Weifeng Wei

The growing demand for fast‐charging and high‐power electric vehicles is shifting Ni‐rich cathode design from maximizing energy density alone toward sustaining rapid Li‐ion transport over long cycling. LiNi _x Co _y Al _z O ₂ is well suited to this target because its Mn‐free, Al‐stabilized layered framework offers high capacity and structural robustness, yet residual alkaline lithium species on the particle surface compromise electrode processing, interfacial kinetics and long‐term durability. Here we convert these residual lithium species on LiNi _0.88 Co _0.09 Al _0.03 O ₂ (NCA) surface into a functional lithium–borate interphase through a boric‐acid‐mediated surface reaction (NCA‐B). Rather than simply removing surface residues, this strategy suppresses parasitic interfacial chemistry while maintaining efficient Li‐ion transport. In Ah‐level NCA‐B||graphite pouch cells, the modified cathode retains 76.9% capacity after 2000 cycles at 1 C and sustains nearly decay‐free cycling for 2400 cycles under 1 C charge and 10 C discharge, with a voltage‐fade rate of 0.0375 mV per cycle. These results establish residual‐lithium conversion as a practical interfacial design principle for high‐rate, long‐life NCA batteries.

Sandwich-structured SBS/PEI nanocomposites regulate charge, heat and mechanics. SiO ₂ aerogel suppresses charge injection and heat transfer, while BT–BNT–CZ boosts polarization and deep traps, achieving 6.94 J cm ⁻³ at 200 °C with 90% efficiency.

Correction for ‘Addressing interfacial chemical corrosion in lithium metal batteries: a ferroelectric-dipole-regulation route’ by Baolei Xu et al. , Chem. Sci. , 2026, 17 , 11744–11753, https://doi.org/10.1039/d6sc02846b.

Interfacial stress concentration not only degrades electrochemical performance during cycling but also poses critical safety risks under extreme abuse conditions. Upon nail penetration, localized stress accumulation can trigger catastrophic mechanical failure and rapid thermal runaway. Herein, we report a gel polymer electrolyte (NFGPE) engineered to delocalize interfacial stress through a dual‐anchoring polymer framework. The design integrates tri(2‐acryloyloxyethyl) isocyanurate (TAIC) and N‐[4‐cyano‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methacrylamide (CTFMA) into a mechanically robust, highly cross‐linked network. CTFMA can not only act as rigid molecular spacers to compensate for volumetric shrinkage of TAIC and relieve stress accumulation, but also anchor onto the cathode surface using its electron‐deficient cyano groups to selectively attract anions and repel solvent molecules, thereby promoting the formation of a thin, inorganic‐rich cathode‐electrolyte interphase (CEI). Meanwhile, TAIC spontaneously adsorbs onto the lithium anode, facilitating the formation of a stable, inorganic‐rich solid‐electrolyte interphase (SEI). The bilateral anchoring structure of the crosslinking monomer, combined with the highly supportive structure, ensures void‐free, intimate electrode||electrolyte contact across both interfaces, effectively delocalizing interfacial stress throughout the cell. The resulting NFGPE‐based coin cell can stably operate from −20°C to 70°C, the lithium metal pouch cells ensure a high‐energy density of 528.7 Wh kg ⁻¹ , and pass nail penetration tests without thermal runaway.

Interfacial stress concentration not only degrades electrochemical performance during cycling but also poses critical safety risks under extreme abuse conditions. Upon nail penetration, localized stress accumulation can trigger catastrophic mechanical failure and rapid thermal runaway. Herein, we report a gel polymer electrolyte (NFGPE) engineered to delocalize interfacial stress through a dual‐anchoring polymer framework. The design integrates tri(2‐acryloyloxyethyl) isocyanurate (TAIC) and N‐[4‐cyano‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methacrylamide (CTFMA) into a mechanically robust, highly cross‐linked network. CTFMA can not only act as rigid molecular spacers to compensate for volumetric shrinkage of TAIC and relieve stress accumulation, but also anchor onto the cathode surface using its electron‐deficient cyano groups to selectively attract anions and repel solvent molecules, thereby promoting the formation of a thin, inorganic‐rich cathode‐electrolyte interphase (CEI). Meanwhile, TAIC spontaneously adsorbs onto the lithium anode, facilitating the formation of a stable, inorganic‐rich solid‐electrolyte interphase (SEI). The bilateral anchoring structure of the crosslinking monomer, combined with the highly supportive structure, ensures void‐free, intimate electrode||electrolyte contact across both interfaces, effectively delocalizing interfacial stress throughout the cell. The resulting NFGPE‐based coin cell can stably operate from −20°C to 70°C, the lithium metal pouch cells ensure a high‐energy density of 528.7 Wh kg ⁻¹ , and pass nail penetration tests without thermal runaway.

