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[Display omitted] High-energy-density lithium-ion batteries and sodium-ion batteries are two important rechargeable batteries in the large-scale electrochemical energy storage devices of modern society; however, the fast-charging of them, as one of the core technologies, is still not fully and adequately resolved, especially the correlated problems of the cathode side. This review highlights the key kinetically limiting factors in the process of fast-charging from the perspective of cathodic materials, and describes the various currently reported fast-charging cathode materials with improved rapid ions diffusion capability and fast reaction kinetics. Based on the energy-storage mechanism of cathode materials during fast-charging, a series of strategies, including nanostructure, doping and multiple-system, are discussed, while emphasis on the pseudocapacitive contribution in the battery type cathode materials for constructing the fast-charging lithium-ion batteries and sodium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing popularity of electric/hybrid vehicles and the rapid development of 3C electronics, there is a growing interest in high-rate energy storage systems. The rapid development and widespread adoption of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) can be attributed to their numerous advantages, including high energy density, high operating voltage, environmental friendliness, and lack of memory effect. However, the progress of LIBs is currently hindered by the limitations of energy storage materials, which serve as vital components. Therefore, there is an urgent need to address the development of a new generation of high-rate energy storage materials in order to overcome these limitations and further advance LIB technology. Niobium-based oxides have emerged as promising candidates for the fabrication of fast-charging Li-ion batteries due to their excellent rate capability and long lifespan. This review paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the fundamentals, methodologies, and electrochemistries of niobium-based oxides, with a specific focus on the evolution and creation of crystal phases of Nb2O5, fundamental electrochemical behavior, and modification methods including morphology modulation, composite technology, and carbon coating. Furthermore, the review explores Nb2O5-derived compounds and related advanced characterization techniques. Finally, the challenges and issues in the development of niobium-based oxides for high-rate energy storage batteries are discussed, along with future research perspectives.

Current research focuses on lithium-ion battery cells with a high energy density and efficient fast-charging capabilities. However, transport limitations, and, therefore, the uniform diffusion of lithium-ions across the electrode layers, remain a challenge and could lead to reduced cell performance. One approach to overcome these transport challenges is the use of subsequently produced two-layer anodes with the particle size variation of spherical graphite (x50 = 18 µm; x50 = 11 µm). Thereby, a defined pore network is created, which reduces the ionic resistance and ensuring improved fast charging capabilities. The analysis focuses on the evaluation of electrode properties and the electrochemical performance. By examining the pore size distribution of the anodes, it has been found that during the manufacturing of the two-layer anodes, carbon black and binder particles are transported into the existing microstructure of the lower layer, resulting in localized densification between the anode layers. This could also be supported by color measurements. This effect also extends to electrochemical investigations, with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showing significantly lower ionic resistances in all two-layer anodes. Reduced ionic resistance and tortuosity near the separator due to absorption effects enhance the ion diffusion and have a direct impact on anode performance. Cell ageing analysis showed a significant capacity decrease of almost 15 mAh g −1 in the single-layer references only, in contrast to the stability of the two-layer anodes. This could also be attributed to the reduced ionic resistance and active counteraction of binder migration. In conclusion, this study highlights how subsequently produced two-layer anodes significantly shape the electrode properties and cell performance of lithium-ion batteries.

Graphene has yet to be mass produced, so practical fast-charging lithium-ion battery (LIB) prototypes based on graphene are scarce. Graphene suffers from long in-plane and reluctant in-depth lithium diffusion due to its defect-free atomic arrangement, resulting in unsatisfactory rate performance as LIB anodes. In this work, combinatorial flash joule heating and ball milling treatment are implemented to enable gram-scale production of graphene in seconds (known as flash graphene, FG) and in-plane ordered-range modulation of graphene architectures. Following the ball milling, the defect-deficient turbostratic FG is transformed to defect-rich cracked FG (CFG), which has shortened ordered ranges and larger interlayer spacings. The CFG anode outperforms FG, commercial carbon black, and graphite electrodes in terms of specific capacity and rate performance due to open channels and shortened pathways for Li+ transport. Moreover, it shows outstanding cycling stability with a high capacity retention of 99% at the 500th cycle. Furthermore, it works well with the LiFePO4 cathode, enabling fast-charging LIB full battery with a state of charge of 77 and 62% at 2C and 4C, respectively. This research on graphene production and structural engineering provides a practical application for the commercial potential of fast-charging LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrolyte design has become ever more important to enhance the performance of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). However, the flammability issue and high reactivity of the conventional electrolytes remain a major problem, especially when the LIBs are operated at high voltage and extreme temperatures. Herein, we design a novel non‐flammable fluorinated ester electrolyte that enables high cycling stability in wide‐temperature variations (e.g. −50 °C–60 °C) and superior power capability (fast charge rates up to 5.0 C) for the graphite||LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) battery at high voltage (i.e. >4.3 V vs. Li/Li+). Moreover, this work sheds new light on the dynamic evolution and interaction among the Li+, solvent, and anion at the molecular level. By elucidating the fundamental relationship between the Li+ solvation structure and electrochemical performance, we can facilitate the development of high‐safety and high‐energy‐density batteries operating in harsh conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an acrylate-modified binder is introduced to the negative electrode of a power battery to improve its fast-charging performance. The Li+ ionic conductivity of the acrylated-modified GD1346 copolymer was twice that of commercial SN307 copolymer at room temperature. GD1346 greatly reduced the Ohm resistance and charge transfer resistance of the negative electrode from those of SN307 and enhanced the surface potential to more than 15 mV. This high performance is attributed to strong electrolyte adsorption ability and the ester groups, which favour Li+ diffusion. Consequently, the fast-charging time of the power battery is reduced from 107 to 82 min as the state of charge increases from 0 to 100%. The practicality of acrylate-modified GD1346 binder in the manufacture of large-scale batteries is also confirmed. The techniques developed in this work are expected to promote the development of efficient binders for next-generation high-energy lithium ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercalation-type metal oxides are promising active anode materials for the fabrication of safer rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, as they are capable of minimizing or even eliminating Li plating at low voltages. Due to the excellent cycle performance, high specific capacity and appropriate working potential, TiNb2O7 (TNO) is considered to be the candidate of anode materials. Despite a lot of beneficial characteristics, the slow electrochemical kinetics of the TNO-based anodes limits their wide use. In this paper, TiNb2O7@C was prepared by using the self-polymerization coating characteristics of dopamine to enhance the rate-performance and cycling stability. The TNO@C-2 particles present ideal rate performance with the discharge capacity of 295.6 mA h g−1 at 0.1 C. Moreover, the TNO@C-2 anode materials exhibit initial discharge capacity of 177.4 mA h g−1, providing 91% of capacity retention after 400 cycles at 10 C. The outstanding