A New In Situ Prepared MOF-Natural Polymer Composite Electrolyte for Solid Lithium Metal Batteries with Superior High- Rate Capability and Long-Term Cycling Stability at Ultrahigh Current Density

Advanced Alkali Metal Batteries Based on MOFs and Their Composites

The integration of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with functional materials has established a versatile platform for a wide range of energy storage applications. Due to their large specific surface area, high porosity, and tunable structural properties, MOFs hold significant promise as components in energy storage systems, including electrodes, electrolytes, and separators for alkali metal-ion batteries (AIBs). Although lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are widely used, their commercial graphite anode materials are nearing their theoretical capacity limits, and the scarcity of lithium and cobalt resources increases costs. Although zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) suffer from limited cycling stability, they are attractive for their low cost, high capacity, and excellent safety. Meanwhile, potassium-ion (PIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) show promise due to their affordability and abundant resources, but they encounter issues such as short cycle life and low energy density. This review outlines the applications of MOF composites in LIBs, SIBs, and ZIBs, introduces common synthesis methods, and forecasts future development directions and challenges in energy storage applications. We emphasize how the understanding can lay the foundation for developing MOF composites with enhanced functionalities.

Understanding the Electrochemical MOF Sensors in Detecting Cancer with Special Emphasis on Breast Carcinoma Biomarkers

Cancer is a disease that claims millions of lives each year, often because early symptoms go unnoticed, a situation which severely impacts society. Point-of-care biosensors using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have the power to transform cancer biomarker detection due to their exceptional structural and conductive properties. This review discusses the electrochemical sensor's design and development of electroactive MOF materials with mechanistic insights. It highlights recent advancements in utilizing MOF composites to effectively detect cancer biomarkers in real samples. The emphasis on the critical application of MOFs in breast cancer biomarker detection presents its importance for women's health. The review thoroughly examines the adjustable structures, porosity, and fabrication capabilities of MOFs in identifying cancer biomarkers. It provides a detailed analysis of methods to enhance the sensitivity and applicability of MOF composites for cancer detection. Furthermore, the review explores strategies to boost sensor performance, tackles existing challenges head-on, and outlines promising prospects. It emphasizes the urgent need for advanced cancer detection tools and aims to motivate researchers to develop innovative solutions.

Self-Assembled Monolayer in Hybrid Quasi-Solid Electrolyte Enables Boosted Interface Stability and Ion Conduction

Complex interactions between the inorganic solid electrolyte (ISE) and the liquid electrolyte (LE) give rise to challenges of achieving durable interface stability in hybrid quasi-solid electrolytes (HQSE), and the influence on the involved ISE surface ionic conductivity also needs to be investigated. Here, 4-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid (CBSA) is utilized to establish a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on the surface of Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 (LLZTO), which is then incorporated into PEGDA-based in situ polymerized HQSE. The results show that the introduction of CBSA significantly improves the LLZTO/LE interface stability with the optimized solvation structure, resulting in a favorable ionic conductivity (1.19 mS⋅cm-1) and an increasing Li+ transference number (0.647). Mechanisms for the promotion of ionic conduction and interfacial stability of SAM-HQSE are unveiled through the density functional theory (DFT) combined with Raman spectra and 7Li solid-state nuclear-magnetic-resonance. There are no short-circuits in the Li|SAM-HQSE|Li cells after 1000 h. The LFP|SAM-HQSE|Li cells or LFP|SAM-HQSE|Graphite pouch cells respectively achieve the capacity retention of 91.2 % and 87.0 % with the 0.5.C-rate for 500 and 300 cycles. This facile and effective strategy proposed in this work make it accessible for constructing the stable surface micro-environments of LLZTO where boost and homogenize the Li+ conduction in a hybrid quasi-solid electrolyte system.

