Critical barriers to layered Ni-rich cathode commercialisation include their rapid capacity fading and thermal runaway from crystal disintegration and their interfacial instability. Structure combines surface modification is the ultimate choice to overcome these. Here, a synchronous gradient Al-doped and LiAlO2-coated LiNi0.9Co0.1O2 cathode is designed and prepared by using an oxalate-assisted deposition and subsequent thermally driven diffusion method. Theoretical calculations, in situ X-ray diffraction results and finite-element simulation verify that Al3+ moves to the tetrahedral interstices prior to Ni2+ that eliminates the Li/Ni disorder and internal structure stress. The Li+-conductive LiAlO2 skin prevents electrolyte penetration of the boundaries and reduces side reactions. These help the Ni-rich cathode maintain a 97.4% cycle performance after 100 cycles, and a rapid charging ability of 127.7 mAh g−1 at 20 C. A 3.5-Ah pouch cell with the cathode and graphite anode showed more than a 500-long cycle life with only a 5.6% capacity loss.

Recyclable, fast and visible-light responsive polymer-dispersed liquid crystal/graphene oxide nanocomposite films were fabricated by solution casting and mechanical stretching.

Controllable storage and release of solar energy has always been a highlighted scientific issue for its benefit of mankind. Solar thermal fuels (STFs) supply a closed cycle and renewable energy‐storage strategy by transforming solar energy into chemical energy stored in the conformation of molecular isomers, such as cis/trans‐azobenzene, and releasing it as heat under various stimuli. Although the potential high energy density of the STFs which are based on the hybrids of azobenzene derivatives and carbon nanomaterials has been reported the solvent‐assistant charging hinders their practicability. In this study, a solid‐state STF device is designed and fabricated by compositing one photoliquefiable azobenzene (PLAZ) derivative with a flexible fabric template. The photoinduced phase transition of the PLAZ derivative enables the charging of the flexible STFs to be totally solvent‐free. Interestingly, the energy‐storage capacity (energy density ≈201 J g−1) of flexible PLAZ STFs has been improved by the soft fabric template. The exothermic situation is monitored with one infrared camera, which shows 4 °C temperature difference between charged and discharged samples under blue light stimulus. The flexible STFs are may be used in practice as heating equipment.

A series of photoresponsive halogen-bonded liquid crystals (LCs) were successfully constructed using molecular halogen and azopyridine compounds, which show interesting properties of photoinduced phase transition upon UV irradiation. In addition, bromine-bonded LCs were first obtained with high mesophase stability.