Xiaobin Liao

Hierarchical Pd–Cu nanowires with lattice-expanded Cu (100)/(111) interfaces were designed. Experimental and theoretical results demonstrate their superior activity toward the CO ₂ reduction reaction.

Gel polymer electrolytes with moderate Li ⁺ -solvent binding (MB-GPE) achieve an optimal balance between weak solvation modulation and lithium-ion transport performance, leading to long-term stable cycling of lithium–metal batteries (LMBs).

Ether electrolytes for potassium-ion batteries exhibit a broader electrochemical window and greater applicability, yet most of them are high-concentration electrolytes with elevated cost. In this study, we propose the use of a weakly solvating cyclic ether electrolyte with tetrahydropyran (THP) as the solvent. This approach induces the formation of a thin and dense inorganic-rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) film, which is accompanied by a decrease in the activation energy of electrode interfacial reactions due to the weak ligand binding of THP with K⁺. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations also corroborate the hypothesis that K⁺ has a lower binding energy with THP. During potassium storage process, the phenomenon of solvent co-intercalation of graphite does not occur, which greatly reduces the destruction of the graphite structure and enables a superior electrochemical performance and enhanced cycling stability at a lower concentration (2 M). At a current density of 0.2 C (55.8 mA g^-1), the battery can be stably cycled for 800 cycles (approximately 8 months) with a specific capacity of 171.8 mAh g^-1. This study provides a new ether-based electrolyte for potassium ion batteries and effectively reduces the electrolyte cost, which is expected to inspire further development of energy storage batteries.