Biopolymer-Based Flame Retardants and Flame-Retardant Materials

Polymeric materials featuring excellent flame retardancy are essential for applications requiring high levels of fire safety, while those based on biopolymers are highly favored due to their eco-friendly nature, sustainable characteristics, and abundant availability. This review first outlines the pyrolysis behaviors of biopolymers, with particular emphasis on naturally occurring ones derived from non-food sources such as cellulose, chitin/chitosan, alginate, and lignin. Then, the strategies for chemical modifications of biopolymers for flame-retardant purposes through covalent, ionic, and coordination bonds are presented and compared. The emphasis is placed on advanced methods for introducing biopolymer-based flame retardants into polymeric matrices and fabricating biopolymer-based flame-retardant materials. Finally, the challenges for sustaining the current momentum in the utilization of biopolymers for flame-retardant purposes are further discussed.

Fast-Charging Solid-State Li Batteries: Materials, Strategies, and Prospects

The ability to rapidly charge batteries is crucial for widespread electrification across a number of key sectors, including transportation, grid storage, and portable electronics. Nevertheless, conventional Li-ion batteries with organic liquid electrolytes face significant technical challenges in achieving rapid charging rates without sacrificing electrochemical efficiency and safety. Solid-state batteries (SSBs) offer intrinsic stability and safety over their liquid counterparts, which can potentially bring exciting opportunities for fast charging applications. Yet realizing fast-charging SSBs remains challenging due to several fundamental obstacles, including slow Li+ transport within solid electrolytes, sluggish kinetics with the electrodes, poor electrode/electrolyte interfacial contact, as well as the growth of Li dendrites. This article examines fast-charging SSB challenges through a comprehensive review of materials and strategies for solid electrolytes (ceramics, polymers, and composites), electrodes, and their composites. In particular, methods to enhance ion transport through crystal structure engineering, compositional control, and microstructure optimization are analyzed. The review also addresses interface/interphase chemistry and Li+ transport mechanisms, providing insights to guide material design and interface optimization for next-generation fast-charging SSBs.

Tubular nanofiber membranes combined with Z-scheme CuS@Co3S4 heterojunction catalyst for high-efficient removal of polyvinyl alcohol from waste water with high COD

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a typical water-soluble polymer with huge global production, is becoming one of the most ubiquitous pollutants and indeed the villain of the piece contributing high chemical oxygen demand (COD) in wastewater. Membrane technology is an effective method for wastewater purification, in particular, with the combination of peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-assisted advanced oxidation or photocatalytic process, is capable of maintaining high water flux and anti-fouling. Herein, a ZIF-67 derived Z-scheme CuS@Co3S4 heterojunction catalyst immobilized by poly (m-phenylene isophthalamide) (PMIA) tubular nanofiber membrane (CuS@Co3S4/PMIA-TNM) is designed using a polyester braided tube as interior reinforcement. The resultant membrane features with outstanding superhydrophilicity and commendable porosity (82.1 %), leading to a significantly enhanced permeability (water flux > 82.3 L·m-2·h-1). Meanwhile, the membrane shows promising PVA removal efficiency (> 99.9 %) with a high COD removal efficiency (∼ 83.4 %) and enhanced antifouling capacity (flux recovery ratio > 99.7 %) with the assistance of PMS driven by an ultra low-power LED lamp. The universal applicability and environmental adaptability are also verified in various reaction conditions. In terms of ecotoxicological impacts of the PVA wastewater before and after treatment on aquatic organisms, Zebrafish embryonic development dynamically demonstrated that the treated PVA waste water by the developed hybrid membrane is healthy for fish to grow. Our study definitely opens up a new avenue to develop high-performance catalytic membranes for PVA-based wastewater treatment.