electrochemical performance can be contributed to the carbon layer, which builds fast lithium ion paths, enhancing the electrical conductivity of TNO. All these results confirm that TNO@C is a valid methodology to enhance rate-performance and cycling stability and is a new way to provide reliable and quickly rechargeable energy storage resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the global electric vehicle market grows rapidly and the demand for fast-charging battery technology continues to increase, the development of high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with fast-charging capability has become an inevitable trend. However, the application of silicon-based anode in lithium-ion batteries suffers from key technical obstacles such as volume expansion and other problems, capacity degradation during fast charging, and safety hazards. This paper reviews recent advances, fundamentals, key strategies, and challenging perspectives on silicon anodes for realizing fast-charging lithium-ion batteries. First, the main challenges of fast-charging silicon anode are analyzed by revealing the lithium storage mechanism of silicon anode. Then, we outline the key strategies for realizing fast-charging lithium-ion batteries and recent advances in improving rate performance involving composite design, structural design, multifunctional binder and electrolyte design. Finally, the challenges and future directions for the development of fast-charging lithium-ion batteries are highlighted, providing insights into the further commercialization of fast-charging lithium-ion batteries. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The distinctions between Li+ diffusion paths of Li 3 VO 4 during fast-charging and slow-charging are well elucidated. • The lattice changes of Li+ insertion into different sites are predicted. • The work furnishes a theoretical basis for comprehending doping, nanosizing, and other modification methods. • The fast-charging issue could be addressed from atomic and lattice scales. "Fast-charging" lithium-ion batteries enjoy extensive attention as energy storage devices for portable electronic devices and new energy vehicles. Regrettably, high safety could not be effectively ensured while the batteries undergo fast-charging process. Li 3 VO 4 could be recognized as a high-safety "fast-charging" anode material considering its appropriate Li-insertion voltage and fast kinetic characteristics. Currently, notwithstanding the fact that Li 3 VO 4 has been extensively investigated as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries and the encouraging research results have been accomplished, the distinction between ion diffusion mechanisms during fast-charging and slow-charging has not been well elucidated. Unlike previous reports, Li+ fast/slow diffusion mechanisms in Li 3 VO 4 are investigated in detail in this work. Specifically, Li+ tends to diffuse along path a due to rather fast Li-insertion/deinsertion processes. Correspondingly, Li+ undergoes diffusion along path a and path b during slow-charging. Unlike the conventional view that Li+ prefers to diffuse along path a under all conditions. Additionally, the lattice changes of Li+ insertion into different sites are predicted. The findings could facilitate to comprehend the mechanism of doping, nanosizing, and other modification methods, and the fast-charging issue could be addressed in a targeted way. For instance, the optimal fast diffusion paths are modified at both atomic and lattice scales, inducing that Li+ could be inserted into the lattice of material faster during fast-charging and the power densities could be increased. Accordingly, understanding the fast diffusion mechanism of Li+ in Li 3 VO 4 is crucial to addressing the "fast-charging" of these materials. Unfortunately, the inferior electronic conductivity restricts its Li-storage capacity in "fast-charging" devices. Herein, a Li 3 VO 4 based anode material is prepared thorough a one-step hydrothermal method and liquid-phase dispersion technique in the existence of polyvinyl pyrrolidone, which demonstrates exceptional discharging and charging specific capacities, maintaining 273 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1. It also presents considerably higher "fast-charging" performance even at 1.0–4.0 A g−1. Electrochemical kinetic studies indicate that the thin coating could improve the conductivity of Li 3 VO 4. The Li-insertion sites and diffusion paths during fast-charging and slow-charging processes are predicted computationally. And the in-situ XRD is adopted to insight into the structural changes of composites during Li-insertion/deinsertion processes. The data furnishes a theoretical basis for comprehending the fast lithium storage mechanism of Li 3 VO 4 and offers a new method for searching for "fast-charging" anode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nanohybrid of CoSe 2 -NiSe 2 heterojunction and HrGO was synthesized via combining thermal etching and in-situ selenization strategy. The holey reduced graphene oxide (HrGO) enabling rapid Na+ diffusion along this direction. CoSe 2 -NiSe 2 heterojunction creates an internal electric field, which leads to a rapid electrochemical reaction kinetic at the heterojunction interface. The incorporation of HrGO with CoSe 2 -NiSe 2 heterojunctions synergistically enhances both external and internal charge transfer rate, thereby improving the fast-charging performance of SIBs. [Display omitted] • The nanohybrid of CoSe 2 -NiSe 2 and HrGO is synthesized via combining thermal etching and in-situ selenization strategy. • The Na+ storage mechanism was well revealed by using the in-situ/ex-situ characterizations and DFT calculations. • These features contribute to excellent rate performance (392.4mAh/g at 15 A/g) and competitive cycling stability. • The synergistic effect o'f the nanoporous structure in HrGO and CoSe 2 -NiSe 2 heterostructure can improve Na+ transport rate. Inspired by the "Barrel principle" and based on the working principle of the "rocking chair". We propose two shortboards that "bulk diffusion rate" and "ion reaction rate", which affect the fast charging of sodium ion batteries (SIBs). The holey reduced graphene oxide (HrGO) with abundant nanopores provides longitudinal diffusion channels, enabling rapid Na+ diffusion along this direction, which solves the shortboard of bulk diffusion rate. Additionally, heterojunctions are considered a viable approach for enhancing fast Na+ storage performance by providing more storage sites and accelerating the kinetics of Na+ reaction, which solve the shortboard of ion reaction rate. Herein, we construct HrGO combined with CoSe 2 -NiSe 2 heterojunctions has been rationally fabricated to synergistically enhance the ionic and electronic diffusion kinetics. As expected, the CoSe 2 -NiSe 2 /HrGO anode in SIBs shows an excellent fast-charging performance (392.4mAh/g at 15 A/g), surpassing most Co/Ni-based selenide anodes. Additionally, the assembled CoSe 2 -NiSe 2 /HrGO||NVP full cell delivers a high specific capacity of 116.1 and 95.4mAh/g at 0.1 and 20C, respectively, coupled with 97.8 % capacity retention rate for 100 cycles. Furthermore, we elucidate the mechanism of Na+ storage and fast transport through electrochemical kinetic analysis, in situ and ex situ characterizations, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and distribution of relaxation times (DRT). Importantly, this study provides theoretical insights into accelerating rapid Na+ transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanadium sulfide is considered a promising electrode material for achieving rapid lithium storage ascribing to its high specific capacity, unique crystal structure, and abundant valence states. Unfortunately, the structural collapse induced by volume expansion during charging and discharging is the key factor affecting rapid lithium storage. This article prepares composite materials with different morphologies through a strategy of decorating vanadium sulfide at carbon matrix. Among them, graphene oxide modified vanadium tetrasulfide composite materials with three-dimensional conductive networks exhibit excellent electrochemical performance. When the current density is 50 mA g−1, the discharging specific capacity reaches 1, 560 mAh g−1. After 2, 500 cycles at a high current density of 10, 000 mA g−1, the specific capacity is about 188 mAh g−1 with charging time of approximately 70 s. GITT testing indicates that the order of magnitude of the logarithm of the initial diffusion coefficient is 10−11 cm2 s−1 owing to the three-dimensional porous conductive network, which not only shortens ion diffusion path but also provides more active sites for lithium-ion storage, rendering it a promising anode material for "fast-charging" lithium-ion batteries. [Display omitted] • Vanadium sulfide modified with