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| Open AccessNuclear disarmament verification via resonant phenomena
Authenticating a nuclear warhead without revealing its design is a challenge. Here the authors discuss a nuclear disarmament verification method based on neutron resonance analysis which is sensitive to the isotopic composition of the materials used in warheads.
- Jake J. Hecla
- & Areg Danagoulian
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Article
| Open AccessSize-dependent activity and selectivity of carbon dioxide photocatalytic reduction over platinum nanoparticles
Light-driven carbon dioxide conversion into fuels provides a nature-inspired strategy to combat climate change, but how materials do so remains a challenge. Here, the authors prepare metal–semiconductor composites and find platinum-nanoparticle size controls fuel selectivity and activity.
- Chunyang Dong
- , Cheng Lian
- & Jinlong Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessSingle rhodium atoms anchored in micropores for efficient transformation of methane under mild conditions
Catalytic transformation of CH4 under mild conditions has implications to shale gas utilization. Here, the authors report the transformation of CH4 to acetic acid through coupling of CH4, CO and O2 on single-site Rh1O5 anchored in microporous aluminosilicates in liquid phase.
- Yu Tang
- , Yuting Li
- & Franklin (Feng) Tao
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Article
| Open AccessAdsorption-based atmospheric water harvesting device for arid climates
Harvesting water from the atmosphere is an important solution to water scarcity, but doing so in arid climates is highly challenging. Here, the authors develop a metal-organic framework-based water harvesting device that can deliver over 0.25 L of water per kg of adsorbent over a single cycle at relative humidities of 10–40% and at subzero dew points.
- Hyunho Kim
- , Sameer R. Rao
- & Evelyn N. Wang
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Article
| Open AccessCopper-surface-mediated synthesis of acetylenic carbon-rich nanofibers for active metal-free photocathodes
While photoelectrochemical devices combine light-absorption with fuel and electricity generation, their implementation is hampered by high costs and low output. Here, the authors synthesized acetylene-rich carbon fibers by copper-mediated polymerization for high-activity, metal-free photocathodes.
- Tao Zhang
- , Yang Hou
- & Xinliang Feng
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| Open AccessSurface passivation engineering strategy to fully-inorganic cubic CsPbI3 perovskites for high-performance solar cells
Inorganic cesium lead iodide perovskite is inherently more stable than the hybrid perovskites but it undergoes phase transition that degrades the solar cell performance. Here Li et al. stabilize it with poly-vinylpyrrolidone and obtain high efficiency of 10.74% with excellent thermal and moisture stability.
- Bo Li
- , Yanan Zhang
- & Longwei Yin
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Article
| Open AccessNanoscale kinetics of asymmetrical corrosion in core-shell nanoparticles
Understanding how catalysts corrode during use is crucial in developing new, durable devices. Here, the authors studied the real-time corrosion of core-shell palladium-platinum nanocubes by electron microscopy and found two competitive etching mechanisms to dominate catalyst degradation behavior.
- Hao Shan
- , Wenpei Gao
- & Jianbo Wu
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Article
| Open AccessUltra-thin enzymatic liquid membrane for CO2 separation and capture
Porous membranes show great promise for CO2 separation and capture, but are currently limited by a trade-off between permeance and selectivity. Here, the authors fabricate a bio-inspired, ultra-thin enzymatic liquid membrane that displays exceptional CO2 permeability and selectivity under ambient conditions.
- Yaqin Fu
- , Ying-Bing Jiang
- & C. Jeffrey Brinker
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Article
| Open AccessElucidating anionic oxygen activity in lithium-rich layered oxides
A reversible oxygen redox process contributes extra capacity and understanding this behavior is of high importance. Here, aided by resonant inelastic X-ray scattering, the authors reveal the distinctive anionic oxygen activity of battery electrodes with different transition metals.
- Jing Xu
- , Meiling Sun
- & Wei Tong
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Article
| Open AccessAtomic visualization of a non-equilibrium sodiation pathway in copper sulfide
Copper sulfide allows for high-performance sodium ion storage, yet its sodiation mechanism is poorly understood. Here, the authors examine the atomic structures of sodiated phases via in situ transmission electron microscopy, showing a non-equilibrium reaction pathway.