High‐voltage lithium (Li) metal batteries (LMBs) are regarded as strong candidates for next‐generation high‐specific‐energy storage devices. However, interfacial side reactions (ISRs) (particularly the often‐overlooked chemical corrosion) and Li dendrite lead to severe depletion of active Li and even pose safety hazards, significantly hindering the practical applications of LMBs. Herein, an oxygen‐vacancy‐engineered BaTiO ₃ pre‐adsorbed with NO ₃ ⁻ (BTOVN) layer is integrated onto a polypropylene separator to selectively lower the energy level of target anion via ferroelectric dipoles, thus passivating the anode/electrolyte interface and improving the long‐term storage and cycle stability of LMBs. Combining cryo‐electron microscopy with multi‐scale spectroscopies, we reveal that the ferroelectric BTOVN layer targets NO ₃ ⁻ to the interface and promotes the reductive decomposition of both NO ₃ ⁻ and PF ₆ ⁻ to form a thinner and tougher solid‐electrolyte interphase (SEI) rich in inorganic Li ₂ O, Li ₃ N, and LiF, which effectively suppresses persistent ISRs and Li dendrite proliferation while enhancing Li ⁺ transport kinetics and interfacial stability. As a result, high‐voltage Li metal full cells delivery a substantially enhanced capacity retention of 89.1% after 500 cycles, and remarkably, even after long‐term resting, they maintain exceptionally stable operation. The work provides a novel perspective on precisely engineering SEI chemistry through targeting anionic species into the interphase layer.

Polymer‐based electrolytes offer processability and interfacial compliance but suffer from low ionic conductivity, narrow electrochemical windows, and uncontrolled Li ⁺ transport, limiting their viability for high‐voltage cathodes. Herein, we design an order‐engineered ferroelectric solid electrolyte (OE‐FSE) by integrating a relaxor ferroelectric terpolymer, P(VDF‐TrFE‐CTFE‐FA) (PVTCF), with ambient Curie temperature and double‐bond defects, into a covalently cross‐linked triazine‐based gel network. The spontaneously aligned ferroelectric dipoles within the electrolyte create an internal electric field that promotes lithium‐salt dissociation and facilitates rapid, decoupled, and directional Li‐ion transport. The optimized OE‐FSE exhibits exceptional electrochemical stability up to 5.2 V and liquid‐like ionic conductivity of 5.39 mS cm ⁻¹ at room temperature. Consequently, LRMO||Li coin cell shows a capacity of up to 160.4 mAh/g at a high rate of 10 C with a capacity retention of 81.3% after 280 cycles. LRMO||graphite solid‐state pouch cells achieve a long cycle life of up to 700 cycles and exhibit significantly reduced voltage decay, while LRMO||Li metal pouch cells with an energy density of 502 Wh kg ⁻¹ retain 80% of capacity after 70 cycles. This work establishes molecular‐scale ferroelectric ordering as a powerful paradigm for regulating bulk ion transport and interfacial electrochemistry, paving the way for next‐generation, high‐energy solid‐state batteries.

Coupling of chemical corrosion with electrochemical processes aggravates lithium dendrite flooding. Ferroelectric dipole (FD) engineering, especially the use of pre-adsorbed anion-type FDs, enables targeted SEI design to suppress this failure chain.

Ferroelectric materials introduce internal electric fields that regulate ion transport, interfacial charge distribution and electrochemical reactions. They can mitigate polarization, stabilize interfaces and enhance cycle life of advanced batteries.

The operating temperature range and reliability of dielectrics limit their advanced applications. We propose a strategy to broaden the operating temperature ranging from −100°C to 200°C with superior energy‐storage performance of polyetherimide (PEI) nanocomposites by incorporating silica aerogel with exceptional insulating and thermal‐barrier properties. The silica aerogel effectively eliminates filler agglomeration and reinforces mechanical strength. Benefiting from its ultra‐wide bandgap and excellent insulation, the silica aerogel acts as deep traps that suppress charge transport and reduce leakage current. Meanwhile, its intrinsic low thermal conductivity and porous framework serve as heat‐shielding units that elongate and distort the heat‐transfer pathway, effectively mitigating thermal conduction and accumulation. As a result, the silica aerogel/PEI nanocomposites achieve outstanding capacitive energy storage at a wide operating temperature range. Impressively, at −60°C, the nanocomposite delivers a discharge energy density (U _dis ) of 12.54 J/cm ³ with an energy efficiency (η) of 96.8% at 900 MV/m. Even at 200°C, it maintains the U _dis of 5.24 J/cm ³ with η >90%, representing 3.56 times higher than PEI. Moreover, the nanocomposites exhibit excellent reliability of over 10 ⁶ charge‐discharge cycles at a wide temperature range. This work provides a new design paradigm for developing dielectrics with broad‐temperature energy storage capability.