Tungsten‐Based Materials for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Lithium‐ion batteries are widely used as reliable electrochemical energy storage devices due to their high energy density and excellent cycling performance. The search for anode materials with excellent electrochemical performances remains critical to the further development of lithium‐ion batteries. Tungsten‐based materials are receiving considerable attention as promising anode materials for lithium‐ion batteries owing to their high intrinsic density and rich framework diversity. This review describes the advances of exploratory research on tungsten‐based materials (tungsten oxide, tungsten sulfide, tungsten diselenide, and their composites) in lithium‐ion batteries, including synthesis methods, microstructures, and electrochemical performance. Some personal prospects for the further development of this field are also proposed.     

Applications of Tin Sulfide‐Based Materials in Lithium‐Ion Batteries and Sodium‐Ion Batteries

SnS_x (x = 1, 2) compounds are composed of earth‐abundant elements and are nontoxic and low‐cost materials that have received increasing attention as energy materials over the past decades, owing to their huge potential in batteries. Generally, SnS_x materials have excellent chemical stability and high theoretical capacity and reversibility due to their unique 2D‐layered structure and semiconductor properties. As a promising matrix material for storing different alkali metal ions through alloying/dealloying reactions, SnS_x compounds have broad electrochemical prospects in batteries. Herein, the structural properties of SnS_x materials and their advantages as electrode materials are discussed. Furthermore, detailed accounts of various synthesis methods and applications of SnS_x materials in lithium‐ion batteries, sodium‐ion batteries, and other new rechargeable batteries are emphasized. Ultimately, the challenges and opportunities for future research on SnS_x compounds are discussed based on the available academic knowledge, including recent scientific advances.     

Conversion‐Type MnO Nanorods as a Surprisingly Stable Anode Framework for Sodium‐Ion Batteries

The emergence of nanomaterials in the past decades has greatly advanced modern energy storage devices. Nanomaterials can offer high capacity and fast kinetics yet are prone to rapid morphological evolution and degradation. As a result, they are often hybridized with a stable framework in order to gain stability and fully utilize its advantages. However, candidates for such framework materials are rather limited, with carbon, conductive polymers, and Ti‐based oxides being the only choices; note these are all inactive or intercalation compounds. Conventionally, alloying‐/conversion‐type electrodes, which are thought to be electrochemically unstable by themselves, have never been considered as framework materials. This concept is challenged. Successful application of conversion‐type MnO nanorod as a anode framework for high‐capacity Mo₂C/MoO_x nanoparticles has been demonstrated in sodium‐ion batteries. Surprisingly, it can stably deliver 110 mAh g^?1 under extremely high rate of 8000 mA g^?1 (≈70 C) over 40 000 cycles with no capacity decay. More generally, this is considered as a proof of concept and much more alloying‐/conversion‐type materials are expected to be explored for such applications.     

Layer‐Based Heterostructured Cathodes for Lithium‐Ion and Sodium‐Ion Batteries

A critical bottleneck that hinders major performance improvement in lithium‐ion and sodium‐ion batteries is the inferior electrochemical activity of their cathode materials. While significant research progresses have been made, conventional single‐phase cathodes are still limited by intrinsic deficiencies such as low reversible capacity, enormous initial capacity loss, rapid capacity decay, and poor rate capability. In the past decade, layer‐based heterostructured cathodes acquired by combining multiple crystalline phases have emerged as candidates with a huge potential to realize performance breakthrough. Herein, recent studies on the structural properties, electrochemical behaviors, and synthesis route optimizations of these heterostructured cathodes are summarized for in‐depth discussions. Particular attention is paid to the latest mechanism discoveries and performance achievements. This review thus aims to promote a deeper understanding of the correlation between the crystal structure of cathodes and their electrochemical behavior, and offers guidance to design advance cathode materials from the aspect of crystal structure engineering.     

