• Energy Research

A micropore confinement and fusion strategy is proposed to eliminate the interfacial mismatch and achieve molecular-level integrated catalysis interfaces for long-life all-solid-state Li–S batteries.

The crucial role of Li-ion transport efficiency in cathodes is revealed for the room temperature performance of all-solid-state lithium batteries and a highly efficient “solid–polymer–solid” elastic ion transport network is constructed in a cathode.

Carbon materials are the key hosts for the sulfur cathode to improve the conductivity and confine the lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) in lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs), owing to their high electronic conductivity and strong confinement effect. However, physical or chemical trapping methods have limitations in preventing the dissolution and accumulation of LiPSs in the electrolyte. Catalysis has emerged as a fundamental solution to accelerate the sluggish redox kinetics, and carbon materials acting as catalyst supports or direct catalysts significantly impact the reaction efficiency. Herein, the roles of carbon in the catalysis of LSBs are systematically discussed, focusing on the influence of surface area, pore structure, and surface chemistry on sulfur conversion. Then, two modification strategies, vacancy defects and heteroatom doping, that endow carbon with catalytic activity are summarized. Finally, the remaining challenges and solutions are outlined in terms of the preparation and characterization of the functional carbon in LSBs. This perspective provides essential insights and guidance for the rational design of carbon‐based catalysts in LSBs.

Guided by electro-chemo-thermal simulations, the thermal tolerance, thermal conductance, and overheating-response properties were rationally coupled in a separator for safe lithium batteries.

An electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) was used to in situ reveal the deposition/dissolution chemistry of MnO2 in aqueous electrolytes, which proceeds by a pH-dependent Mn(iii) (MnOOH and/or Mn3+)-mediated path.

Ether solvent is utilized to manipulate the SEI on high specific surface area carbon to enable achievement of superb sodium storage performance.

We elucidate the dissociation mechanism of LiFSI induced by the ferroelectric fillers of BaTiO3 and enhanced spontaneous polarization by oxygen vacancy defects.

Twinborn TiO2–TiN heterostructures enable smooth trapping–diffusion–conversion of polysulfides and produce ultralong life lithium–sulfur batteries.