- Jae Yeol Park
- , Sung Joo Kim
- & Jong Min Yuk
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Article
| Open AccessFormation of size-dependent and conductive phase on lithium iron phosphate during carbon coating
Coating the active materials of interest with carbon is a widely employed way to boost the performance of lithium ion batteries. Here the authors show the formation of a conductive phase on LiFePO4 during carbon coating, which is size, annealing temperature and reduction atmosphere dependent.
- Yulong Liu
- , Jian Liu
- & Xueliang Sun
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Article
| Open AccessMonovalent manganese based anodes and co-solvent electrolyte for stable low-cost high-rate sodium-ion batteries
Sodium ion batteries offer more cost-effective storage than lithium and could be used for grid-scale energy storage. Here, the authors demonstrate a full cell based on a MnHCMn anode and an organic-aqueous cosolvent electrolyte. X-ray spectroscopy evidence further suggests the presence of Mn(I).
- Ali Firouzi
- , Ruimin Qiao
- & Colin D. Wessells
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| Open AccessSodium enhances indium-gallium interdiffusion in copper indium gallium diselenide photovoltaic absorbers
Sodium doping is necessary to achieve high performance in polycrystalline chalcopyrite solar cells, but retards gallium interdiffusion, and thus efficiency optimisation. Here, Colombara et al. show that in contrast to the polycrystalline case, sodium accelerates atomic interdiffusion in monocrystalline samples.
- Diego Colombara
- , Florian Werner
- & Susanne Siebentritt
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Article
| Open AccessBioinspired leaves-on-branchlet hybrid carbon nanostructure for supercapacitors
One way to improve the performance of supercapacitors is to use hybrid carbon nanomaterials. Here the authors show a bioinspired electrode design with graphene petals and carbon nanotube arrays serving as leaves and branchlets, respectively. The structure affords excellent electrochemical characteristics.
- Guoping Xiong
- , Pingge He
- & Timothy S. Fisher
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Article
| Open AccessKinetics of lithium peroxide oxidation by redox mediators and consequences for the lithium–oxygen cell
The kinetics of Li2O2 oxidation is of high importance to the operation of Li–O2 batteries. Here the authors work on different types of mediators revealing the dependence of the kinetics on the nature of the redox active site and its steric hindrance.
- Yuhui Chen
- , Xiangwen Gao
- & Peter G. Bruce
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Article
| Open AccessOxidation-stable amine-containing adsorbents for carbon dioxide capture
Amine-containing solids are promising adsorbents for CO2 capture, but their low oxidative stability has hindered their application. Here, Choi and colleagues develop a strategy to poison the metal impurities present in poly(ethyleneimine)/silica adsorbents, significantly improving their stability towards oxidation.
- Kyungmin Min
- , Woosung Choi
- & Minkee Choi
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Article
| Open AccessChemisorption of polysulfides through redox reactions with organic molecules for lithium–sulfur batteries
Novel cathode design holds the key to enabling high performance lithium-sulfur batteries. Here the authors utilize anthraquinone to chemically stabilize polysulfides, revealing that the keto groups of anthraquinone play a critical role in forming strong Lewis acid-based chemical bonding.
- Ge Li
- , Xiaolei Wang
- & Zhongwei Chen
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Article
| Open AccessInference of field reversed configuration topology and dynamics during Alfvenic transients
It is important to understand the fast plasma dynamics in the operation of fusion plasma devices. Here the authors demonstrate the inference on the internal field reversed configuration magnetic topology and their occurrence during fast Alfvenic transient phenomena in C-2U device.
- J. A. Romero
- , S. A. Dettrick
- & Y. Mok
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Article
| Open AccessBiomimetic light-harvesting funnels for re-directioning of diffuse light
Sunlight harvesting and redirection is a promising concept for sustainable energy conversion, however losses have hindered progress. Here the authors construct a simple biomimetic device which minimises losses by using reservoirs of randomly-oriented dyes to funnel energy onto individual emitting parallel acceptors.
- Alexander Pieper
- , Manuel Hohgardt
- & Peter Jomo Walla
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| Open AccessUltra-high thermal effusivity materials for resonant ambient thermal energy harvesting
Ambient environmental thermal fluctuations offer an abundant yet difficult to harvest renewable energy source, when compared to static thermal gradients. Here, by tuning the thermal effusivity of composite phase change materials, the authors are able to harvest energy from diurnal ambient temperature changes.
