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With this page, we aim to highlight the most interesting research works published by Nature Communications in the broad topic of energy. Our ultimate goal is to stimulate debate in the multiple fields where energy is the core.
All-solid-state batteries with silicon anodes have high capacities but low initial coulombic efficiencies (ICEs) because of first cycle irreversible capacity loss. Here, the authors report a prelithiation strategy to improve ICEs and reversibility.
The authors present a single [0001]-oriented Zn metal anode with high reversibility and demonstrate the significance of the Zn(0002) metal anode, characterized by a single crystalline orientation, for promoting ultra-sustainable homoepitaxial growth.
O2-type Li-rich layered cathodes suppress voltage decay and aid in oxygen redox research. Here, the authors report trilateral relationship among anionic redox utilization, bulk chemo-mechanical degradation, and electrochemical fading, which can be mitigated by balancing the redox center capabilities.
Here, authors report an iron flow battery, using earth-abundant materials like iron, ammonia, and phosphorous acid. This work offers a solution to reduce materials cost and extend cycle life in energy storage applications for grid decarbonization.
Ammonium ion batteries are of growing interest for energy storage research. Here, the authors observe two-step pseudocapacitive storage behavior in an ammonium acetate electrolyte, resulting in a superior ammonium ion storage capacity.
Low-temperature operation remains challenging for batteries. Here, the authors report an electrolyte solvation structure design strategy to break solvation dominance of ethylene carbonate to facilitate the desolvation process that improves the low-temperature performance of lithium-ion batteries even below −100 °C.
Monitoring real-world battery degradation is crucial for the widespread application of batteries in different scenarios. Here, the authors report a simple non-embedded thermal-wave sensing technique that can quantitatively distinguish different battery degradation sources during operation.
The oxygen evolutions from layered cathode surfaces cause battery degradation during high-voltage operation and pose thermal safety concerns. Here, the authors propose a strategy to anchor and reserve surface oxygen with defective oxygen inert phase for high-voltage nickel-rich cathodes in lithium-ion batteries.
Unsorted retired batteries pose recycling challenges due to diverse cathodes. Here, the authors propose a privacy-preserving machine learning system that enables accurate sorting with minimal data, important for a sustainable battery recycling industry.
Oxygen redox in transition metal oxides enhances the energy content of Na-ion batteries but is typically plagued by poor reversibility. Here, the authors achieve non-hysteresis through the formation of a spin singlet state to stabilize the active oxygen redox reaction in P3-type Na2/3Cu1/3Mn2/3O2.
The shuttle effect of polysulfides in lithium sulfur batteries leads to performance degradation. Here, authors use fiber-based sensors to track and quantify the dissolved polysulfide concentration in the electrolyte during cell charge and discharge, revealing insights on stability and performance.
Internal growth of Li-metal deposition is critical for evaluating the state of safety in lithium-ion batteries. Here the authors show a Li-metal detection method utilizing high-frequency electromagnetics, which can be assembled as a sensor for monitoring cycle-by-cycle growth of Li-metal plating.
The electrochemical performance of metal electrodes is significantly influenced by their grain boundary stability. Here, the authors propose a zinc-titanium two-phase alloy via grain boundary engineering to inhibit intergranular corrosion and tailor deposition behavior for stable aqueous zinc batteries.
The application of Li metal electrodes in rechargeable batteries is limited by inherent high reactivity. Here, the authors provide model-based insights into the composition and formation mechanisms of the solid-electrolyte interphase on the µs-scale and suggest design strategies for the interphase.
To guide research and implementation of aqueous organic redox flow batteries it is essential to estimate their potential costs. In this perspective, the authors present an overview of the potential cost of organic active materials for aqueous flow batteries and identify cost reduction routes.
Sodium-sulfur batteries show potential as attractive alternatives to Li-ion batteries due to their high energy density but practicality is hampered by sodium polysulfide issues. Here, the authors introduce an intercalation-type catalyst MoTe2 to improve the redox kinetics in Na-S batteries.
