Developing advanced high‐rate electrode materials has been a crucial aspect for next‐generation lithium ion batteries (LIBs). A conventional nanoarchitecturing strategy is suggested to improve the rate performance of materials but inevitably brings about compromise in volumetric energy density, cost, safety, and so on. Here, micro‐size Nb14W3O44 is synthesized as a durable high‐rate anode material based on a facile and scalable solution combustion method. Aberration‐corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy reveals the existence of open and interconnected tunnels in the highly crystalline Nb14W3O44, which ensures facile Li+ diffusion even within micro‐size particles. In situ high‐energy synchrotron XRD and XANES combined with Raman spectroscopy and computational simulations clearly reveal a single‐phase solid‐solution reaction with reversible cationic redox process occurring in the NWO framework due to the low‐barrier Li+ intercalation. Therefore, the micro‐size Nb14W3O44 exhibits durable and ultrahigh rate capability, i.e., ≈130 mAh g−1 at 10 C, after 4000 cycles. Most importantly, the micro‐size Nb14W3O44 anode proves its highest practical applicability by the fabrication of a full cell incorporating with a high‐safety LiFePO4 cathode. Such a battery shows a long calendar life of over 1000 cycles and an enhanced thermal stability, which is superior than the current commercial anodes such as Li4Ti5O12.
Environment-friendly and low-cost aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have received considerable attention for large-scale energy storage. However, the low coulombic efficiency and potential safety hazards of Zn-metal anodes severely hinder their practical implementations. Herein, for the first time, mixed-valence Cu 2−x Se is proposed as a new intercalation anode to construct Zn-metal-free rocking-chair ZIBs with a long lifespan. It is found that the introduction of lowvalence Cu not only modify active sites for Zn 2+ ion storage, but also optimizes the electronic interaction between the active sites and the intercalated Zn 2+ ion, leading to a favorable intercalation formation energy (−0.68 eV) and reduced diffusion barrier, as demonstrated by first-principles calculation. Ex situ X-ray diffraction, ex situ transmission electron microscopy and galvanostatic intermittent titration technique measurements reveal the reversible insertion/extraction of Zn 2+ in Cu 2−x Se via an intercalation reaction mechanism. Owing to the rigid host structure and facile Zn 2+ diffusion kinetics, the Cu 2−x Se nanorod anode shows an enhanced coulombic efficiency (above 99.5%), outstanding rate capability and excellent cycling stability. The as-fabricated Zn x MnO 2 ||Cu 2−x Se Zn-ion full battery exhibits an impressive electrochemical performance, particularly an ultralong cycle life of over 20 000 cycles at 2 A g −1. This study is expected to provide new opportunities for developing high-performance rechargeable aqueous ZIBs.
Anti‐biofilm formation on the surface is a severe issue in medical implants, hull surface, and food industry. Antimicrobial peptide, magainin II, was covalently bound to stainless steel surfaces through multi‐step modification. The untreated and modified samples were analyzed by SEM‐EDS, XPS, and contact angle, respectively, which indicated the peptide was immobilized on the surfaces. The antimicrobial tests of modified samples were conducted using Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and the results revealed that peptide modified surface decreased the biofilm and bacteria quantity of stainless steel surface.
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