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Table of Content

    20 June 2021, Volume 4 Issue 2
    Electrolyte/Electrode Interfaces in All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries: A Review
    Yuepeng Pang, Jinyu Pan, Junhe Yang, Shiyou Zheng, Chunsheng Wang
    2021, 4(2):  169-193.  doi:10.1007/s41918-020-00092-1
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    All-solid-state lithium batteries are promising next-generation energy storage devices that have gained increasing attention in the past decades due to their huge potential towards higher energy density and safety. As a key component, solid electrolytes have also attracted significant attention and have experienced major breakthroughs, especially in terms of Li-ion conductivity. However, the poor electrode compatibility of solid electrolytes can lead to the degradation of electrolyte/electrode interfaces, which is the major cause for failure in all-solid-state lithium batteries. To address this, this review will summarize the in-depth understanding of physical and chemical interactions between electrolytes and electrodes with a focus on the contact, charge transfer and Li dendrite formation occurring at electrolyte/electrode interfaces. Based on mechanistic analyses, this review will also briefly present corresponding strategies to enhance electrolyte/electrode interfaces through compositional modifications and structural designs. Overall, the comprehensive insights into electrolyte/electrode interfaces provided by this review can guide the future investigation of all-solid-state lithium batteries.

    Full-text: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41918-020-00092-1
    1T Phase Transition Metal Dichalcogenides for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
    Liang Chang, Zhuxing Sun, Yun Hang Hu
    2021, 4(2):  194-218.  doi:10.1007/s41918-020-00087-y
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    Metallic (1T) phases of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are promising alternatives for Pt as efficient and practically applicable hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts. Group 6 1T TMDs are the most widely studied due to their impressively higher HER activity than that of their 2H counterparts. However, the mediocre electrochemical and thermal stability of these TMDs has limited their widespread application. Over the last decade, while immense attempts have been made to enhance the stability of group 6 1T TMDs, 1T TMDs based on other transition metals have gained increasing attention. To address the great potential of the 1T TMD family for industry-scale HER and inspire future breakthroughs in realizing their scalable utilization, a critical overview of 1T TMDs for application in HER is presented in this work. With an emphasis on the recent progress, the main contents include the elucidation of the “structure–performance” relationship in 1T TMD-based HER, the approaches for the synthesis and morphology control of 1T TMDs, and the types of 1T TMD-based materials that have been explored for efficient and long-term water splitting. Before the main discussions, the reaction mechanism of HER and the evaluation indexes for HER catalysts are introduced. Moreover, future perspectives on overcoming the primary challenges that hinder the practical application of 1T TMDs for HER are provided.

    Full-text: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41918-020-00087-y
    Biomass-Derived Carbon Materials for High-Performance Supercapacitors: Current Status and Perspective
    Jiangqi Zhou, Shilin Zhang, Ya-Nan Zhou, Wei Tang, Junhe Yang, Chengxin Peng, Zaiping Guo
    2021, 4(2):  219-248.  doi:10.1007/s41918-020-00090-3
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    Supercapacitors are electrochemical energy storage systems that depend on high-surface-area electrodes and can play a dominant role in areas that require high power delivery or uptake. And of various electrodes, biomass-derived carbonaceous electrodes have recently shown impressive promise in high-performance supercapacitors because of their widespread availability, renewable nature and low-cost electricity storage. Based on this, this review will discuss the current status of biomass-derived carbon materials in supercapacitors and highlight current research with a specific emphasis on the influences of structure and elemental doping on the electrochemical performance of corresponding carbon electrodes. This review will also discuss the gap between laboratory achievements and practical utilization in terms of these biomass-derived carbon materials and outline practical strategies for future improvement.

    Full-text: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41918-020-00090-3
    Application of Scanning Tunneling Microscopy in Electrocatalysis and Electrochemistry
    Haifeng Feng, Xun Xu, Yi Du, Shi Xue Dou
    2021, 4(2):  249-268.  doi:10.1007/s41918-020-00074-3
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    Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) has gained increasing attention in the field of electrocatalysis due to its ability to reveal electrocatalyst surface structures down to the atomic level in either ultra-high-vacuum (UHV) or harsh electrochemical conditions. The detailed knowledge of surface structures, surface electronic structures, surface active sites as well as the interaction between surface adsorbates and electrocatalysts is highly beneficial in the study of electrocatalytic mechanisms and for the rational design of electrocatalysts. Based on this, this review will discuss the application of STM in the characterization of electrocatalyst surfaces and the investigation of electrochemical interfaces between electrocatalyst surfaces and reactants. Based on different operating conditions, UHV-STM and STM in electrochemical environments (EC-STM) are discussed separately. This review will also present emerging techniques including high-speed EC-STM, scanning noise microscopy and tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