graphene oxide composite materials. • Electrode materials showing a three-dimensional porous conductive network. • The materials structure is beneficial for "fast- charging" lithium-ion batteries. • Exhibiting approximately 188 mAh g-1 after 2, 500 cycles at 10, 000 mA g-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The slow kinetics and lithium deposition of graphite anode are considered the key limitations of fast-charging lithium-ion batteries. Expanded graphite has shown tremendous potential for the improvement of rate performance due to its massive active sites released and lifted lithium storage platform. However, the risk of structural collapse caused by fast charging will reduce the cycling life of the expanded graphite anode. Herein, this study designed a stable structure of expanded graphite by filling its layer pores with pitch-derived soft carbon (EGC). The honeycomb-like EGC is a great fast-charging candidate material with rich active sites, enlarged ion transport channels, and efficient ion transport interfaces. As the experimental and simulation results, the EGC electrode demonstrated significantly fast lithium-ions storage kinetics and durable long cycle life, compared to commercial fast-charging graphite anode. Notably, the EGC//LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 full cell delivered a superior fast-charging and stability performance (near 20 min charging for 80 % State of Charge). The simple multifunctional modification strategy for graphite anode in this work provides a new approach for superior fast-charging lithium-ion batteries. A stable EGC structure prepared by pitch-derived soft carbon filling in the layer pores of expanded graphite, showing great fast-charging potential and durable long cycle life, with rich active sites, enlarged ion transport channels, and efficient ion transport interfaces. Notably, the EGC//LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 full cell delivered a superior fast-charging and stability performance (near 20 min charging for 80 % State of Charge). [Display omitted] • A robust structure (EGC) of expanded graphite frame regulated with soft carbon, boosts lithium-ion diffusion kinetics. • EGC electrode demonstrated significantly fast lithium-ions storage and durable long cycle life. • EGC//NCM811 full cell shows a firm capacity retention rate and durable cycling behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth is considered to be a promising anode for sodium-ion batteries due to its low voltage plateau and high volumetric capacity. However, the large volume variation during alloying/dealloying leads to electrode pulverization and performance degradation, especially under high current densities. Herein we propose a lattice-confined localized alloying reaction mechanism to solve the above issues. By chemically embedding Bi atoms in a rigid layered ▪ host framework, the alloying reaction of Bi is spatially and kinetically confined within the ▪ interlayer, allowing for complete recovery of the Bi 0.67 TaS 2 crystal structure after desodiation. The as-prepared Bi 0.67 TaS 2 anode exhibits superior rate performance, achieving capacities of 256 mAh g ▪ at 1 C and 186 mAh g ▪ at 150 C, along with remarkable long-term cycling stability for maintaining 153 mAh g ▪ after 20000 cycles at 150 C. This work demonstrates that the localized alloying mechanism enabled by lattice confinement significantly contributes to both rate and cycling performance, which is expected to provide insights into electrode design for future fast-charging batteries. • A new Bi 0.67 TaS 2 anode is designed via chemically integrating electrochemical-active atomic Bi and 2D TaS 2 host framework. • Bi 0.67 TaS 2 undergoes a reversible electrochemical reaction with its crystalline phase being recovered after recharging. • A lattice-confined localized alloying mechanism is proposed. • Bi 0.67 TaS 2 exhibits superior rate performance up to 150 C and long-term cycling stability for 20,000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the quest for high-energy-density lithium metal batteries (LMBs), the stabilization of lithium (Li) metal anodes during fast charging remains a formidable challenge. In this study, a novel copolymer, Poly(methyl methacrylate- co -styrene) (namely PMS) is synthesized and blended with Poly(vinylidene fluoride) to fabricate a porous gel polymer electrolyte (GPE, namely PMS-PVDF) through the nonsolvent-induced phase separation technique, which significantly enhances the electrochemical stability and fast-charging capabilities of LMBs. The developed GPE exhibits a high ionic conductivity of 5.62 mS cm−1, thereby reducing the formation of detrimental Li dendrites and leading to over 400 h stripping/plating process at 0.5 mA cm−2. Extensive electrochemical tests show that the LMBs with the obtained PMS-PVDF GPE achieve exceptional cycle stability over 600 and 1000 cycles at the C-rates of 0.5 and 3 C, respectively, outperforming traditional electrolytes. Furthermore, the ultra-stability of the quasi-solid-state electrolyte is demonstrated in a 375 mAh pouch cell setup, suggesting an essential trait for the practical application of high-power devices. This work marks a pivotal contribution to the field of energy storage, delivering insights and a clear methodology that pave the way for the development of next-generation LMBs poised for commercial viability. [Display omitted] • Synthesized PMS-PVDF polymer matrix enhances GPE porosity via NIPS method. • GPE achieves 5.62 mS/cm ionic conductivity, effectively suppressing dendrite growth. • Li//LFP cells with GPE exhibit stable cycling across various C-rates. • LMBs deliver 106.5 mAh/g at 10 C, showcasing excellent rate performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon suboxides (SiO x) have achieved partial success in commercialization as high-capacity anode materials to replace graphite because of optimal electrochemical properties over silicon. Unfortunately, the further development has been sluggish, jeopardizing the urgent need of green energy. The daunting challenges to tackle include low initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) and low charging rate due to poor electron and ionic conductivity. In the context of thin film microbattery, we propose to precisely control the chemical states of SiO x films through varying sputtering power followed by dry-state pre-lithiation through Li-metal thermal evaporation, superior to the current pre-lithiation approaches for SiO x thin-film anodes. We addressed the leading roles of the surface chemical states of the as-deposited SiO x in the formation of the high ionic conductive Li 4 SiO 4 phase as the pre-solid electrolyte interphase during the proposed dry-state prelithiation process. Ultimately, the prelithiated SiO x successfully mitigated the most confronted issues as low ICE and C-rate limitation, achieving an unprecedented rate performance of 72.8 % at 20 C, and ultra-long-cycle retention of 54.2 % over 5000 cycles at 10 C. These results strongly prove that appropriate pre-lithiation provides tremendous advantages to SiO x thin film anode not only in prolonging electrode stability but also promoting a significant fast-cycling. [Display omitted] • The surface chemistry dominates the higher ionic conductive Li 4 SiO 4 formation during the dry-state pre-lithiation process. • The pre-lithiated SiO x achieves an excellent rate performance of 72.8 % at 20 C. • An unprecedented ultralong cycling performance retained 54.2 % over 5000 cycles under 10 C testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SiO-based materials represent a promising class of anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), with a high theoretical capacity and appropriate and safe Li-insertion potential. However, SiO experiences a large volume change during the electrochemical reaction, low Li diffusivity, and low electron conductivity, resulting in degradation and low rate capability for LIBs. Here, we report on the rapid crafting of SiO–Sn2Fe@C composites via a one-step plasma milling process, leading to an alloy of Sn and Fe and in turn refining SiO and Sn2Fe into nanoparticles that are well dispersed in a nanosized, few-layer graphene matrix. The Sn and Fe nanoparticles generated during the first Li-insertion process form a stable network to improve Li diffusivity and electron conductivity. As an anode material, the SiO–Sn2Fe@C composite manifests high reversible capacities, superior cycling stability, and excellent rate capability. The capacity retention is found to be as high as 95% and 84% at the 100th and 300th cycles under 0.3 ​C. During rate capability testing at 3, 6, and 11 ​C, the capacity retentions are 71%, 60%, and 50%, respectively. This study highlights that this simple, one-step plasma milling strategy can further improve SiO-based anode materials for high-performance LIBs.

