Search

The increasing demand for energy, coupled with the continuing deterioration of the environment, has heightened people's desire for renewable energy storage technologies, such as rechargeable zinc‐air batteries (ZABs). However, the race for the developing ZABs usually focuses on the search for new materials, with less emphasis on electrode engineering and recycling. Herein, for the first time, a simple, scalable, and inexpensive electrode engineering and recycling strategy for ZABs is proposed based on the magnetic binder engineering of the cobalt‐implanted electrocatalysts. By manipulating the electrode with magnets, the ZAB can cycle for 1200 h (7200 cycles), and its anti‐pulverization behavior is revealed through in situ observation of a visual cell with an air electrode in the charged state. Moreover, the cobalt‐implanted electrocatalysts can be recycled from the spent ZABs using a magnetic force‐separation method. Additionally, the ZAB with the recycled electrocatalyst exhibits considerably prolonged cycling stability for over 500 h (ΔE = 0.86 V). This study not only enables the design of magnetic force‐engineered electrodes with improved battery performance but also provides sustainable solutions for recycling electrocatalysts for many possible applications beyond ZABs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) are intrinsically advantageous over rigid inorganic ones due to their easy processability and scalability. However, in terms of poor mechanical strength, GPEs can hardly satisfy the requirement of practical Li metal batteries. Herein, a novel one‐dimensional Cu‐metal–organic framework (MOF)‐filler‐reinforced GPE with the merits of high mechanical strength and high ionic conductivity is developed. When such GPE is used in Li symmetrical cells, small and stable Li‐plating/stripping overpotentials (~50 mV) can be maintained over 350 h at.3 mA/cm2. Benefitting from the above MOF‐filler‐reinforced GPE, a full cell with the Li metal anode and LiFePO4 cathode presents a stable cycling performance with a low capacity decay rate of.004% per cycle over 800 cycles at 1 C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overall, the articles selected for publication in this special issue encompass a wide range of research topics related to deep learning for fuel cells and batteries according to both theoretical calculations and experimental results. Fuel cells and batteries, as two key types of energy conversion and storage devices, have recently attracted more and more attention. This special issue contains 14 contributions, including 11 research articles and 3 reviews, contributed from the experts working in the fields of fuel cells and batteries. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract Considering the abundant sodium resources, sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) demonstrate great potential in large-scale electrochemical energy storage sectors which capacity and cycle stability is highly dependent on their electrode materials. Layered P2-type Mn-Fe-based oxide has been considered as one of the most promising cathodes for SIBs, while its unsatisfactory cycle performance and low energy density strongly limit practical application. Here, a Co/Ni modification strategy is proposed to optimize P2-Na 2/3 Mn 1/2 Fe 1/2 O 2 (MF) from both aspects of reversible capacity and cycle stability, leading to the design of a new P2-Na 2/3 Mn 1/2 Fe 1/4 Co 1/8 Ni 1/8 O 2 (MFCN). In this new layered P2-type material, the introduction of Co effectively inhibits the irreversibility of the material, and the introduction of Ni relieves the Jahn-Teller effect and reduces Mn dissolution. The simultaneous introduction of Co and Ni effectively improves the cycle stability of the electrode, indicated by the increase of the capacity retention rate from 51.5% for MF to 87.4% for MFCN over 100 discharge-charge cycles at the same current density of 130 mA g−1. Meanwhile, the introduction of Ni effectively increases the discharge voltage with the middle discharge voltage increasing from 2.8 V (MF) to 3.3 V (MFCN), thereby improving the energy density of the electrode. All above features make the new material highly promising for use as a cathode material in practical SIBs. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • A co-doping strategy was used to design P2-type layered oxide. • A new P2-type layered oxide Na 2/3 Mn 1/2 Fe 1/4 Co 1/8 Ni 1/8 O 2 (MFCN) was developed. • The capacity retention rate of MFCN was 87.4% at 130 mA g−1 after 100 cycles. • The middle discharge voltage increased from 2.8 V (Na 2/3 Mn 1/2 Fe 1/2 O 2) to 3.3 V (MFCN). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sol-gel method with ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid and citric acid as co-chelates is employed for the synthesis of P2-type Na 2/3 Mn 1/2 Fe 1/4 Co 1/4 O 2 as cathode material for sodium-ion batteries. Among the various calcination temperatures, the Na 2/3 Mn 1/2 Fe 1/4 Co 1/4 O 2 with a pure P2-type phase calcined at 900 °C demonstrates the best cycle capacity, with a first discharge capacity of 157 mA h g −1 and a capacity retention of 91 mA h g −1 after 100 cycles. For comparison, the classic P2-type Na 2/3 Mn 1/2 Fe 1/2 O 2 cathode prepared under the same conditions shows a comparable first discharge capacity of 150 mA h g −1 but poorer cycling stability, with a capacity retention of only 42 mA h g −1 after 100 cycles. Based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the introduction of cobalt together with sol-gel synthesis solves the severe capacity decay problem of P2-type Na 2/3 Mn 1/2 Fe 1/2 O 2 by reducing the content of Mn and slowing down the loss of Mn on the surface of the Na 2/3 Mn 1/2 Fe 1/4 Co 1/4 O 2 , as well as by improving the activity of Fe 3+ and the stability of Fe 4+ in the electrode. This research is the first to demonstrate the origin of the excellent cycle stability of Na 2/3 Mn 1/2 Fe 1/4 Co 1/4 O 2 , which may provide a new strategy for the development of electrode materials for use in sodium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]