    Full-text: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41918-020-00074-3
    3D Hierarchical Carbon-Rich Micro-/Nanomaterials for Energy Storage and Catalysis
    Zhixiao Xu, Wenjing Deng, Xiaolei Wang
    2021, 4(2):  269-335.  doi:10.1007/s41918-021-00094-7
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    Increasing concerns over climate change and energy shortage have driven the development of clean energy devices such as batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells and solar water splitting in the past decades. And among potential device materials, 3D hierarchical carbon-rich micro-/nanomaterials (3D HCMNs) have come under intense scrutiny because they can prevent the stacking and bundling of low-dimensional building blocks to not only shorten diffusion distances for matter and charge to achieve high-energy-high-power storage but also greatly expose active sites to achieve highly active, durable and efficient catalysis. Based on this, this review will summarize the synthetic strategies and formation mechanisms of 3D HCMNs, including 3D nanocarbons, polymers, COFs/MOFs, templated carbons and derived carbon-based hybrids with a focus on 3D superstructures such as urchins, flowers, hierarchical tubular structures as well as nanoarrays including nanotube, nanofiber and nanosheet arrays. This review will also discuss the application of 3D HCMNs in energy storage and catalysis systems, including batteries, supercapacitors, electrocatalysis and photo(electro) catalysis. Overall, this review will provide a comprehensive overview of the recent progress of 3D HCMNs in terms of preparation strategies, formation mechanisms, structural diversities and electrochemical applications to provide a guideline for the rational design and structure–function exploration of 3D hierarchical nanomaterials from different sources beyond carbon-based species.

    Full-text: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41918-021-00094-7
    Advanced Noncarbon Materials as Catalyst Supports and Non-noble Electrocatalysts for Fuel Cells and Metal–Air Batteries
    Shiming Zhang, Menghui Chen, Xiao Zhao, Jialin Cai, Wei Yan, Joey Chung Yen, Shengli Chen, Yan Yu, Jiujun Zhang
    2021, 4(2):  336-381.  doi:10.1007/s41918-020-00085-0
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    Electrochemical energy systems such as fuel cells and metal–air batteries can be used as clean power sources in the field of electric transportation and possess great potential in the reduction of various energy and environmental issues. In these systems, the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode is the rate-determining factor for overall system performance, and up to now, platinum group metals supported on carbon materials, especially Pt, remain the highest performing and the most practical ORR electrocatalysts. However, corresponding carbonaceous catalyst supports are extremely susceptible to corrosion under electrochemical operation, and therefore, the extensive exploration of alternative stable materials for ORR electrocatalysts with both high electrochemical stability and catalytic performance is essential. Here, noncarbon materials with high corrosion resistance have been explored to substitute traditional carbon supports or even act directly as low-cost non-noble metal electrocatalysts, and based on this, this review will present a comprehensive overview and deep analysis of the recent progress in noncarbon materials, including metals, oxides, nitrides, carbides, sulfides, and so on. Overall, general attributes associated with noncarbon materials include high corrosion resistance, strong metal–support interaction, and impressive porous structure retention. However, major drawbacks include low electrical conductivity, insufficient chemical stability in acidic or alkaline media, and poor electrochemical stability at ORR electrode potentials. To overcome these challenges, this review will also summarize efficient strategies such as combining with highly conductive materials, introducing dopants and forming vacancies to result in promising electrocatalytic ORR performances. Finally, this review will propose possible research directions to facilitate future research and development toward the practical application of noncarbon-based ORR electrocatalysts.

    Full-text: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41918-020-00085-0
    High-Mass-Loading Electrodes for Advanced Secondary Batteries and Supercapacitors
    Feng Wu, Mingquan Liu, Ying Li, Xin Feng, Kun Zhang, Ying Bai, Xinran Wang, Chuan Wu
    2021, 4(2):  382-446.  doi:10.1007/s41918-020-00093-0
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    The growing demand for advanced electrochemical energy storage systems (EESSs) with high energy densities for electric vehicles and portable electronics is driving the electrode revolution, in which the development of high-mass-loading electrodes (HMLEs) is a promising route to improve the energy density of batteries packed in limited spaces through the optimal enlargement of active material loading ratios and reduction of inactive component ratios in overall cell devices. However, HMLEs face significant challenges including inferior charge kinetics, poor electrode structural stability, and complex and expensive production processes. Based on this, this review will provide a comprehensive summary of HMLEs, beginning with a basic presentation of factors influencing HMLE electrochemical properties, the understanding of which can guide optimal HMLE designs. Rational strategies to improve the electrochemical performance of HMLEs accompanied by corresponding advantages and bottlenecks are subsequently discussed in terms of various factors ranging from inactive component modification to active material design to structural engineering at the electrode scale. This review will also present the recent progress and approaches of HMLEs applied in various EESSs, including advanced secondary batteries (lithium-/sodium-/potassium-/aluminum-/calcium-ion batteries, lithium metal anodes, lithium-sulfur batteries, lithium-air batteries, zinc batteries, magnesium batteries) and supercapacitors. Finally, this review will examine the challenges and prospects of HMLE commercialization with a focus on thermal safety, performance evaluation, advanced characterization, and production cost assessment to guide future development.

    Full-text: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41918-020-00093-0