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Low-cost and safe batteries are considered to be promising energy-storage systems. Here, a metal organic framework (MOF)-derived octahedral Cu1.95S@CoS2 composite is developed as a high-performance cathode of aluminium-ion (Al-ion) batteries. CoS2 nanoparticles on Cu1.95S provide active sites, making AlCl4− intercalation/deintercalation highly reversible, and reducing polarization. Cycling at 0.5 A g−1, Cu1.95S@CoS2 maintains stable capacities of 136.6 and 122.4 mA h g−1 after 200 cycles at room temperature and −10 °C, respectively. Stable rate-performance is also achieved. These findings will accelerate the application of Al-ion batteries and MOF-derived energy-storage composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed H2Ti5O11·xH2O on carbon cloth (HTO·xH2O/CC) as a binder-free Zn metal-free anode. This 'rocking chair' battery incorporated a ZnMn2O4/CC cathode, HTO·xH2O/CC anode, and a polyacrylamide-based electrolyte, and exhibited satisfactory flexibility and self-healing. It displayed recoverable capacities after four repetitions of cutting and healing, indicating a potential using as a foldable and wearable battery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High performance aluminium-ion (Al-ion) batteries are of wide interest owing to the high theoretical capacity, abundance of Al metal and good safety. Here, we develop a hierarchical VS2@VS4 composed of a VS4 nanorod array in situ grown on VS2 rose-shaped nanosheets that displays a good electrochemical performance. The VS2@VS4 cathode displays a high capacity of 162.7 mA h g−1 after 200 cycles at −10 °C, and keeps 116.5 mA h g−1 after 500 cycles at room temperature. Rate-performance at −10 °C shows a capacity retention rate of 90%, which indicates the potential for engineering high-performance energy-storage composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering flexible and self-healing batteries is significant for wearable electronics. Here, we develop a flexible self-healing Zn-ion battery with a Zn3V2O7(OH)2·2H2O cathode working with a polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel electrolyte. The battery achieves a high capacity and robust structure during switching and self-healing, and keeps a stable potential after cutting/healing several times. After being bent at 30°, 60°, 90°, 120° and 150°, the capacities remain stable, and the battery delivers 78.6 mA h g−1 when repeatedly folding at 90°, displaying the potential for various applications such as foldable cell phones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel hierarchical composite consisting of an ordered NiCo2O4 nanowire array growing on the lateral side of a Fe2O3 microdisc is presented, which was confirmed by X-ray holography technology on a synchrotron radiation station. The composite-based Li-ion battery anode exhibits a high capacity of 1528 mA h g−1 after 200 cycles at 0.2C, a recoverable rate-performance after repeated tests, and robust mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging power batteries with both high volumetric energy density and fast charge/discharge kinetics are required for electric vehicles. The rapid ion/electron transport of mesostructured electrodes enables a high electrochemical activity in secondary batteries. However, the typical low fraction of active materials leads to a low volumetric energy density. Herein, we report a novel biomimetic “bee pupa infilled honeycomb”-structured 3D mesoporous cathode. We found previously the maximum active material filing fraction of an opal template before pinch-off was about 25%, whereas it could be increased to ∼90% with the bee pupa-infilled honeycomb-like architecture. Importantly, even with a high infilling fraction, fast Li+/e− transport kinetics and robust mechanical property were achievable. As the demonstration, a bee pupa infilled honeycomb-shaped Li2MnSiO4/C cathode was constructed, which delivered a high volumetric energy density of 2443 W h L−1. The presented biomimetic bee pupa infilled honeycomb configuration is applicable for a broad set of both cathodes and anodes in high energy density batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]