Fast Charging Station (FCS) is required to reduce charging time of electric vehicle, electric bus, or electric trucks. However, FCS requires high amount of power to support charging a large number of vehicles in reduced time. To reduce the load on the grid and lower the emission of greenhouse gas (GHG), renewable energy sources (RESs) are the most promising option. Renewable energy sources are intermittent, and the penetration of renewable energy sources are restricted by the area and the capacity of the charging station. To address this issue, a micro modular reactor that acts as a small nuclear power plant is introduced to support the RESs and minimize GHG emissions. The proposed Nuclear-Renewable Hybrid Energy System (N-R HES) is compared with different energy systems such as standalone diesel generator-based systems, conventional diesel generators integrated with RESs, standalone small nuclear power plants, in terms of greenhouse gas emission, cost of energy, net present cost, and return on investment to analyze the feasibility of the N-R HES. Sensitivity analysis is performed to assess the technical and economic aspects of the proposed system, where results show that the N-R HES can be a reliable option for sustainable energy solutions and decarbonization.

Abstract High-energy–density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) that can be safely fast-charged are desirable for electric vehicles. However, sub-optimal lithiation potential and low capacity of commonly used LIBs anode cause safety issues and low energy density. Here we hypothesize that a cobalt vanadate oxide, Co2VO4, can be attractive anode material for fast-charging LIBs due to its high capacity (~ 1000 mAh g−1) and safe lithiation potential (~ 0.65 V vs. Li+/Li). The Li+ diffusion coefficient of Co2VO4 is evaluated by theoretical calculation to be as high as 3.15 × 10–10 cm2 s−1, proving Co2VO4 a promising anode in fast-charging LIBs. A hexagonal porous Co2VO4 nanodisk (PCVO ND) structure is designed accordingly, featuring a high specific surface area of 74.57 m2 g−1 and numerous pores with a pore size of 14 nm. This unique structure succeeds in enhancing Li+ and electron transfer, leading to superior fast-charging performance than current commercial anodes. As a result, the PCVO ND shows a high initial reversible capacity of 911.0 mAh g−1 at 0.4 C, excellent fast-charging capacity (344.3 mAh g−1 at 10 C for 1000 cycles), outstanding long-term cycling stability (only 0.024% capacity loss per cycle at 10 C for 1000 cycles), confirming the commercial feasibility of PCVO ND in fast-charging LIBs.

ChargEVal is a framework for simulating the performance of charging station deployment scenarios using agent-based modelling (ABM). The ABM utilizes behavioural models for simulating vehicle choice for the trip and charging choice during a trip. ChargEVal can be used by several users to submit multiple simulations simultaneously, using a graphical user interface or programmatically. ChargEVal also has a dedicated results viewer for viewing the simulation summary statistics and agent state values, facilitating detailed insight and simulation comparison. While the current implementation of ChargEVal is specific to the State of Washington, USA; the underlying framework is generic enough to be applied to any geography at any scale.

This article proposes and analyzes a two-stage isolated dc–dc converter for electric vehicle charging applications, where high efficiency over a wide range of battery voltages is required. It employs a first preregulation stage and a second half-bridge LLC stage, integrated with the first. The second stage is always operated at resonance, ensuring high efficiency. The first preregulation stage is responsible for the desired input-to-output voltage conversion ratio and the zero-voltage switching operation of all the switches. This allows low conversion losses even with voltages that may vary over a wide range. The article presents the conversion structure, the converter analysis, the design of the magnetic elements, and demonstrates the converter operation considering an experimental prototype interfacing a ${750\text{-}} \mathrm{V}$ dc-link with an output bus with nominal voltage range ${250} \mathrm{}$ – ${500}\, \mathrm{V}$. The implemented module is rated ${5}\,\text{kW}$ and achieves a peak efficiency of $\boldsymbol{98.0\%}$ at ${3\text{-}} \text{kW}$ output power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of deeply cyclable lithium metal batteries with fast-charging capability offers a promising solution to relieve the "range anxiety" in driving electric vehicles. Conventional lithium metal anodes suffered from low operating current densities and shallow charge/discharge depths, owing to the intrinsic dendrite growth governed by Sand's law. Herein, we come up with a novel design of heavy-duty lithium metal anode fabricated by partially infusing the three-dimensional (3D) porous graphene aerogel with molten Li. Both electroanalytical measurements and simulations show that the unique electrode architecture brings notable advantages in mediating smooth Li plating/stripping, including reduced local current density, inhibited dendrite growth, buffered volume fluctuation, as well as more efficient Li utilization. Consequently, a remarkable cycling performance in symmetric cells for over 400 cycles (800 h) with an ultrahigh cycling capacity of 15 mAh·cm−2 at 15 mA·cm−2 is achieved, which, to our best knowledge, has been never seen in literature. LiFePO4 full cells demonstrate a superb rate capability up to 10 C and a prolonged cycling of 1,600 cycles at 2 C with the per-cycle capacity decay of only 0.023%. This study paves the way for the ultimate deployment of lithium metal batteries in real-world applications that require fast charging and deep cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the driving range of electric vehicles (EVs) has been dramatically improved. But the large‐scale adoption of EVs still is hindered by long charging time. The high‐energy LIBs are unable to be safely fast‐charged due to their electrode materials with unsatisfactory rate performance. Thus it is necessary to summarize the properties of cathode and anode materials of fast‐charging LIBs. In this review, we summarize the background, the fundamentals, electrode materials and future development of fast‐charging LIBs. First, we introduce the research background and the physicochemical basics for fast‐charging LIBs. Second, typical cathode materials of LIBs and the method to enhancing their fast‐charging properties are discussed. Third, the anode materials of LIBs and the strategies for improving their fast‐charging performance are analyzed. Finally, the future development of the cathode materials in fast‐charging LIBs is prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proper design of the solvation structure is crucial for the development of lithium metal batteries (LMBs). In this paper, the use of 1,2-Dimethoxyethane (DME) as a non-solvating cosolvent in