Unraveling Metal Oxide Role in Exfoliating Graphite: New Strategy to Construct High‐Performance Graphene‐Modified SiOx‐Based Anode for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Exfoliating graphite to graphene has attracted great attention due to the fantastic properties of graphene available for designing graphene‐based materials or devices. Besides the classic solution method, herein a unique role of TiO₂ in exfoliating graphite to be graphene layers effectively is reported. As a paradigm, this discovered effect of TiO₂ is significant for preparing high‐performance graphene‐modified SiO_x‐based anode in lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs), in which the graphite is in situ exfoliated mechanically by TiO₂ to be multilayered graphene (i.e., MLG) and then the SiO_x is wrapped by the MLG to construct a SiO_x/TiO₂@MLG. In this case, an extremely high capacity of 1484 mAh g^?1, long lifespan over 1200 cycles at 2 A g^?1, as well as good performance in full LIBs (vs nickel‐rich cathode) are demonstrated. It is confirmed that the MLG can enhance electric conductivity, mitigate electrolyte decomposition, and alleviate volume effect of the SiO_x effectively. This result is hard to be achieved using other kinds of metal oxide besides TiO₂. It is hoped that the SiO_x/TiO₂@MLG is practical for pursuing LIBs with an energy density beyond 300 Wh kg^?1. In addition, it is believed the ingenious strategy is applicable for designing more functional materials with greater capabilities.     

Prussian White Hierarchical Nanotubes with Surface‐Controlled Charge Storage for Sodium‐Ion Batteries

Coordination compounds such as Prussian blue and its analogues are acknowledged as promising candidates for electrochemical sodium storage owing to their tailorable and open frameworks. However, a key challenge for these electrode materials is the trade‐off between energy and power. Here, it is demonstrate that Prussian white (Na_3.1Fe₄[Fe(CN)₆]₃) hierarchical nanotubes with fully open configurations render extrinsic Na⁺ intercalation pseudocapacitance. The cathode exhibits a capacity up to 83 mA h g^?1 at an ultrahigh rate of 50 C and an unprecedented cycle life over 10 000 times for sodium storage. In situ Raman spectroscopy together with in situ X‐ray diffraction analysis reveal that intercalation pseudocapacitance enables full reaction of N‐Fe^III/Fe^II sites in Prussian white with a negligible volume expansion (<2.1%). The discovery of surface‐controlled charge storage occurring inside the entire bulk of intercalation cathodes paves a new way for developing high power, high energy, and long life‐span sodium‐ion batteries.     

A General Metal‐Organic Framework (MOF)‐Derived Selenidation Strategy for In Situ Carbon‐Encapsulated Metal Selenides as High‐Rate Anodes for Na‐Ion Batteries

On account of increasing demand for energy storage devices, sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) with abundant reserve, low cost, and similar electrochemical properties have the potential to partly replace the commercial lithium‐ion batteries. In this study, a facile metal‐organic framework (MOF)‐derived selenidation strategy to synthesize in situ carbon‐encapsulated selenides as superior anode for SIBs is rationally designed. These selenides with particular micro‐ and nanostructured features deliver ultrastable cycling performance at high charge–discharge rate and demonstrate ultraexcellent rate capability. For example, the uniform peapod‐like Fe₇Se₈@C nanorods represent a high specific capacity of 218 mAh g^?1 after 500 cycles at 3 A g^?1 and the porous NiSe@C spheres display a high specific capacity of 160 mAh g^?1 after 2000 cycles at 3 A g^?1. The current simple MOF‐derived method could be a promising strategy for boosting the development of new functional inorganic materials for energy storage, catalysis, and sensors.     

A Progress Report on Metal–Sulfur Batteries

Nonaqueous conversion‐reaction sulfur chemistry has been attracting increasing attention over the past decade for the development of next‐generation lithium‐based batteries. Li–S batteries are currently approaching a nexus stage from lab‐scale experiments to possible pragmatic applications. Inspired by the success of Li–S chemistry, other metal–sulfur batteries with a variety of metallic anodes, such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and aluminum, have also started to attract attention. In comparison to lithium, Na, Mg, Al, K, and Ca are naturally more abundant and affordable. The Na‐S, Mg‐S, Al‐S, K‐S, and Ca‐S battery systems provide a great potential for improving the volumetric energy density of sulfur‐based batteries. The multivalent metal‐sulfur systems, Mg‐S, Al‐S, and Ca‐S, offer better safety features as well. However, the research and development on Na‐S, Mg‐S, Al‐S, K‐S, and Ca‐S batteries is far behind the Li–S system due to many critical challenges. In this progress report, the fundamental principles of various metal–sulfur chemistries are first presented and compared. Then, the historical progress, recent advances, and key challenges of the Li–S, Na‐S, Mg‐S, Al‐S, K‐S, and Ca‐S systems are summarized and discussed. Finally, future efforts and directions for both the fundamental and practical research are prospected.     

