Jiantie Xu

High‐Performance Sodium Ion Batteries Based on a 3D Anode from Nitrogen‐Doped Graphene Foams

A 3D N-doped graphene foam with a 6.8 at% nitrogen content is prepared by annealing a freeze-dried graphene oxide foam in ammonia. It is used as an anode in sodium ion batteries to deliver a high initial reversible capacity of 852.6 mA h g(-1) at 1 C between 0.02 and 3 V with a long-term retention of 69.7% after 150 cycles.

Efficiently photo-charging lithium-ion battery by perovskite solar cell

Electric vehicles using lithium-ion battery pack(s) for propulsion have recently attracted a great deal of interest. The large-scale practical application of battery electric vehicles may not be realized unless lithium-ion batteries with self-charging suppliers will be developed. Solar cells offer an attractive option for directly photo-charging lithium-ion batteries. Here we demonstrate the use of perovskite solar cell packs with four single CH3NH3PbI3 based solar cells connected in series for directly photo-charging lithium-ion batteries assembled with a LiFePO4 cathode and a Li4Ti5O12 anode. Our device shows a high overall photo-electric conversion and storage efficiency of 7.80% and excellent cycling stability, which outperforms other reported lithium-ion batteries, lithium–air batteries, flow batteries and super-capacitors integrated with a photo-charging component. The newly developed self-chargeable units based on integrated perovskite solar cells and lithium-ion batteries hold promise for various potential applications.

Recent Progress in the Design of Advanced Cathode Materials and Battery Models for High-Performance Lithium-X (X = O2, S, Se, Te, I2, Br2) Batteries

Recent advances and achievements in emerging Li-X (X = O2 , S, Se, Te, I2 , Br2 ) batteries with promising cathode materials open up new opportunities for the development of high-performance lithium-ion battery alternatives. In this review, we focus on an overview of recent important progress in the design of advanced cathode materials and battery models for developing high-performance Li-X (X = O2 , S, Se, Te, I2 , Br2 ) batteries. We start with a brief introduction to explain why Li-X batteries are important for future renewable energy devices. Then, we summarize the existing drawbacks, major progress and emerging challenges in the development of cathode materials for Li-O2 (S) batteries. In terms of the emerging Li-X (Se, Te, I2 , Br2 ) batteries, we systematically summarize their advantages/disadvantages and recent progress. Specifically, we review the electrochemical performance of Li-Se (Te) batteries using carbonate-/ether-based electrolytes, made with different electrode fabrication techniques, and of Li-I2 (Br2 ) batteries with various cell designs (e.g., dual electrolyte, all-organic electrolyte, with/without cathode-flow mode, and fuel cell/solar cell integration). Finally, the perspective on and challenges for the development of cathode materials for the promising Li-X (X = O2 , S, Se, Te, I2 , Br2 ) batteries is presented.

Edge-selectively halogenated graphene nanoplatelets (XGnPs, X = Cl, Br, or I) prepared by ball-milling and used as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Edge-selectively halogenated graphene nanoplatelets (XGnPs, X = Cl, Br, or I) are prepared by a simple mechanochemical ball-milling method, which allows low-cost and scalable production of XGnPs as highly stable anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

Nitrogen‐Doped Holey Graphene as an Anode for Lithium‐Ion Batteries with High Volumetric Energy Density and Long Cycle Life

Nitrogen-doped holey graphene (N-hG) as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries has delivered a maximum volumetric capacity of 384 mAh cm(-3) with an excellent long-term cycling life up to 6000 cycles, and as an electrochemical capacitor has delivered a maximum volumetric energy density of 171.2 Wh L(-1) and a volumetric capacitance of 201.6 F cm(-3) .

Growth of NiCo2O4@MnMoO4 Nanocolumn Arrays with Superior Pseudocapacitor Properties

Three-dimensional heterostructured NiCo2O4@MnMoO4 nanocolumn arrays (NCAs) on Ni foam were first fabricated through an improved two-step hydrothermal process associated with a successive annealing treatment. The hybrid NiCo2O4@MnMoO4 electrode exhibited remarkable pseudocapacitor property with high initial mass specific capacitance of 1705.3 F g(-1) at 5 mA cm(-2), and retained 92.6% after 5000 cycles, compared to the bare NiCo2O4 electrode with 839.1 F g(-1) and 90.9%. The excellent capacitive property of the NiCo2O4@MnMoO4 hydrid was attributed to its high-electron/ion-transfer rate, large electrolyte infiltrate area, and more electroactive reaction sites.