amide-based eutectic electrolytes is proposed to address challenges related to high viscosity, high polarization, and low conductivity, thus enhancing the compatibility with lithium metal anodes. Through physical characterization combined with simulation calculations the existence of a weak interaction between DME and anions is confirmed, which promotes the dissociation of lithium salts and increases the Li + transference number and diffusion coefficient, thus improving the fast charging performance of eutectic electrolytes. In addition, stable SEI layer enriched with inorganic components is formed during the cycling process, resulting in uniform and dense lithium deposition. The fast charging performance of the cell can be effectively improved by utilizing the interaction between anions and solvents. The LiFePO 4 (LFP)||Li cell has a capacity retention of 97% after 1200 cycles at 5 C and also performs well at high temperature of 50 °C. Overall, the use of a non-solvating cosolvent in eutectic electrolytes presents a promising and innovative approach for enhancing electrolyte performance in LMBs., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Graphitic carbon materials are widely used in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their stability and high conductivity. However, graphite anodes have low specific capacity and degrade over time, limiting their application. To meet advanced energy storage needs, high-performance graphitic carbon materials are required. Enhancing the electrochemical performance of carbon materials can be achieved through boron and nitrogen doping and incorporating 3D structures such as carbon nanocages (CNCs). In this study, aluminum (Al) is introduced into CNC lattices via chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The hollow structure of CNCs enables fast electrolyte penetration. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that Al doping lowers the intercalation energy of Li + . The Al-boron (B)-nitrogen (N-doped CNC (AlBN-CNC) anode demonstrates an ultrahigh rate capacity (≈300 mAh g -1 at 10 A g -1 ) and a prolonged fast-charging lifespan (862.82 mAh g -1 at 5 A g -1 after 1000 cycles), surpassing the N-doped or BN-doped CNCs. Al doping improves charging kinetics and structural stability. Surprisingly, AlBN-CNCs exhibit increased capacity upon cycling due to enlarged graphitic interlayer spacing. Characterization of graphitic nanostructures confirms that Al doping effectively tailors and enhances their electrochemical properties, providing a new strategy for high-capacity, fast-charging graphitic carbon anode materials for next-generation LIBs., (© 2024 The Author(s). Small published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Co-free spinel LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 (LNMO) is emerging as a promising contender for designing next generation high-energy-density and fast-charging Li-ion batteries, due to its high operating voltage and good Li + diffusion rate. However, further improvement of the Li + diffusion ability and simultaneous resolution of Mn dissolution still pose significant challenges for their practical application. To tackle these challenges, a simple co-doping strategy is proposed. Compared to Pure-LNMO, the extended lattice in resulting LNMO-SbF sample provides wider Li + migration channels, ensuring both enhanced Li + transport kinetics, and lower energy barrier. Moreover, Sb creating structural pillar and stronger TM─F bond together provides a stabilized spinel structure, which stems from the suppression of detrimental irreversible phase transformation during cycling related to Mn dissolution. Benefiting from the synergistic effect, the LNMO-SbF material exhibits a superior reversible capacity (111.4 mAh g -1 at 5C, and 70.2 mAh g -1 after 450 cycles at 10C) and excellent long-term cycling stability at high current density (69.4% capacity retention at 5C after 1000 cycles). Furthermore, the LNMO-SbF//graphite full cell delivers an exceptional retention rate of 96.9% after 300 cycles, and provides a high energy density at 3C even with a high loading. This work provides valuable insight into the design of fast-charging cathode materials for future high energy density lithium-ion batteries., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

LiNi 0.8 Mn 0.1 Co 0.1 O 2 (NMC811) is the most promising cathode material for future Li-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the bulk and surface structural instabilities retard its commercial success. Surface chemical instability toward exposure to moisture (H 2 O and CO 2 ) leads to the formation of residual lithium compounds (RLCs: Li 2 CO 3 , LiOH) on the surface. The alkaline RLCs form a resistive layer on the surface of NMC811 by undergoing parasitic side reactions with electrolytes. Herein, an "Adverse-to-Beneficial" approach is proposed to eliminate RLCs by chemically transforming them into a Li x PO y (Li 3 PO 4 and LiPO 3 ) interface. The interface protects the NMC811 surface from moisture attack and unwanted side reactions with electrolytes. It enhances the cycle life by retaining 70% of the initial capacity after 300 cycles at a 0.5C rate and 60% after 500 cycles, even at a 5C rate in a voltage window of 3.0-4.3 V versus Li + /Li. The coexistence of two Li-conducting phases lowers the voltage polarization of the kinetically sluggish H1 → M phase transition to unlock fast cycling, reduces cationic disorder, improves coulombic efficiency, enhances ion diffusion kinetics, and minimizes particle crack formation after long-term cycling. Hence, the Li x PO y interface yields multifaceted benefits in the storage, processing, and electrochemistry of NMC811., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Despite numerous research on new active materials for anodes, graphite remains the most commonly used material in Li-ion batteries. The spherical shape of the graphite particles has proven to be beneficial for application in electric vehicles, especially for fast charging. So far, the spheroidization of natural flake graphite is conducted by a rigid and inefficient cascade process. In this work, a scalable classifier system was used for spheroidization, and it was demonstrated that a spheroidization time of 15 min is sufficient to improve material properties and enhance electrochemical performance while maintaining high process yields of 55%. Insights into the influence of the morphology on the intrinsic and structural properties of the graphite particles and manufactured electrodes are provided. Spheroidization creates a more efficient pore network in the coating layer while reducing the internal resistance and increasing the surface area of the particles by a factor of 1.8. We demonstrate that the spherical shape improves the discharge rate capability by 1.8, and the specific charge capacity could be enhanced by more than 237% at a C-rate of 3. An additional carbon coating could significantly decrease the specific surface area and increase the specific capacity at high C-rates.

