We report a dislocation formation combined with a solid-solution strengthening strategy to achieve a Frank partial dislocation-strained IrNi alloy confined in an N-doped carbon matrix. Abundant dislocation defects can be first formed in ultrasmall IrNi nanoparticles due to nonequilibrium ultrafast thermal shock. Then, during the following high-temperature annealing, the atomic radius difference-induced solution strengthening mechanism further contributes to pinning and stabilizing the thus-formed dislocations. The experimental and theoretical analyses show that the thermodynamically strengthened dislocations induce an abundant compressive strain field into IrNi nanoparticles. This plays a crucial role in optimizing the electronic structure and tailoring the adsorption properties toward the reaction intermediates of metal centers, thus distinctly enhancing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalytic activity of IrNi/N–C.

In this work, for the synthesis of CNT arrays, a one-step heat-treated aluminum foil substrate-supported Fe(NO3)3 solution “self-reactive process” was developed to prepare Fe@Al2O3 nanoparticles with a diameter of about 20 nm and a catalyst layer thickness of about 2–3 mm. The results show that the key to maintain the small nanoparticle state is the interfacial interaction between the metal and the metal oxide, which enables the Fe nanoparticles to anchor on the Al2O3 surface and effectively prevents the aggregation or segregation of the Fe nanoparticles. Furthermore, by comparing the characterization parameters of the catalyst nanoparticles prepared under a series of different conditions, it was found that the aluminum foil substrate was oxidized to Al2O3 by the Fe(NO3)3 precursor in a one-step heat treatment, which could be explained by the oxidation of nitrate ions.

In this work, it successfully anchored a diverse range of Co-containing catalysts uniformly onto the COF-derived carbon through the unique chelation between cobalt atoms and imine groups. This strategy greatly enhances catalytic efficiency and also prevents the formation of “dead” catalysts, maximizing catalyst utilization. Experimental measurements and simulations reveal that the Co5.47N nanocrystal integrated with COF-derived carbon demonstrates remarkable catalytic efficiency in accelerating polysulfide conversion, primarily owing to the significant modulation of the d-band center of cobalt atoms within the Co5.47N@NC. The Co5.47N@NC system with a sulfur loading of 5.7 mg cm−2 and an E/S ratio of 4.0 µL mg−1, still sustains a specific capacity of 1314 mAh g−1. Consequently, a 1.0 Ah-level pouch cell delivers an energy density of 411 Wh kg−1 and maintains stable cycling.

Vanadium nitride (VN) with high electrical conductivity is a suitable anode to reduce the kinetic gap between the two electrodes of LICs, but the VN usually undergoes severe volume changes (～240 %) during the electrochemical reaction. Herein, the VN@N-PCYS-0.4 films that ultrafine VN quantum dots uniformly embedded in polyacrylonitrile-derived carbon (PAN-DC) nanoyarns were synthesized by a simple sacrificial silica template-assisted electrostatic spinning technique. Ultra-small particle size of VN (∼1 nm) mitigates the volume expansion and enriches the active sites. The super loose porous structure of PAN-DC nanoyarns shortens ions/electrons diffusion pathways and enhances electrolyte penetration. Such rational design for carbon-based material can surmount kinetics incompatibility between anode and cathode of LIC and provides a perspective to enhance the electrochemical properties of LIC anode in terms of volume expansion suppression and charge transfer resistance reduction.

All-solid-state batteries are of great interest due to their enhanced safety and high energy density. Sulfide solid electrolytes are a key focus in ASSB research, thanks to their high ionic conductivity, wide electrochemical stability, and robust mechanical properties. However, their practical use is often limited by interfacial compatibility issues with lithium-metal anodes and high costs. This review systematically analyzes the classification and synthesis methods of sulfide solid electrolytes, with a focus on low-cost approaches. It also examines recent progress in optimizing the interface between sulfide solid electrolytes and lithium-metal anodes, providing insights into material selection and engineering for interfacial layers. Finally, it discusses the development trends and future prospects of sulfide-based all-solid-state lithium-metal batteries, offering valuable guidance for their practical application.

Developing high-efficiency catalysts with multi-metal active centers to synergistically promote H2O dissociation and H2 evolution is critical for accelerating alkaline HER. In response, we first report an ultra-small high-entropy alloys nanoparticle catalyst by mixing valuable metals (Ni, Co, Mn) recycled from spent ternary Li-ion batteries with Pt driven by non-equilibrium high-temperature-shockwave. As expected, due to high-entropy coordination environment, well-designed NiCoMnPt HEAs catalyst possesses multiple activated metal centers, achieving much-improved HER performance. Experimental and theoretical studies indicate the mutual substitutions among NiCoMnPt atoms cause lattice distortion and induce electronic coupling effect, which optimizes the electronic structure of Pt and makes the deeply activated Pt as fundamental active center for H2O dissociation.

We investigate various methods to improve the stability of silicon negative electrodes and recent developments in industrial applications. This research presents many methods to prevent the swelling of silicon nanoparticles, enhance material conductivity, and improve stability during cycling through innovative structural designs, the development of high-performance silicon-based composites, and the exploration of novel additives and binders. This paper discusses the potential future applications of silicon anode materials, including their integration into all-solid-state batteries and the enhancement of production efficiency. These methodologies establish the groundwork for the advancement of next-generation lithium battery technology and offer substantial support for the manufacture of high-energy-density and long-lifespan batteries.

High-entropy MXene is the current research hotspot in the field of two-dimensional MXene materials. Unlike MXene, which contains only one or rarely two transition metals, HE MXene consists of multiple transition metals, which have both the excellent chemical properties of MXene and inherit the outstanding mechanical properties of HE materials. However, the synthesis and application of HE MXene are not well summarized at present. Here, we summarize the current strategies for synthesizing HE MAX phases and HE MXene, discuss computational studies on the structure as well as function of HE MXene, and demonstrate the application of HE MXene in energy storage and other aspects. Due to its fascinating structural and functional potential and the richness of its design, HE MXene deserves further in-depth study.

we synthesized defect-rich N, S co-doped two dimensional (2D) nanosheet-assembled porous carbon microspheres (N, S-PCS) via simple hydrothermal, carbonization and etching process based on the principle of Schiff base reaction. The N, S-PCS structure is thus constructed by removing Fe7S8 nanoparticles from the carbon skeleton to form porous microspheres with N, S doping. Therefore, the micromorphology characteristic, pore structure and electroconductivity of carbon materials are effectively optimized via heteroatom doping and surface engineering. As expected, the prepared N, S-PCS electrodes exhibit excellent electrochemical performance in both lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries.Experimental and theoretical calculation results confirm that the N, S co-doping strategies help to improve the structural stability, shorten the ion diffusion paths, and promote the reaction kinetics, thus achieving excellent electrochemical performance.

A synthesis strategy based on Schiff base reaction has been devised for S, N co-doped and surface-enriched concave pores coupled with two-dimensional lotus-leaf-like carbon nanosheets. Experimental and theoretical results disclose that the synergetic effect of S, N co-doping and surface concave pores synergistically contribute to the improved lithium storage efficiency. The numerous concave pores within the defective carbon substrates significantly enhance the specific surface area and boost the quantity of active sites. Furthermore, S, N co-doping induces additional surface and structural defects and widens the crystallographic spacing. Herein, the formed threefold lithium storage mechanisms work synergistically to increase the active lithium storage sites and ion diffusion channels, promoting ion diffusion and charge transfer during lithium storage.