- Anton L. Cottrill
- , Albert Tianxiang Liu
- & Michael S. Strano
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| Open AccessProbing electrochemical reactions in organic cathode materials via in operando infrared spectroscopy
Metal-organic batteries are gaining traction as versatile, low-cost, and sustainable devices, although there are still few ways to probe internal behavior during use. Here, the authors explore organic-molecule structural changes within several battery systems by in operando infrared spectroscopy.
- Alen Vizintin
- , Jan Bitenc
- & Robert Dominko
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| Open AccessNanostructuring one-dimensional and amorphous lithium peroxide for high round-trip efficiency in lithium-oxygen batteries
While lithium-oxygen batteries offer a green method to power vehicles, the sluggish decomposition of lithium peroxide limits device performance. Here, the authors direct lithium peroxide formation into amorphous nanostructures to enable its facile decomposition and improve charging efficiency.
- Arghya Dutta
- , Raymond A. Wong
- & Hye Ryung Byon
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Article
| Open AccessEnergy use and life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of drones for commercial package delivery
The use of drones to deliver commercial packages is poised to become a new industry. Here the authors show that replacing truck delivery by drones can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy use when the drone size and additional warehousing requirements are limited.
- Joshuah K. Stolaroff
- , Constantine Samaras
- & Daniel Ceperley
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| Open AccessBoosting lithium storage in covalent organic framework via activation of 14-electron redox chemistry
Conjugated polymeric molecules are promising electrode materials for batteries. Here the authors show a two-dimensional few-layered covalent organic framework that delivers a large reversible capacity of more than 1500 mAh g−1 with the storage mechanism governed by 14-electron redox chemistry.
- Zhendong Lei
- , Qinsi Yang
- & Yong Wang
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| Open AccessA supramolecular lanthanide separation approach based on multivalent cooperative enhancement of metal ion selectivity
Lanthanide ions possess similar chemical properties, making their separation from one another challenging. Here the authors show that a tris-tridentate ligand causes high-precision metal ion self-sorting, leading to the selective assembly of tetrahedral M4L4 cages across the lanthanide series.
- Xiao-Zhen Li
- , Li-Peng Zhou
- & Qing-Fu Sun
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Article
| Open AccessEvolving affinity between Coulombic reversibility and hysteretic phase transformations in nano-structured silicon-based lithium-ion batteries
Using silicon electrodes could improve lithium ion battery storage capacities, but irreversible side reactions during cycling rapidly degrade current batteries. Here, the authors studied silicon-rich electrode phase transitions and how such transitions may benefit the rechargeable cell systems.
- K. Ogata
- , S. Jeon
- & S. Han
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| Open AccessDirecting lateral growth of lithium dendrites in micro-compartmented anode arrays for safe lithium metal batteries
The formation of lithium dendrites remains a great challenge to lithium metal batteries. Here the authors show an anode design to laterally direct the dendrite growth inside the compartments, providing a feasible post-mortem solution to batteries with lithium dendrites already present.
- Peichao Zou
- , Yang Wang
- & Cheng Yang
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Article
| Open AccessAnderson light localization in biological nanostructures of native silk
Light in biological media is known as freely diffusing because interference is negligible. Here, the authors demonstrate Anderson localization of light from quasi-two-dimensional nanostructures in silk fibres.
- Seung Ho Choi
- , Seong-Wan Kim
- & Young L. Kim
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Article
| Open AccessCaging tin oxide in three-dimensional graphene networks for superior volumetric lithium storage
The excessive porous space in carbon anodes for lithium-ion batteries has to be utilized for high volumetric performance. Here the authors show an adaptable sulfur template strategy to yield graphene-caged noncarbon materials with a precisely controlled amount of void, enabling ultrahigh volumetric lithium storage.
- Junwei Han
- , Debin Kong
- & Quan-Hong Yang
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Article
| Open AccessBimolecular recombination in methylammonium lead triiodide perovskite is an inverse absorption process
Radiative bimolecular processes will dominate charge-carrier recombination in hybrid perovskite solar cells operating near the Shockley-Queisser limit. Here, the authors show that such processes are the inverse of absorption and increase as distribution functions sharpen towards lower temperatures.