Sodium super‐ionic conductor (NASICON)‐structured phosphates are emerging as rising stars as cathodes for sodium‐ion batteries. However, they usually suffer from a relatively low capacity due to the limited activated redox couples and low intrinsic electronic conductivity. Herein, a reduced graphene oxide supported NASICON Na3Cr0.5V1.5(PO4)3 cathode (VC/C‐G) is designed, which displays ultrafast (up to 50 C) and ultrastable (1 000 cycles at 20 C) Na+ storage properties. The VC/C‐G can reach a high energy density of ≈470 W h kg−1 at 0.2 C with a specific capacity of 176 mAh g−1 (equivalent to the theoretical value); this corresponds to a three‐electron transfer reaction based on fully activated V5+/V4+, V4+/V3+, V3+/V2+ couples. In situ X‐ray diffraction (XRD) results disclose a combination of solid‐solution reaction and biphasic reaction mechanisms upon cycling. Density functional theory calculations reveal a narrow forbidden‐band gap of 1.41 eV and a low Na+ diffusion energy barrier of 0.194 eV. Furthermore, VC/C‐G shows excellent fast‐charging performance by only taking ≈11 min to reach 80% state of charge. The work provides a widely applicable strategy for realizing multi‐electron cathode design for high‐performance SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid development of high‐energy‐density lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) enables the sufficient driving range of electric vehicles (EVs). However, the slow charging speed restricts the popularization of EVs. Commitment to fast‐charging research is considered to be the key to advance the EVs strategy. This Review discusses the kinetic factors limiting the fast‐charging capability at the material aspects, and summarizes the recent research strategies to achieve fast‐charging performance of high‐energy‐density LIBs through electrode engineering, electrolyte design, and interface optimization. The increasingly important role of computational tools and advanced characterization techniques in fundamentally understanding the failure mechanism of LIBs is emphasized, and the analysis of the thermal runaway problem in the fast‐charging process and the corresponding thermal optimization scheme is also involved to give the guidance for the more rational battery design. In view of these factors and strategies, some future perspectives for realizing high‐performance fast‐charging LIBs are proposed, which are expected to facilitate the large‐scale application of fast‐charging LIBs in EVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Battery design has important effects on its fast-charging performance. This research took a prismatic NMC lithium-ion cell as the object, and built its finite element model based on the electrochemical and thermal theories. The voltages during the 1C, 3C, and 6C charging processes were obtained and compared with the experiment results, which verified the effectiveness of the model. By changing the structure parameters and material parameters of the cell, their influence on the fast-charging capability of the cell was systematically investigated. The structure parameters included the active layer thickness, cell balance, and separator thickness. The material parameters included the particle radii in the positive electrode and negative electrode, the porosities of the positive active layer, negative active layer, and separator. It was found that most of them would influence the fast-charging capability of the cell distinctly, except for the cell balance. Compared with others, the porosities of the positive active layer, negative active layer, and separator had the most significant influence on the fast-charging capability of the cell. And the smaller the porosities were, the greater the influence was. The conclusions obtained could provide references for the structure design and material design of lithium-ion batteries toward fast-charging technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient fast-charging technology is necessary for the extension of the driving range of electric vehicles. However, lithium-ion cells generate immense heat at high-current charging rates. In order to address this problem, an efficient fast charging–cooling scheduling method is urgently needed. In this study, a liquid cooling-based thermal management system equipped with mini-channels was designed for the fast-charging process of a lithium-ion battery module. A neural network-based regression model was proposed based on 81 sets of experimental data, which consisted of three sub-models and considered three outputs: maximum temperature, temperature standard deviation, and energy consumption. Each sub-model had a desirable testing accuracy (99.353%, 97.332%, and 98.381%) after training. The regression model was employed to predict all three outputs among a full dataset, which combined different charging current rates (0.5C, 1C, 1.5C, 2C, and 2.5C (1C = 5 A)) at three different charging stages, and a range of coolant rates (0.0006, 0.0012, and 0.0018 kg·s−1). An optimal charging–cooling schedule was selected from the predicted dataset and was validated by the experiments. The results indicated that the battery module’s state of charge value increased by 0.5 after 15 min, with an energy consumption lower than 0.02 J. The maximum temperature and temperature standard deviation could be controlled within 33.35 and 0.8 °C, respectively. The approach described herein can be used by the electric vehicles industry in real fast-charging conditions. Moreover, optimal fast charging–cooling schedule can be predicted based on the experimental data obtained, that in turn, can significantly improve the efficiency of the charging process design as well as control energy consumption during cooling.

Nowadays solid‐state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs) catch researchers’ attention and are considered as the most promising energy storage devices for their high energy density and safety. However, compared to lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs), the low ionic conductivity in solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) and poor interface contact between SSEs and electrodes counteract some advantages of SSEs. As a result, SSLMBs show high energy density but low critical current density and slow charging speed. Herein, the recent progress and proposed strategies for fast‐charging SSLMBs are reviewed. In the second part of this review, various strategies for improving SSE performance in fast‐charging batteries are comprehensively highlighted. In the third part, various rational structure design schemes benefitting fast‐charging batteries are discussed. Finally, the development of fast‐charging SSLMBs is concluded and prospected. It is believed that the combination of fast‐charging times and SSLMBs is rather competitive for next‐generation, high energy density, high safety, and high charging rate energy storage devices.

We report an environmentally benign recycling approach for large-capacity nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries through the electrochemical concentration of lithium on the anode and subsequent recovery with only water. Cycling of the NMC pouch cells indicated the potential for maximum lithium recovery at a 5C charging rate. The anodes extracted from discharged and disassembled cells were submerged in deionized water, resulting in lithium dissolution and graphite recovery from the copper foils. A maximum of 13 mg of lithium salts per 100 mg of the anode, copper current collector, and separator was obtained from NMC pouch cell cycled at a 4C charging rate. The lithium salts extracted from batteries cycled at low C-rates were richer in lithium carbonate, while the salts from batteries cycled at high C-rates were richer in lithium oxides and peroxides, as determined by X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The present method can be successfully used to recover all the pouch cell components: lithium, graphite, copper, and aluminum current collectors, separator, and the cathode active material. • Lithium recovery by electrochemical concentration in 250 mA H NMC batteries. • Li selectively recovered from anode surface using only water, at room temperature. • Cathode material, current collectors, graphite, and separator are also recovered. • Recovered Li product depends on charging rates during electrochemical concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The morphology of the graphite particles is a key to determine the pore structure of dry-processed graphite electrode for lithium-ion batteries. • PTFE based dry processed electrodes with spherical graphite particles have greater porosity-gradient structure than those with flake-type graphite particles. • Dry processed electrodes with greater porosity-gradient showed much lower ionic resistance and tortuosity than wet-processed electrodes. • Dry processed electrodes with spherical graphite showed much improved fast-charging capability. Improving lithium-ion transport in electrodes by controlling electrode microstructure is a promising option for enhancing the fast-charging capability of graphite anodes in lithium-ion batteries. Dry processing of electrodes based on a polytetrafluoroethylene binder has attracted