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Developing suitable cathodes with high capacity and high power is challenging for K‐ion batteries. Herein, electrochemical K‐ion storage properties of the layered‐type K0.4V2O5 (KVO) cathode by incorporating divalent strontium ions (Sr2+) into its crystal structure are enhanced. Divalent strontium ions (1.18 Å) are preferentially incorporated into the octahedrally coordinated K (1.38 Å) layers due to the similar ionic size compared to V4+ (0.58 Å). The introduction of 3 mmol of Sr ions in the KVO crystal improves electrical conductivity and reduces K‐ion diffusion energy barriers. In addition, the strong Sr2+ and O2− interaction acts as a structural pillar, suppressing irreversible phase transition during charge–discharge process. Multi‐physics simulations clearly confirm that the K0.34Sr0.03V2O5 (KS3VO) cathode exhibits a more uniform K‐ion distribution and enhanced reactions of K‐ions compared to the KVO cathode at various depths of discharge. As a result, the KS3VO cathode demonstrates improved reversible capacity, cycling stability, and power capability over the KVO cathode in a K‐ion cell. Synchrotron X‐ray analysis reveals how Sr substitution enhances the electrochemical K‐ion storage properties of the KS3VO cathode. In addition, the KS3VO cathode exhibits superior thermal stability and cycling stability in a full cell coupled with a hard carbon anode compared to the KVO cathode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abundant and economical sodium (Na) metal batteries promise superior energy densities compared to lithium‐ion batteries; however, they face commercialization challenges owing to problematic interfacial reactions leading to dendrite formation during cycling. This paper reports the ultra‐long and rapid operation of Na metal batteries enabled by the introduction of a vinylpyrrolidone (VP)‐based multifunctional interface stabilizer in the electrolyte. The VP electrolyte additive provides benefits such as surface flattening, durable solid electrolyte interphase layer formation, preservation of fresh Na, and acceleration of horizontal crystal growth along the (110) plane. Symmetric Na–Na cells with the stabilizer exhibit notably stable operation for over 5 000 cycles at a high current density of 5 mA cm−2, surpassing previous research. Performance improvement is also demonstrated in a full‐cell configuration with an Na3V2(PO4)2O2F cathode. This approach offers a promising solution for achieving performance levels comparable to lithium‐ion batteries in Na metal battery technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Batteries that utilize low‐cost elemental sulfur and light metallic lithium as electrodes have great potential in achieving high energy density. However, building a lithium–sulfur (Li–S) full battery by controlling the electrolyte volume generally produces low practical energy because of the limited electrochemical Li–S redox. Herein, the high energy/high performance of a Li–S full battery with practical sulfur loading and minimum electrolyte volume is reported. A unique hybrid architecture configured with Ni–Co metal alloy (NiCo) and metal oxide (NiCoO2) nanoparticles heterogeneously anchored in carbon nanotube‐embedded self‐standing carbon matrix is fabricated as a host for sulfur. This work demonstrates the considerable improvement that the hybrid structure's high conductivity and satisfactory porosity promote the transport of electrons and lithium ions in Li–S batteries. Through experimental and theoretical validations, the function of NiCo and NiCoO2 nanoparticles as an efficient polysulfide mediator is established. These particles afford polysulfide anchoring and catalytic sites for Li–S redox reaction, thus improving the redox conversion reversibility. Even at high sulfur loading, the nanostructured Ni–Co metal alloy and metal oxide enable to have stable cycling performance under lean electrolyte conditions both in half‐cell and full‐cell batteries using a graphite anode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing global demand for energy and the continuous destruction of the environment, the demand for sustainable green development is becoming increasingly urgent. However, the development and renewal of new-energy vehicles and various electronic devices have resulted in an increasing number of waste batteries. The key to the sustainable development of today's battery industry is the efficient and green recycling of valuable waste batteries, especially metal resources. Recycling batteries cannot only halt the environmental pollution caused by batteries but also transform waste into resources for reuse. Current mainstream recycling methods, such as traditional hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy, can cause substantial environmental pollution. We systematically reviewed the recent research progress on using green solvents to recycle battery metal materials. We summarized the characteristics and efficiency of each recycling process in detail to provide an effective reference for the future development of green solvents in the battery recycling industry. Finally, the prospects for developing battery technology and green solvent systems for recycling battery metal materials are discussed, and current considerations in the field of battery recycling and possibilities for each green solvent hybrid system are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alloying‐type metallic tin is perceived as a potential anode material for K‐ion batteries owing to its high theoretical capacity and reasonable working potential. However, pure Sn still face intractable issues of inferior K+ storage capability owing to the mechanical degradation of electrode against large volume changes and formation of intermediary insulating phases K4Sn9 and KSn during alloying reaction. Herein, the TiC/C–carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is prepared as an effective buffer matrix and composited with Sn particles (Sn–TiC/C–CNTs) through the high‐energy ball‐milling method. Owing to the conductive and rigid properties, the TiC/C–CNTs matrix enhances the electrical conductivity as well as mechanical integrity of Sn in the composite material and thus ultimately contributes to performance supremacy in terms of electrochemical K+ storage properties. During potassiation process, the TiC/C–CNTs matrix not only dissipates the internal stress toward random radial orientations within the Sn particle but also provides electrical pathways for the intermediate insulating phases; this tends to reduce microcracking and prevent considerable electrode degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing high‐rate Li metal batteries (LMBs) is challenging because of dendrite growth and irreversible parasitic reactions of the Li metal. Herein, a robust and highly ion‐conductive solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer is designed on a Li metal anode and a Ni‐rich layered cathode by incorporating chloroethylene carbonate (ClEC) as an additive in fluoroethylene carbonate‐based electrolytes. ClEC induces the formation of LiCl, which facilitates Li‐ion diffusion in the robust LiF‐rich SEI layer, thereby improving the cycle stability of the Li metal anode and suppressing microcracking of the Ni‐rich layered cathode, especially during charging and discharging at high current densities. By using the newly developed combination of electrolyte solution, an LMB featuring the Li[Ni0.78Co0.1Mn0.12]O2 cathode (2.3 mAh cm−2, 0.1 C) affords a superior capacity retention of 80.2% over 400 cycles at high charge and discharge current densities of 2.0 C (3.6 mA cm−2) and 5.0 C (9.0 mA cm−2). This study provides insights into the use of ClEC as an electrolyte additive and highlights the importance of constructing robust and highly ion‐conductive interfaces on both Li metal anodes and Ni‐rich cathodes for high‐performance LMBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]