- Christopher L. Davies
- , Marina R. Filip
- & Laura M. Herz
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Article
| Open AccessCarbon-doped SnS2 nanostructure as a high-efficiency solar fuel catalyst under visible light
Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to hydrocarbons is a promising route to both CO2 utilization and renewable fuel production. Here the authors identify that carbon-doped SnS2 possesses a high catalytic efficiency towards CO2 reduction owing to low photogenerated charge recombination rates.
- Indrajit Shown
- , Satyanarayana Samireddi
- & Kuei-Hsien Chen
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Article
| Open AccessLight-tuned selective photosynthesis of azo- and azoxy-aromatics using graphitic C3N4
The synthesis of azo- and azoxy-aromatic dyes via photoreduction of nitroaromatics is hindered by high costs and low catalytic efficiencies and selectivities. Here the authors demonstrate the facile synthesis of these important dyes from their corresponding nitroaromatic precursors by using an inexpensive graphitic C3N4 photocatalyst.
- Yitao Dai
- , Chao Li
- & Ren Su
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Article
| Open AccessDefects controlled hole doping and multivalley transport in SnSe single crystals
Knowledge of the electronic structure of group-IV monochalcogenides is essential for their application in high-performance thermoelectric energy harvesting. Here, using photoemission spectroscopy, the authors reveal the impact of doping, and the anisotropic nature of the band structure of SnSe.
- Zhen Wang
- , Congcong Fan
- & Yi Zheng
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Article
| Open AccessCoupling between oxygen redox and cation migration explains unusual electrochemistry in lithium-rich layered oxides
Lithium ion battery electrodes employing anion redox exhibit high energy densities but suffer from poor cyclability. Here the authors reveal that the voltage of anion redox is strongly affected by structural changes that occur during battery cycling, explaining its unique electrochemical properties.
- William E. Gent
- , Kipil Lim
- & William C. Chueh
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| Open AccessThin single crystal perovskite solar cells to harvest below-bandgap light absorption
Thin films of halide perovskites are promising for solar cell technology but they do not perform well at the band edge due to the low optical absorption. Herein, Chen et al. fabricate a high efficiency single crystal perovskite solar cell with thicker single crystals to harvest the below-bandgap photons.
- Zhaolai Chen
- , Qingfeng Dong
- & Jinsong Huang
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| Open AccessMetal-hydrogen systems with an exceptionally large and tunable thermodynamic destabilization
Tailoring the thermodynamics of metal-hydrogen interactions is crucial for tuning the properties of metal hydrides but remains difficult to control. Here, the authors create an yttrium hydrogen sensor sensitive to pressure changes of up to four orders of magnitude by adding zirconium into the Y lattice.
- Peter Ngene
- , Alessandro Longo
- & Bernard Dam
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| Open AccessA Co3O4-CDots-C3N4 three component electrocatalyst design concept for efficient and tunable CO2 reduction to syngas
Simultaneous electrochemical reduction of CO2 and H+/H2O is an attractive renewable route to produce syngas mixtures. Here, the authors introduce a ternary Co3O4-CDots-C3N4 electrocatalyst that couples hydrogen evolution and CO2 reduction catalysts and achieves cheap, stable and tunable production of syngas.
- Sijie Guo
- , Siqi Zhao
- & Zhenhui Kang
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Article
| Open AccessSpectroscopic detection of halogen bonding resolves dye regeneration in the dye-sensitized solar cell
Dye-sensitized solar cells rely on molecular dyes to absorb light and conduct electrons. Parlane et al. show that weak forces such as hydrogen bonding can be responsible for the dye regeneration step of solar cells and have an impact on the photovoltage and the efficiency.
- Fraser G. L. Parlane
- , Chantal Mustoe
- & Curtis P. Berlinguette
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Article
| Open AccessHigh magnesium mobility in ternary spinel chalcogenides
Low magnesium mobility in solids represents a significant obstacle to the development of Mg intercalation batteries. Here the authors show that substantial magnesium ion mobility can be achieved in close-packed ternary selenide spinel materials.
