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As concerns about the safety of lithium‐ions batteries (LIBs) increases, aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) with a lower cost, higher safety, and higher co‐efficiency have attracted more and more interest. However, finding suitable cathode materials is still an urgent problem in ZIBs. In recent years, a lot of significant works have been reported, including manganese‐based cathodes, vanadium‐based cathodes, Prussian blue analog‐based materials, and sustainable quinone cathodes. In this review, some typical cathode materials are introduced. The detailed storage mechanisms and methods for improving the reaction kinetics of the zinc ions are summarized. Finally, the issues, challenges, and the research directions are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional lithium‐ion batteries, with flammable organic liquid electrolytes, have serious safety problems, which greatly limit their application. All‐solid‐state batteries (ASSBs) have received extensive attention from large‐scale energy‐storage fields, such as electric vehicles (EVs) and intelligent power grids, due to their benefits in safety, energy density, and thermostability. As the key component of ASSBs, solid electrolytes determine the properties of ASSBs. In past decades, various kinds of solid electrolytes, such as polymers and inorganic electrolytes, have been explored. Among these candidates, organic–inorganic composite solid electrolytes (CSEs) that integrate the advantages of these two different electrolytes have been regarded as promising electrolytes for high‐performance ASSBs, and extensive studies have been carried out. Herein, recent progress in organic–inorganic CSEs is summarized in terms of the inorganic component, electrochemical performance, effects of the inorganic ceramic nanostructure, and ionic conducting mechanism. Finally, the main challenges and perspectives of organic–inorganic CSEs are highlighted for future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As anode materials for high‐performance Li‐ion batteries, peapod‐like Ge‐based composites, including Ge, a Li‐inactive conducting Cu3Ge, and a porous carbon matrix are synthesized simply by annealing CuGeO3@dopamine in a H2/Ar atmosphere. The introduction of the carbon layer and inactive alloying phase Cu3Ge not only enhances the electrical conductivity of the Ge anode, but also reduces the volume change of Ge during the cell cycle as a buffer. In particular, the anode of this peapod‐like Cu3Ge/Ge@C shows an excellent long cycle life as well as outstanding capacity performance, with a discharge specific capacity up to 934 mA h g−1 after 500 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amorphous nanoparticles of ZnO and TiO2 embedded in carbon nanocages (AZT⊂CNCs) were successfully synthesized through a simple annealing process of TiO2‐coated zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8). In the current anode of AZT⊂CNCs, tiny ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticles were uniformly distributed in the carbon matrix (carbon nanocages), which could effectively buffer the volume expansion of electroactive ZnO and provide excellent electric conductivity. After fully investigating the electrochemical performance of the AZT⊂CNCs samples obtained with different additive amounts of tetrabutyl orthotitanate (TBOT) for TiO2 coating, it has been found that AZT‐30 (0.1 g ZIF‐8 with 30 mL TBOT) shows the best cycle stability (510 mA h g−1 after 350 cycles at 200 mA g−1) and a superior rate capability (610 mA h g−1 after 3500 cycles at 2 A g−1). The greatly enhanced Li‐ion storage performance could be ascribed to the fact that the introduction of amorphous TiO2 could activate the reversible lithiation/delithiation reaction of ZnO during the charge/discharge process. Dramatically enhanced: Amorphous nanoparticles of ZnO and TiO2 embedded in carbon nanocages (AZT⊂CNCs) were successfully synthesized by a simple annealing process of TiO2‐coated ZIF‐8 (see figure). As a Li‐ion battery anode, the hollow structure and porous carbon matrix make these materials useful. Moreover, with the addition of TiO2, the electrochemical reactions of the ZnO anode are greatly activated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The sulfur cathode, as a new generation of lithium‐ion battery cathode material, has a high theoretical energy density of about 2500 Wh kg−1. However, the low conductivity of sulfur and the “shuttle effect”, widely presenting in the lithiation/de‐lithiation process, seriously hinder its practical application. Here, we report a new nanoconfined oxidation route (first complete oxidation of metal sulfide and subsequently partial oxidation of the generated S from sulfide) for S cathode encapsulated with MnO2 nanosheets and N‐doped carbon hollow spheres. This nanoconfined oxidation route can successfully confine the sulfur particles in the interior of the carbon shell, and the rationally introduced nonpolar carbon and polar MnO2 can both reduce the dissolution of polysulfide during the charge‐discharge process. The obtained well‐defined S‐MnO2@C cathode exhibits high specific capacity with excellent cycling performance and superior rate capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]