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Hydrogen evolution, corrosion, and dendrite formation in the Zn anodes limit their practical applications in aqueous Zn metal batteries. Herein, we propose an interfacial chemistry regulation strategy that uses hybrid electrolytes of water and a polar aprotic N,N-dimethylformamide to modify the Zn2+-solvation structure and in situ form a robust and Zn2+-conducting Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6 solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on the Zn surface to achieve stable and dendrite-free Zn plating/stripping over a wide temperature range. As confirmed by 67Zn nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry, electrochemical characterizations, and molecular dynamics simulation, the electrochemically and thermally stable Zn5(OH)6(CO3)2-contained SEI achieved a high ionic conductivity of 0.04 to 1.27 mS cm-1 from −30 to 70 °C and a thermally activated fast Zn2+ migration through the [010] plane. Consequently, extremely stable Zn-ion hybrid capacitors in hybrid electrolytes are demonstrated with high capacity retentions and Coulombic efficiencies over 14,000, 10,000, and 600 cycles at 25, −20, and 70 °C, respectively.

Interfacial microenvironment modulation has been proven to be a promising route to fabricate highly efficient catalysts. In this work, the lattice defect‐rich NiS2/MoS2 nanoflakes (NMS NFs) electrocatalysts are successfully synthesized by a simple strategy. Benefiting from the abundant lattice defects and modulated interfacial microenvironment between NiS2 and MoS2, the prepared NMS NFs show superior catalytic activity for water splitting. Particularly, the optimized NMS NFs (the molar ratio of Ni:Mo = 5:5) exhibit remarkable catalytic activity toward overall water splitting with a voltage of 1.60 V at 10 mA cm−2 in alkaline media, which is lower than that of the noble‐metal‐based electrocatalysts (1.68 V at 10 mA cm−2). The NMS NFs electrocatalysts also show exceptional long‐term stability (>50 h) for overall water splitting. The density functional theory results demonstrate that the injection of NiS2 into MoS2 can greatly optimize the catalytic kinetics and reduce the energy barrier for hydrogen/oxygen evolution reactions. The work does not only offer a promising candidate for a highly efficient water splitting electrocatalyst but also highlights that interfacial microenvironment modulation is a potential strategy to optimize the catalytic kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The highly efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts are desirable for the future energy storage scenario. Herein, we report three‐dimensional (3D) nanostructured electrocatalysts constructed by in situ vertical assembly of few‐layer ReS2 nanosheets onto the surface of nitrogen‐doped reduced graphene oxide (ReS2/NRGO). The ReS2/NRGO hybrids are featured with the fully exposed active sites, interconnected conducting channels, and facilitated charge transfer. Accordingly, the as‐synthesized ReS2/NRGO hybrids achieve a relatively small Tafel slope of 71 mV dec−1 and high diffusion‐limited current density of 5.58 mA cm−2, which holds potential promise for practical applications in fuel cells and metal‐air batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reduced graphene oxide (rGO) aerogels are particularly attractive owing to their ultralight-weight, high surface area and interconnected macroporosity for energy storage applications. However, pure rGO aerogels are generally weak and brittle to limit their practical applications. To overcome this drawback, a small amount of synthetic dopamine-conjugated poly(aspartic acid) was mixed with graphene oxide to fabricate ultralight rGO aerogels with high porosity and mechanical integrity via hydrothermal reactions at 80 °C and freeze-drying process. In addition, the Fe3+ ionic species was chosen for an additional cross-linker to further strengthen the ultralight poly(aspartic acid/dopamine) functionalized rGO aerogel, abbreviation for PAAD/rGO, through the coordination bonding between Fe3+ and carboxylic acid or catechol groups of both polymer and rGO sheets at pH 9 (PAAD/rGO-Fe❾). The hybrid electrodes of PAAD/rGO-Fe❾ showed the reversible transformation of the Fe3+ tris-catecholate complexes into mono-catecholate promoting Quinone (Q)-hydroquinone (QH2) in 1.0 mol L−1 H2SO4 electrolyte, thus delivering a high specific capacitance of 276.4 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 and capacitance retention of 88.2% after 5000 cycles. Moreover, this compressible aerogel provided high strength with 150 kPa without noticeable structural fracture after 80% compression and repeated deformation processes suggesting applications in energy storage and absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The small-particle inhaled corticosteroid might be a new available way to treat uncontrolled asthma. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of extrafine hydrofluoroalkane-beclomethasone dipropionate (HFA-BDP) versus budesonide (BUD) in patients with asthma, a meta-analysis was performed. A systematic search was made of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Clinicaltrials.gov and Ovid, and a hand search of leading respiratory journals. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on treatment of asthma for 4 or more weeks with extrafine HFA-BDP, compared with BUD, were reviewed. Five studies involving 949 asthmatic patients met the inclusion criteria. There was no significant difference in FEV1 (SMD=-0.03L, 95% CI -0.15 to 0.10L, I(2)=0%, P=0.70), morning PEF (WMD=0.88 L/min, 95% CI -5.96 to 7.72 L/min, I(2)=0%, P=0.80), evening PEF (WMD=6.32 L/min, 95% CI -1.17 to 13.81 L/min, I(2)=33%, P=0.10) and use of rescue medication (WMD=-0.13, 95% CI -0.31 to 0.06, I(2)=41%, P=0.18) between extrafine HFA-BDP at half of the daily dose and BUD group. Individual studies reported no significant differences in asthma exacerbations and 7-point Asthma Control Questionnaire score (ACQ-7). There were no significant difference in total number of adverse events (OR=1.04, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.38, I(2)=0%, P=0.81) between the two groups. Our meta-analysis demonstrated that extrafine HFA-BDP at half of daily dose is equivalent to BUD in improving lung function and use of rescue medication, without increasing adverse events in patients with asthma. Long-term trials are required to assess the efficacy and safety of extrafine HFA-BDP.