Insights into microscopic fabrication, macroscopic forms and biomedical applications of alginate composite gel containing metal-organic frameworks

Overcoming the poor physicochemical properties of pure alginate gel and the inherent shortcomings of pure metal-organic framework (MOF), alginate/MOF composite gel has captured the interest of many researchers as a tunable platform with high stability, controllable pore structure, and enhanced biological activity. Interestingly, different from the traditional organic or inorganic nanofillers physically trapped or chemically linked within neTtworks, MOFs crystals can not only be dispersed by crosslinking polymerization, but also support self-assembly in-situ under the help of chelating cations with alginate. The latter is influenced by multiple factors and may involve some complex mechanisms of action, which is also a topic discussed deeply in this article while summarizing different preparation routes. Furthermore, various physical and chemical levels of improvement strategies and available macroforms are summarized oriented towards obtaining composite gel with ideal performance. Finally, the application status of this composite system in drug delivery, wound healing and other biomedical fields is further discussed. And the current limitations and future development directions are shed light simultaneously, which may provide guidance for the vigorous development of these composite systems.

Overcoming Chemical and Mechanical Instabilities in Lithium Metal Anodes with Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Artificial SEI Layer

Construction of a robust artificial solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer has proposed an effective strategy to overcome the instability of the lithium (Li). However, existing artificial SEI layers inadequately controlled ion distribution, leading to dendritic growth and penetration. Furthermore, the environmental impact of the manufacturing process and materials of the artificial layer is often overlooked. In this work, a chemically and physically reinforced membrane (C-Li@P) composed of the biocompatible Li+ coordinated carboxymethyl guar gum (CMGG) and polyacrylamide (PAM) polymers serves as an artificial SEI membrane for dendrite-free Li. This membrane with hollow channels not only directs ion flux along the interspace of fibers, fostering uniform Li plating but also induces a desirable interface chemistry. Consequently, artificial SEI membrane-covered Li exhibits stable electrochemical plating/stripping reactions, surpassing the cycle life of ≈750% of bare Li. It demonstrates exceptional capacity retention of ≈93.9%, ≈88.1%, and ≈79.18% in full cells paired with LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811), LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 (NMC622) and S cathodes, respectively over 200 cycles at 1 C rate. Additionally, the water-based green manufacturing and biodegradability of the membrane demonstrated the sustainable development and disposal of electrodes. This work provides a comprehensive framework for the design of an artificial layer chemically and physically regulating dendritic growth.

Stable anode/separator interface enabled by graft modification of polypropylene separator via electron beam irradiation technique toward high-performance sodium metal batteries

Sodium metal batteries (SMBs) are considered as strong alternatives to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), due to the inherent merits of sodium metal anodes (SMAs) including low redox potential (-2.71 V vs. SHE), high theoretical capacity (1166 mAh g-1), and abundant resources. However, the uncontrollable Na dendrite growth has significantly impeded the practical deployment of SMBs. Separator modification has emerged as an effective strategy for substantially enhancing the performance of SMAs. Herein, for the first time, we present the successful grafting polyacrylic acid (PAA) onto polypropylene (PP) separators (denoted as PP-g-PAA) using highly efficient electron beam (EB) irradiation to improve the cyclability of SMAs. The polar carboxyl groups of PAA can facilitate the electrolyte wetting and provide ample mechanical strength to resist dendrite penetration. Consequently, the regulation of Na+ ion flux enables uniform Na+ deposition with dendrite-free morphology, facilitated by the favorable anode/separator interface. The PP-g-PAA separator significantly enhances the cyclability of fabricated cells. Notably, the lifespan of Na||Na symmetric cells can be extended up to 5519 h at 1 mA cm-2 and 1 mAh cm-2. The stable design of the anode/separator interface achieved through polyolefin separator modification presented in this study holds promise for the further advancement of next-generation advanced battery systems.