Polyanion Sodium Vanadium Phosphate for Next Generation of Sodium‐Ion Batteries—A Review

Polyanion‐type sodium (Na) vanadium phosphate in the form of Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃ has demonstrated reasonably high capacity, good rate capability, and excellent cyclability. Two of three Na ions per formula can be deintercalated at a potential 3.4 V versus Na⁺/Na with oxidation of V^3+/4+. In the reversible process, two Na ions intercalate back resulting in a discharge capacity of 117.6 mAh g^?1. Further intercalation is possible but at a low potential of 1.4 V versus Na⁺/Na accompanied by vanadium reduction V^3+/2+, leading to a capacity of 60 mAh g^?1. Due to its marvelous electrochemical performance, it has attracted a lot of attention since its discovery in the 1990s. To develop truly useable polyanion‐type vanadium phosphate, better understanding of its crystal configuration, sodium ions' transportation, and electronic structure is essential. Therefore, this review only focuses on the inside of crystal configuration and electronic structure of polyanion‐type vanadium phosphate, Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃, since there are a few good reviews on various processing technologies.     

MoSe2‐Covered N,P‐Doped Carbon Nanosheets as a Long‐Life and High‐Rate Anode Material for Sodium‐Ion Batteries

MoSe₂ grown on N,P‐co‐doped carbon nanosheets is synthesized by a solvothermal reaction followed with a high‐temperature calcination. This composite has an interlayer spacing of MoSe₂ expanded to facilitate sodium‐ion diffusion, MoSe₂ immobilized on carbon nanosheets to improve charge‐transfer kinetics, and N and P incorporated into carbon to enhance its interaction with active species upon cycling. These features greatly improve the electrochemical performance of this composite, as compared to all the controls. It presents a specific capacity of 378 mAh g^?1 after 1000 cycles at 0.5 A g^?1, corresponding to 87% of the capacity at the second cycle. Ex situ Raman spectra and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy images confirm that it is element Se, rather than MoSe₂, formed after the charging process. The interaction of the active species with modified carbon is simulated using density functional theory to explain this excellent stability. The superior rate capability, where the capacity at 15 A g^?1 equals ≈55% of that at 0.5 A g^?1, could be associated with the significant contribution of pseudocapacitance. By pairing with homemade Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C, this composite also exhibits excellent performances in full cells.     

Regulating Uniform Li Plating/Stripping via Dual‐Conductive Metal‐Organic Frameworks for High‐Rate Lithium Metal Batteries

Lithium metal anodes show immense scope for application in high‐energy electronics and electric vehicles. Unfortunately, lithium dendrite growth and volume change leading to short lifespan and safety issues severely limit the feasibility of lithium metal batteries. A rational design of metal–organic framework (MOF)‐modified Li metal anode with optimized Li plating/stripping behavior via one‐step carbonization of ZIF‐67 is proposed. Experimental and theoretical simulation results reveal that carbonized MOFs with uniformly dispersed Co nanoparticles in N‐graphene (Co@N‐G) exhibit an electronic/ionic dual‐conductivity and significantly improved affinity with Li, and so serve as an ideal host for dendrite‐free lithium deposition, consequently leading to uniform lithium plating/stripping during cycling. As a result, the anode delivers highly stable cyclic performance with high coulombic efficiency (CE) at ultrahigh current densities (CE = 91.5% after 130 cycles at 10 mA cm^?2, and CE = 90.4% after 80 cycles at 15 mA cm^?2). Moreover, the practical applicability and functionality of such anodes are demonstrated through assembly of Li‐Co@N‐G/NCM full batteries exhibiting a long cycle life of 100 cycles with a high capacity retention of 92% at 1 C.     