Accurate evaluation of Li-ion battery safety conditions can reduce unexpected cell failures. Here, authors present a large-scale electric vehicle charging dataset for benchmarking existing algorithms, and develop a deep learning algorithm for detecting Li-ion battery faults.
Zinc batteries have received intense attentions but suffer from inferior low-temperature performance. Here, the authors constructed a gradient phosphatized interphase in situ on zinc surface to accelerate zinc-ion desolvation and transport, greatly enhancing the cycling performance at subzero temperatures.
Operando monitoring of thermal runaway in Li-ion batteries is critical. Here, authors develop an optical fiber sensor capable of insertion into 18650 batteries to monitor internal temperature and pressure during thermal runaway, facilitating battery safety assessment and early warning capability.
The practical use of zinc-organic batteries has been hindered by their low energy density and rapid capacity decay. Here, the authors introduce a super electron-delocalized hydrogen-bonded organic framework by tuning electron delocalization as a cathode material for high-performance zinc-organic batteries.
Polymer electrolytes are attractive candidates for rechargeable lithium metal batteries. Here, the authors give a personal reflection on the structural design of coupled and decoupled polymer electrolytes and possible routes to further enhance their performance in rechargeable batteries.
Separating active cathode materials from current collectors poses a critical challenge in battery recycling. Here, the authors develop a facile strategy that relies on a reaction-passivation mechanism to effectively separate the aluminum foil and cathode active material in spent lithium-ion batteries.
Aluminum-based negative electrodes could enable high-energy-density batteries, but their charge storage performance is limited. Here, the authors show that dense aluminum electrodes with controlled microstructure exhibit long-term cycling stability in all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries.
Excess water in hydrogel-based zinc ion batteries causes side reactions, but reduced water content results in low conductivities. Here, authors develop a lean-water hydrogel based on molecular lubrication mechanism for fast ion transportation, extended stability, and reversible Zinc plating/stripping.
K-ion batteries may have rate advantages over Li-ion batteries due to the larger size of the cation. Here, the authors characterize the ionic transport and thermodynamic properties of non-aqueous K-ion electrolyte solutions demonstrating higher K-ion mobility than the Li-ion counterpart.
Ionic conductivity > 1 mS cm−1 at 25 °C, compressibility enabling > 90% density at 250 − 350 MPa, and cost < $50/kg are desirable for inorganic solid-state electrolytes. Here, the authors report Li1.75ZrCl4.75O0.5 as a solid-state electrolyte capable of satisfying these requirements simultaneously.
Sluggish kinetics is a major challenge for iron-based sulfate electrode materials. Here, the authors report multiscale interface engineering to build continuous Na-ion transfer channels at all length scales by designing ionic conductors inside bulk and low-electron-density exposed crystal surfaces.
Stable lithium metal electrodes are needed to produce high-energy batteries. Here, authors reported poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate-co-sodium benzenesulfonate) as a lithium metal protective layer and the production of a 490 Wh/kg class Li | |LiNi0.83Co0.11Mn0.06O2 pouch cell.
Organic redox-flow batteries have the potential to cheaply store renewable electricity at grid scale but require further development. Here, the authors show that combining spectroscopic measurements with statistical inference techniques can shed light on why these batteries lose capacity over time.
Mn-based Prussian blue is an ideal positive electrode material for aqueous sodium-ion batteries but still suffers from Mn dissolution. Here, the authors introduce an Mn-ion trapping agent as an electrolyte additive to produce a 94 Wh kg−1 Na-ion aqueous battery with a long lifespan.
A significant barrier to the mass adoption of electric vehicles is the long charge time (>30 min) of high-energy Li-ion batteries. Here, the authors propose a practical solution to enable fast charging of commercial Li-ion batteries by combining thermal switching and self-heating.
Achieving high-performance aqueous Zn-metal batteries is a challenge. Here, authors report a eutectic electrolyte that concurrently enables selective Zn2+ intercalation at the cathode and highly reversible Zn metal plating/stripping, resulting in a benchmark high-areal capacity Zn anode-free cell.
Quasi-solid-state polymer electrolytes are ideal candidates for practical secondary battery applications. Here, the authors propose a negatively charged (–COO–)-modified covalent organic framework as a Na-ion quasi-solid-state electrolyte with sub-nanometric Na-ion transport zones.