- Pieremanuele Canepa
- , Shou-Hang Bo
- & Gerbrand Ceder
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Article
| Open AccessSwitchable photovoltaic windows enabled by reversible photothermal complex dissociation from methylammonium lead iodide
Conventional smart windows with tunable transparency are based on electrochromic systems that consumes energy. Here Wheeler et al. demonstrate a halide perovskite based photo-switchable window that dynamically responds to sunlight and change colors via reversible phase transitions.
- Lance M. Wheeler
- , David T. Moore
- & Nathan R. Neale
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Article
| Open AccessUltrafast bridge planarization in donor-π-acceptor copolymers drives intramolecular charge transfer
Tracking and understanding charge transfer process is central yet challenging to designing efficient organic photovoltaics. Roy et al. monitor real-time structural changes in donor-π-acceptor polymer backbone, and enumerate the role of π-bridge torsions during intramolecular charge transfer.
- Palas Roy
- , Ajay Jha
- & Jyotishman Dasgupta
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Article
| Open AccessGraphene balls for lithium rechargeable batteries with fast charging and high volumetric energy densities
Here, the authors report a graphene-silica assembly which could be coated onto a nickel-rich cathode via a scalable process for considerably improved electrochemical performance. In the presence of such graphene balls, a full cell benefits from an increased volumetric energy density by 27.6%.
- In Hyuk Son
- , Jong Hwan Park
- & Jang Wook Choi
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Article
| Open AccessOxygen-rich microporous carbons with exceptional hydrogen storage capacity
Hydrogen is attractive as a clean fuel for motor vehicles and porous carbons represent promising hydrogen storage materials. Here, Mokaya and colleagues incorporate oxygen-rich functional groups into porous carbons with high microporosity, showing that such materials exhibit significantly enhanced H2 storage capacity.
- L. Scott Blankenship
- , Norah Balahmar
- & Robert Mokaya
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Article
| Open AccessOptically-controlled long-term storage and release of thermal energy in phase-change materials
Phase-change materials offer excellent thermal storage due to their high latent heat; however, they suffer from spontaneous heat loss. Han et al., use organic photo-switching dopants to introduce an activation energy barrier which enables controllable thermal energy release and retention.
- Grace G. D. Han
- , Huashan Li
- & Jeffrey C. Grossman
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Article
| Open AccessDirect catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 to formate over a Schiff-base-mediated gold nanocatalyst
Bicarbonate reduction is a bottleneck step of the CO2 hydrogenation to formic acid in alkaline solution. Here, the authors show a highly active Schiff-base-modified gold nanocatalyst for the efficient reduction of CO2 to formic acid under relatively mild conditions.
- Qinggang Liu
- , Xiaofeng Yang
- & Tao Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessTwo-dimensional lithium diffusion behavior and probable hybrid phase transformation kinetics in olivine lithium iron phosphate
Lithium transport and phase transformation kinetics in olivine LiFePO4 electrode remain not fully understood. Here the authors show that microsized olivine particles possess 2D lithium diffusivity and exhibit a possible hybrid mode of phase boundary migration upon cycling.
- Liang Hong
- , Linsen Li
- & Ming Tang
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| Open AccessMitigating oxygen loss to improve the cycling performance of high capacity cation-disordered cathode materials
The performance of lithium-excess cation-disordered oxides as cathode materials relies on the extent to which the oxygen loss during cycling is mitigated. Here, the authors show that incorporating fluorine is an effective strategy which substantially improves the cycling stability of such a material.
- Jinhyuk Lee
- , Joseph K. Papp
- & Gerbrand Ceder
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Article
| Open AccessRegulating p-block metals in perovskite nanodots for efficient electrocatalytic water oxidation
Electrocatalysts that possess high densities of surface defects show great promise for efficient water oxidation. Here the authors demonstrate that regulating the p-block metal content in perovskite nanodots imparts these materials with abundant surface defects and excellent electrocatalytic activity.
- Bo-Quan Li
- , Zi-Jing Xia
- & Qiang Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessDesigning solid-liquid interphases for sodium batteries
The chemistry at the interface between electrolyte and electrode plays a critical role in determining battery performance. Here, the authors show that a NaBr enriched solid–electrolyte interphase can lower the surface diffusion barrier for sodium ions, enabling stable electrodeposition.
- Snehashis Choudhury
- , Shuya Wei
- & Lynden A. Archer