considerable attention as an alternative to solvent-based wet processing. The morphology of graphite particles has a significant impact on electrode microstructure, but few reports have been published on dry-processed graphite anodes. In this work, we found that the morphology of graphite particles is a key factor to determine the fast-charging capability of the dry-processed graphite electrode as well as the microstructure of the dry-processed graphite electrode. X-ray microscopy combined with mercury porosimetry and symmetrical cell electrochemical impedance spectroscopy reveal that the difference in porosity between the top and bottom layers of a dry electrode with spherical graphite particles is greater than that of flake-shaped graphite particles, resulting in enhanced lithium-ion transport in the electrode and improved fast-charging capability at a high charging rate of 5C (17.5 mA cm−2). These findings supply insights into the effective design of dry-processed graphite anodes with an emphasis on fast-charging capability as well as the development of graphite anode materials for dry-processing based lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing fast-charging lithium metal battery (LMB) with high specific capacity arouses enormous attentions. Unfortunately, during the operation of fast-charging LMB, substantial amount of Joule heat generated within battery often induces inhomogeneous heat accumulation that concomitantly deteriorates the lithium dendrite growth issues, resulting in rapid capacity fading and potentially fatal thermal runaway. It is critically essential to develop advanced separator that possesses high ionic conductivity, effective dendrite inhibition and self-extinguishing property for fast-charging LMB with high-safety. Here, we report a facile approach to fabricate polyimide composite separator (denoted as PIFAP), where the polyimide fiber (PIF) membrane is sandwiched by aerogel layers of polyimide/ammonium polyphosphate composite. Notably, compared with PIF, the PIFAP features significant enhancement in flame retardance, electrolyte affinity, electrolyte adsorption and ionic conductivity. Moreover, beneficiating from the aerogel layers with uniform nanopores of ∼100 nm, the optimized PIFAP separator can enable homogeneous lithium deposition, achieving a dendrite-free lithium deposition on the surface of anode for over 1600 h, superior to the PIF and Celgard separators. The resulting "LiFePO 4 /PIFAP/Li" cell can exhibit a remarkably high cycling stability with 99.1 % of capacity retention after long-term cycling at a current density of 10 C. • A self-extinguishing polyimide sandwiched separator (denoted as PIFAP) is prepared. • The PIFAP separator can enable uniform Li deposition for 1600 h at 5 mA/cm2. • The Li-metal batteries with PIFAP separator exhibit remarkable stability at 10 C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, heterojunction has attracted widespread attention as an anode for sodium-ion batteries since they can effectively optimize the materials' rate performance and cycling stability. However, the advantage is choked by multi-element composition and stepwise synthesis process. Herein, cobalt sulfide (Co 9 S 8 /CoS) homologous heterojunction deposited at vanadium nitride/carbon nanofibers is synthesized as an excellent anode for high-performance sodium-ion batteries in one step by employing the "3 d -orbital electron complementary effect" combined with high-temperature heat-treatment technology. The Co 9 S 8 /CoS homologous heterojunction successfully overcomes the inherent drawback of Co 9 S 8 and possesses an ultrafast charging/discharging process, outstanding reversible specific capacity, and remarkable rate capability. A systematic study reveals that vanadium nitride is a key trigger for forming Co 9 S 8 /CoS heterojunction. When used as anode materials for sodium-ion batteries, it reaches a high specific capacity of 353.0 mAh/g at a current density of 10 A/g (615.8 mAh/g at a current density of 0.05 A/g) due to the presence of heterointerface. Theoretical calculations show that the construction of the heterostructure enhances the sodium-ion storage capacity and storage kinetics compared with pristine Co 9 S 8. This discovery opens an interesting strategy for constructing homogeneous heterojunctions and broadens the horizons for designing energy storage and conversion materials. The Co 9 S 8 /CoS homologous heterojunction deposited at vanadium nitride /carbon nanofibers is constructed by combining the "3 d -orbital electron complementation effect" of vanadium nitride and the Co atom with high-temperature heat-treatment technology to achieve ultrafast and high-capacity sodium-ion storage. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power sources supported by lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology has been considered to be the most suitable for public and military use. Battery quality is always a critical issue since electric engines and portable devices use power-consuming algorithms for security. For the practical use of LIBs in public applications, low heat generation, and fast charging are essential requirements, but those features are still unsatisfactory so far. In particular, the slow Li+ intercalation kinetics, lithium plating, and self-heat generation of conventional graphite-anode LIBs under fast-charging conditions are impediments to the use of these batteries by the public demands. The use of silicon-based anodes, which are associated with fast reaction kinetics and rapid Li+ diffusion, has great potential to render LIBs suitable for public use in the near future. In this perspective, the challenges in and future directions for developing silicon-based anode materials for realizing LIBs with fast-charging capability are highlighted.

In this article, a new methodology for the sizing of a fast-charging station for electric vehicles is presented. The proposed method is applicable to public service vehicles on urban journeys. Its use has been conceived for vehicles equipped with an energy storage system based on supercapacitors (SCs), which are already functional in several countries. The proposed charging station also uses a bank of SCs of variable capacitance. During the study, mathematical expressions will be obtained for the electrical variables involved in vehicle charging: instantaneous current, peak current, charging time, dissipated energy, and the efficiency of energy transference. From these, each of the components of the system will be dimensioned: the capacitance of the charger with its different variable steps, the initial voltage of the charger, and the current smoothing inductor. The proposed charger presents the advantage of allowing energy to be evacuated to the electric vehicle very quickly and with high performance, all without using an external power source or high-power converters. The proposed architecture minimizes the disturbances that, with conventional methods, would appear on the electrical grid, preventing the installation of fast-charging stations at many grid nodes, as is currently the case. Finally, the charger control algorithm is considerably simplified as it only depends on the initial voltage of the vehicle’s accumulator.

Safe fast‐charging lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) can be achieved by using LiFePO4 electrode and optimized electrolyte for the rapid development of electric vehicles. However, conventional carbonate electrolyte suffers resistive solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) that hampering the fast‐charging for LIBs. Herein, a multiple additive strategy, the combination of 1,3,2‐Dioxathiolane 2,2‐dioxide (DTD) and lithium difluorophosphate (DFP), is proposed to optimize the electrode interface for graphite (Gr)/LiFePO4(LFP) pouch cells under fast‐charging. Combining DTD with DFP can significantly reduce the charge transfer resistance of anode and greatly extend the lifespan of cells with >2400 cycles at a 2 C rate, which is much better than that of baseline and single additive based electrolytes with <1000 cycles. Further mechanistic studies revealed that proper sulfurized and phosphatized species are involved in the SEI film, which stabilizes lithium carbonate in the middle of SEI to avoid being attacked by Lewis acids. Multiple additive strategies optimize the interfacial structure and provide valuable guidance for the development of safe fast‐charging engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rechargeable aqueous Zn−MnO2 batteries are promising for stationary energy storage because of their high energy density, safety, environmental benignity, and low cost. Conventional gravel MnO2 cathodes have low electrical conductivity, slow ion (de‐)insertion, and poor cycle stability, resulting in poor recharging performance and severe capacity fading. To improve the rechargeability of MnO2, strategies have been devised such as depositing micrometer‐thick MnO2 on carbon cloth and blending nanostructured MnO2 with additives and binders. The low electrical conductivity of binders and sluggish ion (de‐)insertion in micrometer‐thick MnO2, however, still limit the fast‐charging performance. Herein, we have prepared porous carbon fiber (PCF) supported