The surface chemistry of solid electrolyte interphase is one of the critical factors that govern the cycling life of rechargeable batteries. However, this chemistry is less explored for zinc anodes, owing to their relatively high redox potential and limited choices in electrolyte. Here, we report the observation of a zinc fluoride-rich organic/inorganic hybrid solid electrolyte interphase on zinc anode, based on an acetamide-Zn(TFSI)2 eutectic electrolyte. A combination of experimental and modeling investigations reveals that the presence of anion-complexing zinc species with markedly lowered decomposition energies contributes to the in situ formation of an interphase. The as-protected anode enables reversible (~100% Coulombic efficiency) and dendrite-free zinc plating/stripping even at high areal capacities (>2.5 mAh cm‒2), endowed by the fast ion migration coupled with high mechanical strength of the protective interphase. With this interphasial design the assembled zinc batteries exhibit excellent cycling stability with negligible capacity loss at both low and high rates.
Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus are two pathogenetic agents of several infective diseases in humans. Biocidal effects and cellular internalization of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) on two bacteria are reported, and ZnO NPs have a good bacteriostasis effect. ZnO NPs were synthesized in the EG aqueous system through the hydrolysis of ionic Zn2+ salts. Particle size and shape were controlled by the addition of the various surfactants. Bactericidal tests were performed in an ordinary broth medium on solid agar plates and in liquid systems with different concentrations of ZnO NPs. The biocidal action of ZnO materials was studied by transmission electron microscopy of bacteria ultrathin sections. The results confirmed that bactericidal cells were damaged after ZnO NPs contacted with them, showing both gram-negative membrane and gram-positive membrane disorganization. The surface modification of ZnO NPs causes an increase in membrane permeability and the cellular internalization of these NPs whereas there is a ZnO NP structure change inside the cells.
Buckminsterfullerene
(C60) was adsorbed onto single-walled
carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as an electron-acceptor to induce intermolecular
charge-transfer with the SWCNTs, leading to a class of new metal-free
C60-SWCNT electrocatalysts. For the first time, these newly
developed C60-SWCNTs were demonstrated to act as trifunctional
metal-free catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution
reaction (OER), and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) over a wide
range of pH values, from acid to alkaline, with even higher electrocatalytic
activities and better long-term stabilities than those of commercial
Pt and RuO2 counterparts. Thus, the adsorption-induced
intermolecular charge-transfer with the C60 electron-acceptor
can provide a general approach to high-performance, metal-free, pH-universal
carbon-based trifunctional metal-free electrocatalysts for water-splitting
and beyond.
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