and Applications of Fullerenes, Carbon Dots, Nanotubes, Graphene, Nanodiamonds, and Combined Superstructures Vasilios Georgakilas,† Jason A. Perman,‡ Jiri Tucek,‡ and Radek Zboril*,‡ †Material Science Department, University of Patras, 26504 Rio Patras, Greece ‡Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacky University in Olomouc, 17 listopadu 1192/12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic

Broad family of carbon nanoallotropes: classification, chemistry, and applications of fullerenes, carbon dots, nanotubes, graphene, nanodiamonds, and combined superstructures.

Over the past few decades, the design and development of advanced electrocatalysts for efficient energy conversion technologies have been subjects of extensive study. With the discovery of graphene, two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials have emerged as some of the most promising candidates for heterogeneous electrocatalysts due to their unique physical, chemical, and electronic properties. Here, we review 2D-nanomaterial-based electrocatalysts for selected electrocatalytic processes. We first discuss the unique advances in 2D electrocatalysts based on different compositions and functions followed by specific design principles. Following this overview, we discuss various 2D electrocatalysts for electrocatalytic processes involved in the water cycle, carbon cycle, and nitrogen cycle from their fundamental conception to their functional application. We place a significant emphasis on different engineering strategies for 2D nanomaterials and the influence these strategies have on intrinsic material performance, ...

Emerging Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials for Electrocatalysis

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have attracted tremendous interest because of their high theoretical energy density and cost effectiveness. The target of Li-S battery research is to produce batteries with a high useful energy density that at least outperforms state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries. However, due to an intrinsic gap between fundamental research and practical applications, the outstanding electrochemical results obtained in most Li-S battery studies indeed correspond to low useful energy densities and are not really suitable for practical requirements. The Li-S battery is a complex device and its useful energy density is determined by a number of design parameters, most of which are often ignored, leading to the failure to meet commercial requirements. The purpose of this review is to discuss how to pave the way for reliable Li-S batteries. First, the current research status of Li-S batteries is briefly reviewed based on statistical information obtained from literature. This includes an analysis of how the various parameters influence the useful energy density and a summary of existing problems in the current Li-S battery research. Possible solutions and some concerns regarding the construction of reliable Li-S batteries are comprehensively discussed. Finally, insights are offered on the future directions and prospects in Li-S battery field.

More Reliable Lithium-Sulfur Batteries: Status, Solutions and Prospects.

Oxygen electrocatalysis, including the oxygen-reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen-evolution reaction (OER), is a critical process for metal-air batteries Therefore, the development of electrocatalysts for the OER and the ORR is of essential importance Indeed, various advanced electrocatalysts have been designed for the ORR or the OER; however, the origin of the advanced activity of oxygen electrocatalysts is still somewhat controversial The enhanced activity is usually attributed to the high surface areas, the unique facet structures, the enhanced conductivities, or even to unclear synergistic effects, but the importance of the defects, especially the intrinsic defects, is often neglected More recently, the important role of defects in oxygen electrocatalysis has been demonstrated by several groups To make the defect effect clearer, the recent development of this concept is reviewed here and a novel principle for the design of oxygen electrocatalysts is proposed An overview of the defects in carbon-based, metal-free electrocatalysts for ORR and various defects in metal oxides/selenides for OER is also provided The types of defects and controllable strategies to generate defects in electrocatalysts are presented, along with techniques to identify the defects The defect-activity relationship is also explored by theoretical methods

Defect Chemistry of Nonprecious-Metal Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reactions

To meet the growing energy demands in a low-carbon economy, the development of new materials that improve the efficiency of energy conversion and storage systems is essential. Mesoporous materials offer opportunities in energy conversion and storage applications owing to their extraordinarily high surface areas and large pore volumes. These properties may improve the performance of materials in terms of energy and power density, lifetime and stability. In this Review, we summarize the primary methods for preparing mesoporous materials and discuss their applications as electrodes and/or catalysts in solar cells, solar fuel production, rechargeable batteries, supercapacitors and fuel cells. Finally, we outline the research and development challenges of mesoporous materials that need to be overcome to increase their contribution in renewable energy applications. Mesoporous materials are finding increasing uses in energy conversion and storage devices. This Review highlights recent developments in the synthesis of mesoporous materials and their applications as electrodes and/or catalysts in solar cells, solar fuel production, rechargeable batteries, supercapacitors and fuel cells.

Mesoporous materials for energy conversion and storage devices

Chloride electrolyte enabled practical zinc metal battery with a near-unity Coulombic efficiency

A fully π-conjugated nitrogen-rich three-dimensional covalent organic framework (PYTRI-COF-2) containing both pyrazine and triazine units was prepared through a post-synthetic strategy. The imine linkages in the pre-prepared PYTRI-COF-1 were converted into heterocyclic quinoline by the Povarov reaction. The obtained PYTRI-COF-2 displayed high Li-ion storage capacity and excellent cycling stability when it was used as the lithium (Li)-ion battery electrode.

Post-synthetic Fully π-Conjugated Three-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks for High-Performance Lithium Storage.

Rapid development of high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) enables the sufficient driving range of electric vehicles (EVs). However, the slow charging speed restricts the popularization of EVs. Commitment to fast-charging research is considered to be the key to advance the EVs strategy. This Review discusses the kinetic factors limiting the fast-charging capability at the material aspects, and summarizes the recent research strategies to achieve fast-charging performance of high-energy-density LIBs through electrode engineering, electrolyte design, and interface optimization. The increasingly important role of computational tools and advanced characterization techniques in fundamentally understanding the failure mechanism of LIBs is emphasized, and the analysis of the thermal runaway problem in the fast-charging process and the corresponding thermal optimization scheme is also involved to give the guidance for the more rational battery design. In view of these factors and strategies, some future perspectives for realizing high-performance fast-charging LIBs are proposed, which are expected to facilitate the large-scale application of fast-charging LIBs in EVs.

Fast-Charging Strategies for Lithium-Ion Batteries: Advances and Perspectives.

Organosulfide-Plasticized Solid-Electrolyte Interphase Layer for Stable Lithium Metal Anodes

The commercial application of lithium metal anode is impeded by the uncontrollable growth of lithium dendrites and the serious volume change during cycling process. Here we develop a high-zeta-potential h-BN-doped...

Regulating lithium deposition behavior by electrokinetic effects in high-zeta-potential h-BN/zinc-lithium alloy for high-performance lithium metal anodes

Guoxing Li

Papers

Chloride electrolyte enabled practical zinc metal battery with a near-unity Coulombic efficiency

Post-synthetic Fully π-Conjugated Three-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks for High-Performance Lithium Storage.

Fast-Charging Strategies for Lithium-Ion Batteries: Advances and Perspectives.

Organosulfide-Plasticized Solid-Electrolyte Interphase Layer for Stable Lithium Metal Anodes

Regulating lithium deposition behavior by electrokinetic effects in high-zeta-potential h-BN/zinc-lithium alloy for high-performance lithium metal anodes