Three-Dimensional Metal-Organic Framework@Cellulose Skeleton-Reinforced Composite Polymer Electrolyte for All-Solid-State Lithium Metal Battery

High-safety and high-energy-density solid-state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs) attract tremendous interest in both academia and industry. Especially, composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) can overcome the limitations of single-component solid-state electrolytes. In this work, a strategy of combining a rigid functional skeleton with a soft polymer electrolyte to prepare reinforced CPEs was adopted. The in situ grown zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) with three-dimensional cellulose fiber skeleton (ZIF-67@CF) and succinonitrile (SN) plasticizer into poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) together form ZIF-67@CF/PEO-SN CPEs. The addition of ZIF-67@CF and SN to PEO synergistically enhanced the physical and electrochemical properties of CPEs. Furthermore, the conduction mechanism of lithium-ion (Li+) in CPEs was studied using density functional theory. It is impressive that the ZIF-67@CF/PEO-SN CPEs at 30 °C exhibit a high ionic conductivity of 1.17 × 10-4 S cm-1, a competitive Li+ transference number of 0.40, a wide electrochemical window of 5.0 V, a notable tensile strength of 18.7 MPa, and superior lithium plating/stripping stability (>550 h at 0.1 mA cm2). Such favorable features endowed LiFePO4/(ZIF-67@CF/PEO-SN)/Li cell at 30 °C with a high discharging capacity (152.5 mA h g-1 at 0.2 C), a long cycling lifespan (>150 cycles with 99% capacity retention), and superior operating safety. This work provides insights and promotes the application of functionalized CPEs for SSLMBs.

Computational approach inspired advancements of solid-state electrolytes for lithium secondary batteries: from first-principles to machine learning

The increasing demand for high-security, high-performance, and low-cost energy storage systems (EESs) driven by the adoption of renewable energy is gradually surpassing the capabilities of commercial lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Solid-state electrolytes (SSEs), including inorganics, polymers, and composites, have emerged as promising candidates for next-generation all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs). ASSBs offer higher theoretical energy densities, improved safety, and extended cyclic stability, making them increasingly popular in academia and industry. However, the commercialization of ASSBs still faces significant challenges, such as unsatisfactory interfacial resistance and rapid dendrite growth. To overcome these problems, a thorough understanding of the complex chemical-electrochemical-mechanical interactions of SSE materials is essential. Recently, computational methods have played a vital role in revealing the fundamental mechanisms associated with SSEs and accelerating their development, ranging from atomistic first-principles calculations, molecular dynamic simulations, multiphysics modeling, to machine learning approaches. These methods enable the prediction of intrinsic properties and interfacial stability, investigation of material degradation, and exploration of topological design, among other factors. In this comprehensive review, we provide an overview of different numerical methods used in SSE research. We discuss the current state of knowledge in numerical auxiliary approaches, with a particular focus on machine learning-enabled methods, for the understanding of multiphysics-couplings of SSEs at various spatial and time scales. Additionally, we highlight insights and prospects for SSE advancements. This review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and industry professionals working with energy storage systems and computational modeling and offers perspectives on the future directions of SSE development.

3D flower-like hollow MXene@MoS2 heterostructure for fast sodium storage

Constructing an anode with fast electron transport and high cycling stability is important but challenging for large-scale applications of sodium-ion batteries (SIB). In this study, hierarchical flower-like MXene structures were synthesized using poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microsphere as templates. Subsequently, a straightforward hydrothermal reaction was utilized to anchor small-sized MoS2 nanosheets. The resulting MXene@MoS2 heterostructure exhibits a distinctive three-dimensional (3D) porous hollow architecture. This structure effectively addresses challenges related to self-aggregation of MoS2 nanosheets and volume expansion of the electrode material during Na+ insertion/extraction processes. Furthermore, the robust hetero-interface supports fast and stable electron transfer, thereby enhancing electrochemical reaction kinetics. The prepared MXene@MoS2 electrode demonstrates the specific capacity of 682.1 mA h g-1 at 0.2 A/g and the reversible capacity of 494.4 mA h g-1 after 1000 cycles at 5 A/g. It is noteworthy that the full battery assembled with the composite material as the anode can still maintain the capacity of 456.2 mA h g-1 after 80 cycles at 0.5 A/g. This outstanding reversible capacity and sustained stability over numerous cycles highlights its potential for a wide range of applications.