouch cell incorporating this functionalized ion-conducting agent achieves excellent cycling performance, retaining 86.4% of its capacity after 1200 cycles at 1 C. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of functionalized ICAs in addressing the intrinsic limitations of graphite, providing a promising strategy for developing long-life lithium-ion batteries for practical energy storage applications.
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