Metal‐Free Carbon Materials for CO2 Electrochemical Reduction

The rapid increase of the CO2 concentration in the Earths atmosphere has resulted in numerous environmental issues, such as global warming, ocean acidification, melting of the polar ice, rising sea level, and extinction of species. To search for suitable and capable catalytic systems for CO2 conversion, electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2 RR) holds great promise. Emerging heterogeneous carbon materials have been considered as promising metal-free electrocatalysts for the CO2 RR, owing to their abundant natural resources, tailorable porous structures, resistance to acids and bases, high-temperature stability, and environmental friendliness. They exhibit remarkable CO2 RR properties, including catalytic activity, long durability, and high selectivity. Here, various carbon materials (e.g., carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, graphene, diamond, nanoporous carbon, and graphene dots) with heteroatom doping (e.g., N, S, and B) that can be used as metal-free catalysts for the CO2 RR are highlighted. Recent advances regarding the identification of active sites for the CO2 RR and the pathway of reduction of CO2 to the final product are comprehensively reviewed. Additionally, the emerging challenges and some perspectives on the development of heteroatom-doped carbon materials as metal-free electrocatalysts for the CO2 RR are included.

Highly Rechargeable Lithium‐CO2 Batteries with a Boron and Nitrogen‐Codoped Holey‐Graphene Cathode

Metal-air batteries, especially Li-air batteries, have attracted significant research attention in the past decade. However, the electrochemical reactions between CO2 (0.04 % in ambient air) with Li anode may lead to the irreversible formation of insulating Li2 CO3 , making the battery less rechargeable. To make the Li-CO2 batteries usable under ambient conditions, it is critical to develop highly efficient catalysts for the CO2 reduction and evolution reactions and investigate the electrochemical behavior of Li-CO2 batteries. Here, we demonstrate a rechargeable Li-CO2 battery with a high reversibility by using B,N-codoped holey graphene as a highly efficient catalyst for CO2 reduction and evolution reactions. Benefiting from the unique porous holey nanostructure and high catalytic activity of the cathode, the as-prepared Li-CO2 batteries exhibit high reversibility, low polarization, excellent rate performance, and superior long-term cycling stability over 200 cycles at a high current density of 1.0 A g-1 . Our results open up new possibilities for the development of long-term Li-air batteries reusable under ambient conditions, and the utilization and storage of CO2 .

Recent Progress in Graphite Intercalation Compounds for Rechargeable Metal (Li, Na, K, Al)-Ion Batteries

Abstract Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) with higher energy density are very necessary to meet the increasing demand for devices with better performance. With the commercial success of lithiated graphite, other graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) have also been intensively reported, not only for LIBs, but also for other metal (Na, K, Al) ion batteries. In this Progress Report, we briefly review the application of GICs as anodes and cathodes in metal (Li, Na, K, Al) ion batteries. After a brief introduction on the development history of GICs, the electrochemistry of cationic GICs and anionic GICs is summarized. We further briefly summarize the use of cationic GICs and anionic GICs in alkali ion batteries and the use of anionic GICs in aluminium‐ion batteries. Finally, we reach some conclusions on the drawbacks, major progress, emerging challenges, and some perspectives on the development of GICs for metal (Li, Na, K, Al) ion batteries. Further development of GICs for metal (Li, Na, K, Al) ion batteries is not only a strong supplement to the commercialized success of lithiated‐graphite for LIBs, but also an effective strategy to develop diverse high‐energy batteries for stationary energy storage in the future.

Growth of MoS2@C nanobowls as a lithium-ion battery anode material

Layered MoS2 has attracted much attention as a promising anode material for lithium ion batteries. The intrinsically poor electrical/ionic conductivity, volume expansion and pulverization, stress accumulation and unstable solid–electrolyte interface formation within MoS2 electrodes during the lithiation–delithiation process significantly result in their fast capacity fading, poor rate capability and cycle life. To address these critical issues, a novel nanobowl structure for MoS2 with a carbon coating (MoS2@C-400, 500, 600) is successfully fabricated by a facile solvothermal method, followed by a post-annealing process. The fabricated MoS2@C-600 and MoS2@C-500 exhibited high reversible capacities of 1164.4 and 1076.4 mA h g−1 at 0.2C, and maintained high capacity retention of 72.1% and 78.4% over 150 cycles, respectively. Such remarkable lithium storage properties are attributed to the unique nanobowl structure, which provides a large accessible surface area and high pore volume, and flexible carbon film coating, allowing for easy diffusion of electrolyte, alleviation of volume expansion, formation of stable solid electrolyte interfaces and fast diffusion of lithium ions.