The application of solid-state batteries
(SSBs) is challenged by
the inherently poor interfacial contact between the solid-state electrolyte
(SSE) and the electrodes, typically a metallic lithium anode. Building
artificial intermediate nanofilms is effective in tackling this roadblock,
but their implementation largely relies on vapor-based techniques
such as atomic layer deposition, which are expensive, energy-intensive,
and time-consuming due to the monolayer deposited per cycle. Herein,
an easy and low-cost wet-chemistry fabrication process is used to
engineer the anode/solid electrolyte interface in SSBs with nanoscale
precision. This coordination-assisted deposition is initiated with
polyacrylate acid as a functional polymer to control the surface reaction,
which modulates the distribution and decomposition of metal precursors
to reliably form a uniform crack-free and flexible nanofilm of a large
variety of metal oxides. For demonstration, artificial Al2O3 interfacial nanofilms were deposited on a ceramic SSE,
typically garnet-structured Li6.5La3Zr1.5Ta0.5O12 (LLZT), that led to a significant
decrease in the Li/LLZT interfacial resistance (from 2079.5 to 8.4
Ω cm2) as well as extraordinarily long cycle life
of the assembled SSBs. This strategy enables the use of a nickel-rich
LiNi0.83Co0.07Mn0.1O2 cathode
to deliver a reversible capacity of 201.5 mAh g–1 at a considerable loading of 4.8 mg cm–2, featuring
performance metrics for an SSB that is competitive with those of traditional
Li-ion systems. Our study demonstrates the potential of solution-based
routes as an affordable and scalable manufacturing alternative to
vapor-based deposition techniques that can accelerate the development
of SSBs for practical applications.
Linking pyrene and spiropyran results in a new molecule that exhibits multistimuli responsive emission switching properties both in solution and in solid state.
The design of compartmentalized colloids
that exhibit biomimetic
properties is providing model systems for developing synthetic cell-like
entities (protocells). Inspired by the cell walls in plant cells,
we developed a method to prepare membranized coacervates as protocell
models by coating membraneless liquid-like microdroplets with a protective
layer of rigid polysaccharides. Membranization not only endowed colloidal
stability and prevented aggregation and coalescence but also facilitated
selective biomolecule sequestration and chemical exchange across the
membrane. The polysaccharide wall surrounding coacervate protocells
acted as a stimuli-responsive structural barrier that enabled enzyme-triggered
membrane lysis to initiate internalization and killing of Escherichia coli. The membranized coacervates were
capable of spatial organization into structured tissue-like protocell
assemblages, offering a means to mimic metabolism and cell-to-cell
communication. We envision that surface engineering of protocells
as developed in this work generates a platform for constructing advanced
synthetic cell mimetics and sophisticated cell-like behaviors.
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