Interfacial Bonding of Metal‐Sulfides with Double Carbon for Improving Reversibility of Advanced Alkali‐Ion Batteries

Engineering interfacial properties of metal‐sulfides toward excellent electrochemical capability is imperative for advanced energy‐storage materials. However, they still suffer from an unclear mechanism of capacity fading, along with ineffective physical–chemical evolution. Herein, a highly‐effective Sb₂S₃ with double carbon is designed with interfacial Sb? C bonds and double carbon, which boosts promoting of ion transferring and alleviates the separation of both active phases (Sb, S). Through “voltage‐cutting” manners, the key elements of capacity improvement about phase transitions are further determined. As expected, even at 5.0 A g^?1, the lithium‐storage capacity remains about 674 mAh g^?1. Utilized as sodium ion battery (SIB) anode, the rate capacity still reaches up to 366 mAh g^?1 at 3.0 A g^?1, much larger than that of Sb₂S₃. Obtaining the full cell of Ni–Fe Prussian blue analog versus M‐Sb₂S₃@DC, the reversible capacity is 330 mAh g^?1 at 0.5 A g^?1. Supported by kinetic analysis, the excellent rate properties are determined by the surface‐controlling behaviors, mainly resulting from the decreased capacitive resistance and improved ion moving. Furthermore, the reassembling evolution of active phases is revealed in detail by ex situ techniques. This work is expected to offer significant insights into interfacial evolutions toward advanced energy‐storage systems.     

FeO0.7F1.3/C Nanocomposite as a High‐Capacity Cathode Material for Sodium‐Ion Batteries

Searching high capacity cathode materials is one of the most important fields of the research and development of sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). Here, we report a FeO_0.7F_1.3/C nanocomposite synthesized via a solution process as a new cathode material for SIBs. This material exhibits a high initial discharge capacity of 496 mAh g^?1 in a sodium cell at 50 °C. From the 3^rd to 50^th cycle, the capacity fading is only 0.14% per cycle (from 388 mAh g^?1 at 3^rd the cycle to 360 mAh g^?1 at the 50^th cycle), demonstrating superior cyclability. A high energy density of 650 Wh kg^?1 is obtained at the material level. The reaction mechanism studies of FeO_0.7F_1.3/C with sodium show a hybridized mechanism of both intercalation and conversion reaction.     

A New Scalable Preparation of Metal Nanosheets: Potential Applications for Aqueous Zn‐Ion Batteries Anode

2D metal nanosheets are attractive for various applications stemming from the intriguing characteristics related with their dimensionality; however, their effective and scalable preparation remains a great challenge. Herein, a scalable preparation process of relatively active metal nanosheets (e.g., Zn, Al, and Cu) with the thickness down to several nanometers at low cost is demonstrated, which involves an initial self‐folding‐rolling step followed by the subsequent ultrasonication to exfoliate them without any etching step. The native oxide on the surface of the metals, which acts as a barrier between the adjacent metal layers, plays a special role in enabling the successful preparation of 2D metal nanosheets. As a demonstration for their practicability, a hierarchical Zn anode, which is constructed by the Zn microsheets coated with carbon (Zn MS@C) via in situ carbonization of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) binder, is successfully implemented as anode for rechargeable aqueous Zn‐ion batteries. When applied in symmetrical battery, the Zn MS@C delivers a long lifespan of over 800 h at 0.2 mA cm^?2 with a capacity of 0.1 mA h cm^?2. Importantly, the full battery of MnO₂ || Zn MS@C also performs a high discharge capacity of 217.4 mA h g^?1 after 140 cycles at 300 mA g^?1.     