MnO2 cathodes (PCF@MnO2), comprised of nanometer‐thick MnO2 uniformly deposited on electrospun block copolymer‐derived PCF that have abundant uniform mesopores. The high electrical conductivity of PCF, fast electrochemical reactions in nanometer‐thick MnO2, and fast ion transport through porous nonwoven fibers contribute to a high rate capability at high loadings. PCF@MnO2, at a MnO2 loading of 59.1 wt %, achieves a MnO2‐based specific capacity of 326 and 184 mAh g−1 at a current density of 0.1 and 1.0 A g−1, respectively. Our approach of block copolymer‐based PCF as a support for zinc‐ion cathode inspires future designs of fast‐charging electrodes with other active materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallic Zn is a preferred anode material for rechargeable aqueous batteries towards a smart grid and renewable energy storage. Understanding how the metal nucleates and grows at the aqueous Zn anode is a critical and challenging step to achieve full reversibility of Zn battery chemistry, especially under fast‐charging conditions. Here, by combining in situ optical imaging and theoretical modeling, we uncover the critical parameters governing the electrodeposition stability of the metallic Zn electrode, that is, the competition among crystallographic thermodynamics, kinetics, and Zn2+‐ion diffusion. Moreover, steady‐state Zn metal plating/stripping with Coulombic efficiency above 99 % is achieved at 10–100 mA cm−2 in a reasonably high concentration (3 M) ZnSO4 electrolyte. Significantly, a long‐term cycling‐stable Zn metal electrode is realized with a depth of discharge of 66.7 % under 50 mA cm−2 in both Zn||Zn symmetrical cells and MnO2||Zn full cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the ongoing transformation of the transport sector toward electrification, expansion of the current charging infrastructure is essential to meet future charging demands. The lack of fast-charging infrastructure along highways and motorways is a particular obstacle for long-distance travel with battery electric vehicles (BEVs). In this context, we propose a charging infrastructure allocation model that allocates and sizes fast-charging stations along high-level road networks while minimizing the costs for infrastructure investment. The modeling framework is applied to the Austrian highway and motorway network, and the needed expansion of the current fast-charging infrastructure in place is modeled under different future scenarios for 2030. Within these, the share of BEVs in the car fleet, developments in BEV technology and road traffic load changing in the face of future modal shift effects are altered. In particular, we analyze the change in the requirements for fast-charging infrastructure in response to enhanced driving range and growing BEV fleets. The results indicate that improvements in the driving range of BEVs will have limited impact and hardly affect future costs of the expansion of the fast-charging infrastructure. On the contrary, the improvements in the charging power of BEVs have the potential to reduce future infrastructure costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The safe, flexible, and environment-friendly Zn-ion batteries have aroused great interests nowadays. Nevertheless, flagrant Zn dendrite uncontrollably grows in liquid electrolytes due to insufficient surface protection, which severely impedes the future applications of Zn-ion batteries especially at high current densities. Gel electrolytes are emerging to tackle this issue, yet the required high modulus for inhibiting dendrite growth as well as concurrent poor interfacial contact with roughened Zn electrodes are not easily reconcilable to regulate the fragile Zn/Zn2+ interface. Here we demonstrate, such a conflict may be defeated by using a mechanoadaptive cellulose nanofibril-based morphing gel electrolyte (MorphGE), which synergizes bulk compliance for optimizing interfacial contact as well as high modulus for suppressing dendrite formation. Moreover, by anchoring desolvated Zn2+ on cellulose nanofibrils, the side reactions which induce dendrite formation are also significantly reduced. As a result, the MorphGE-based symmetrical Zn-ion battery demonstrated outstanding stability for more than 100 h at the high current density of 10 mA·cm−2 and areal capacity of 10 mA·h·cm−2, and the corresponding Zn-ion battery delivered a prominent specific capacity of 100 mA·h·g−1 for more than 500 cycles at 20 C. The present example of engineering the mechanoadaptivity of gel electrolytes will shed light on a new pathway for designing highly safe and flexible energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: The Li+ diffusion coefficient of Co2VO4 is evaluated by theoretical calculation to be as high as 3.15 × 10–10 cm2 s−1, theoretically proving Co2VO4 a promising anode in fast-charging lithium-ion batteries. A hexagonal porous Co2VO4 nanodisk (PCVO ND) structure is designed, featuring a high specific surface area of 74.57 m2 g−1 and numerous pores with a pore size of 14 nm. The PCVO ND shows excellent fast-charging performance (a high average capacity of 344.3 mAh g−1 at 10 C for 1000 cycles with only 0.024% capacity loss per cycle for 1000 cycles). High-energy–density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) that can be safely fast-charged are desirable for electric vehicles. However, sub-optimal lithiation potential and low capacity of commonly used LIBs anode cause safety issues and low energy density. Here we hypothesize that a cobalt vanadate oxide, Co2VO4, can be attractive anode material for fast-charging LIBs due to its high capacity (~ 1000 mAh g−1) and safe lithiation potential (~ 0.65 V vs. Li+/Li). The Li+ diffusion coefficient of Co2VO4 is evaluated by theoretical calculation to be as high as 3.15 × 10–10 cm2 s−1, proving Co2VO4 a promising anode in fast-charging LIBs. A hexagonal porous Co2VO4 nanodisk (PCVO ND) structure is designed accordingly, featuring a high specific surface area of 74.57 m2 g−1 and numerous pores with a pore size of 14 nm. This unique structure succeeds in enhancing Li+ and electron transfer, leading to superior fast-charging performance than current commercial anodes. As a result, the PCVO ND shows a high initial reversible capacity of 911.0 mAh g−1 at 0.4 C, excellent fast-charging capacity (344.3 mAh g−1 at 10 C for 1000 cycles), outstanding long-term cycling stability (only 0.024% capacity loss per cycle at 10 C for 1000 cycles), confirming the commercial feasibility of PCVO ND in fast-charging LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric vehicles expansion is accelerating rapidly due to e-mobility’s massive contribution in reducing fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Fulfilling the charging requirements of millions of electrical vehicles from the grid would overload the network and introduce substantial burden on the power sector. This study proposes, and thermodynamically assesses, a grid-independent and renewable energy-based, stand-alone electrical vehicle charging station consisting of CPV/T, wind turbine and biomass combustion-based steam Rankine cycle plant. Hydrogen and ammonia-based fuel cells are integrated in the design along with electrochemical, chemical and thermal storage units to ensure uninterrupted charging services during night times and unfavorable weather conditions. Since the proposed design is suggested for use in the State of Qatar, which is located in a hot region, an absorption cooling system is incorporated to cool the produced NH3 gas and convert it into liquid phase for optimal storage purposes and to maintain the operating temperature of the battery system within the allowable limits. The thermodynamic analysis followed in this study is based on writing the balance equations for mass, energy, entropy and exergy for the system’s components along with their energy and exergy efficiency equations. The results show that the energy generated from renewable energy sources and fuel cells are sufficient to fast-charge 80 electrical vehicles daily. The energy efficiencies of H2 fuel cell, NH3 fuel cell, CPV/T, wind turbine and energetic COP of the absorption cooling system are found to be 77%, 72%, 45%, 43% and 0.72, respectively. The exergy efficiency of CPV/T and the exergetic COP of the absorption cooling system are found to be 37% and 0.19, respectively. The overall energy and exergy efficiencies of the proposed integrated system are found to be 45% and 19%, respectively

Electric Vehicles (EV) offer eco-friendly transportation, but the growth of the electric vehicle market year over year is very minimal due to insufficient EV charging stations, slow charging time and grid instability during peak hours. This paper proposes a high gain, fast charging DC–DC converter and a control algorithm for grid integrated Solar PV based Electric Vehicle Charging Station (SPV-EVCS) with battery backup. The proposed converter and its control algorithm’s performance are investigated in three different modes using MATLAB/Simulink tool and the simulated results are validated with Real-Time Digital Simulation (RTDS) in OPAL-RT. The observed results meet the Power Quality limits of an IEC61000-3-2 standard and met the level-4 dc charging standard IEC61851.