Development of lithium metal anodes is limited due to the dendritic growth and high reactivity of metal lithium. Here authors propose a surface modification strategy using heptafluorobutyric acid to form a lithiophilic interface, which enables uniform Li deposition and improving battery performance.
Estimation of Li-ion battery state of health is crucial but requires time- and resource-consuming degradation tests for development. Here, authors propose a deep-learning method that enables accurate estimations without additional tests, ensuring absolute errors of less than 3% for 89.4% of samples.
The electrochemical performance of aqueous zinc ion batteries is limited by water activity. Here, the authors propose a hybrid electrolyte that incorporate strongly polar molecules to strengthen the water O–H bonds, thus reduce water activity and improve the electrochemical performance of the batteries.
The origin of dendrite growth and lithium deposition behavior remains not well understood. Here, authors use a single-salt and single-solvent model electrolyte system to study the correlations between the electrolyte solvation structure, interphase structure and lithium deposition morphology.
Compositional tuning is a standard procedure to improve the ionic conductivity of inorganic superionic conductors. Here, the authors report (electro)chemical stable composite halide solid electrolytes applying a nanostructure approach that promotes interfacial superionic conductivity.
The practical use of all-solid-state batteries is hindered by lithium dendrites formed at current densities lower than the threshold suggested by industry research. Here, the authors propose a MHz-pulse-current protocol to circumvent the low-current cell failure and provide mechanistic analyses.
The galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) is the state-of-the-art method for determining the Li+ diffusion coefficients in battery materials. Here, authors propose the intermittent current interruption method as a reliable, accurate and faster alternative to GITT-based methods.
The parasitic reactions at the electrolyte/electrode interfaces inhibit the increase of the charging cut-off voltage and the improvement of energy density. Herein, the authors design multifunctional solvent molecules and propose a practical design principle to stabilize the electrolyte/electrode interfaces for high-voltage Li ion batteries.
Oxide solid electrolytes generally suffer from high grain boundary resistance. Here, the authors use advanced electron microscopy, along with an active learning moment tensor potential, to reveal the atomic-scale origin of low grain-boundary resistance in Li0.375Sr0.4375Ta0.75Zr0.25O3.
Space-charge layers are believed to profoundly influence the interfaces in all-solid-state Li batteries. Here, the authors provide atomic scale insights into this phenomenon, and discover that its impact could be fundamentally different from commonly believed.
In lithium-metal batteries, it is vital to quantify electrolyte side reactions occurring at the metal anode surface. Here, the authors introduce an electrochemical technique, using a series of small-step lithium deposition followed by open circuit voltage analysis, to accurately measure these reactions.
Electrochemical reduction of CO2 to formic acid is a promising and sustainable pathway for valuable chemical generation. However, direct production of formic acid rather than formate is challenging. Herein the authors report a zero-gap membrane electrode assembly architecture with perforated cation exchange membrane for the direct electrochemical synthesis of formic acid from CO2.
Electrocatalytic recycling of waste nitrate to NH3 under ambient conditions maybe an appealing alternative to the Haber−Bosch process. Here the authors report a tandem catalyst system involving cooperative adsorption of reaction intermediate on different transition metal active sites for nitrate electroreduction with high efficiency.
Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) with inorganic solid-state electrolytes suffer from lithium dendrites propagation. Here, the authors demonstrate the production of stable lab-scale LMBs using an Ag-coated Li6.4La3Zr1.7Ta0.3O12 inorganic solid electrolyte in combination with a silver-carbon interlayer.
Understanding the plating and stripping behaviours of lithium metal is crucial for high-energy battery development. Here, authors track these electrochemical processes in real time by an operando synchrotron X-ray tomographic microscopy, revealing the formation of inactive lithium microstructures.
Ether solvents have poor anodic stabilities in lithium metal batteries. Here, the authors propose a non-aqueous electrolyte solution with a non-polar and non-fluorinated ether solvent. The electrolyte enables stable cycling of high-voltage Li metal batteries in pouch cell configuration.