Metal‐Based Nanomaterials in Biomedical Applications: Antimicrobial Activity and Cytotoxicity Aspects

Microbial colonization on material surfaces is ubiquitous. Biofilms derived from surface‐colonized microbes pose serious problems to the society from both an economical perspective and a health concern. Incorporation of antimicrobial nanocompounds within or on the surface of materials, or by coatings, to prevent microbial adhesion or kill the microorganisms after their attachment to biofilms, represents an important strategy in an increasingly challenging field. Over the last decade, many studies have been devoted to preparing meta‐based nanomaterials that possess antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activities to combat pathogen‐related diseases. Herein, an overview on the state‐of‐the‐art antimicrobial nanosized metal‐based compounds is provided, including metal and metal oxide nanoparticles as well as transition metal nanosheets. The antimicrobial mechanism of these nanostructures and their biomedical applications such as catheters, implants, medical delivery systems, tissue engineering, and dentistry are discussed. Their properties as well as potential caveats such as cytotoxicity, diminishing efficacy, and induction of antimicrobial resistance of materials incorporating these nanostructures are reviewed to provide a backdrop for future research.     

Manipulation of Disodium Rhodizonate: Factors for Fast‐Charge and Fast‐Discharge Sodium‐Ion Batteries with Long‐Term Cyclability

Organic sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) are one of the most promising alternatives of current commercial inorganic lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) especially in the foreseeable large‐scale flexible and wearable electronics. However, only a few reports are involving organic SIBs so far. To achieve fast‐charge and fast‐discharge performance and the long‐term cycling suitable for practical applications, is still challenging. Here, important factors for high performance SIBs especially with high capacity and long‐term cyclability under fast‐charge and fast‐discharge process are investigated. It is found that controlling the solubility through molecular design and determination of the electrochemical window is essential to eliminate dissolution of the electrode material, resulting in improved cyclability. The results show that poly(vinylidenedifluoride) will decompose during the charge/discharge process, indicating the significance of the binder for achieving high cyclability. Beside of these, it is also shown that decent charge transport and ionic diffusion are beneficial to the fast‐charge and fast‐discharge batteries. For instance, the flake morphology facilitates the ionic diffusion and thereby can lead to a capacitive effect that is favorable to fast charge and fast discharge.     

Thermodynamic Activation of Charge Transfer in Anionic Redox Process for Li‐Ion Batteries

Anionic redox processes are vital to realize high capacity in lithium‐rich electrodes of lithium‐ion batteries. However, the activation mechanism of these processes remains ambiguous, hampering further implementation in new electrode design. This study demonstrates that the electrochemical activity of inert cubic‐Li₂TiO₃ is triggered by Fe³⁺ substitution, to afford considerable oxygen redox activity. Coupled with first principles calculations, it is found that electron holes tend to be selectively generated on oxygen ions bonded to Fe rather than Ti. Subsequently, a thermodynamic threshold is unravelled dictated by the relative values of the Coulomb and exchange interactions (U) and charge‐transfer energy (Δ) for the anionic redox electron‐transfer process, which is further verified by extension to inactive layered Li₂TiS₃, in which the sulfur redox process is activated by Co substitution to form Li_1.2Ti_0.6Co_0.2S₂. This work establishes general guidance for the design of high‐capacity electrodes utilizing anionic redox processes.     

Nanostructured Li2MnSiO4/C Cathodes with Hierarchical Macro‐/Mesoporosity for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Li₂MnSiO₄/C nanocomposite with hierarchical macroporosity is prepared with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) colloidal crystals as a sacrificial hard‐template and water‐soluble phenol‐formaldehyde (PF) resin as the carbon source. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses confirm that the periodic macropores are ≈400 nm in diameter with 20–40 nm walls comprising Li₂MnSiO₄/C nanocrystals that produce additional large mesopores (< 30 nm) between the nanocrystals. The nanostructured Li₂MnSiO₄/C cathode exhibits a high reversible discharge capacity of 200 mAh g^?1 at C/10 (16 mA g^?1) rate at 1.5–4.8 V at 45 °C. Although the discharge capacity can be further increased on operating at 55 °C, the sample exhibits a relatively fast capacity fade at 55 °C, which can be partially solved by simply narrowing the voltage window to avoid side reactions of the electrolyte. The good performance of the Li₂MnSiO₄/C cathodes is attributed to the unique macro‐/mesostructure of the silicate coupled with uniform carbon coating.