Lithium–sulfur batteries are recognized as one of the most promising next‐generation energy‐storage technologies owing to their high energy density and low cost. Nevertheless, the shuttle effect of polysulfide intermediates and the formation of lithium dendrites are the principal reasons that restrict the practical adoption of current Li–S batteries. Adjustable frameworks, structural variety, and functional adaptability of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have the potential to overcome the issues associated with Li–S battery technology. Herein, a summary is presented of emerging COF materials in addressing the challenging problems in terms of sulfur hosts, modified separators, artificial solid electrolyte interphase layers, and solid‐state electrolytes. This comprehensive overview focuses on the design and chemistry of COFs used to upgrade Li–S batteries. Furthermore, existing difficulties, prospective remedies, and prospective research directions for COFs for Li–S batteries are discussed, laying the groundwork for future advancements in this class of fascinating materials.

Covalent Organic Framework Based Lithium–Sulfur Batteries: Materials, Interfaces, and Solid‐State Electrolytes

We sought to evaluate effect of propranolol in the treatment of infantile hemangiomas by quantifying the amount of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). Hemangioma tissue was isolated from an infant patient and implanted into nude mice to establish a hemangioma model. Twenty-four hemangioma-model nude mice were divided into two groups including a control group (saline, by gastrogavage) and an experimental group (propranolol, by gastrogavage). The hemangioma-model nude mice were euthanized and tumors were removed at 30 and 50 days (before and after treatment). HE staining was used to observe the histopathological changes, and western blot and quantitative real-time PCR were used to describe levels of protein and mRNA expression of PI3K, AKT, and HIF-1α. Propranolol treatment decreased tumor size as compared to the control group. Protein and mRNA expression levels of PI3K, AKT, and HIF-1α were lower in the experimental group at day 50 compared to the control group at day 50 and the experimental group at day 30 (p < 0.05). Propranolol can promote regression of infantile hemangiomas, which may be related to the inhibition of PI3K, AKT, and HIF-1α activity.

Propranolol inhibits the activity of PI3K, AKT, and HIF-1α in infantile hemangiomas.

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) have become promising candidate to replace common liquid electrolyte due to highly improved security. However, the practical use of SPEs is still restricted by their decomposition and breakage at the electrode interfacial layer especially at high voltage. Herein, a new cationic covalent organic framework (COF) is designed and synthesized as a reinforced skeleton to resist the constant oxidative decomposition of solid polycarbonate electrolyte, which can stabilize cathode electrolyte interphase layer to develop long‐term cycle solid lithium metal battery. The ultralow HOMO energy (−12.55 eV according to density functional theory (DFT) calculations), reflecting its oxidation resistance at positive potential, would be responsible for the high decomposition voltage of 5.2 V versus Li+/Li of solid polycarbonate electrolyte. Furthermore, the smooth surface of interfacial layer and inhibited decomposition reaction at cathode side is confirmed in solid LiCoO2 cell, which realizes high initial capacity up to 160.3 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C and greatly improved stability in 4.5 V class solid polymer lithium metal battery with high capacity retention over 200 cycles. This new type of high‐voltage resistant solid polymer electrolyte promotes the realization of high‐voltage cathode materials and higher energy density lithium metal battery.

Cationic Covalent Organic Framework with Ultralow HOMO Energy Used as Scaffolds for 5.2 V Solid Polycarbonate Electrolytes

Both electrical conductivity and surface wettability are required for the selection of active carbon materials in flow-electrode capacitive deionization, while a trade-off exists between these two properties. In this work, a hybrid material with a thin layer of polyaniline (PANI) coating on activated carbon (AC/PANI) was successfully developed to retain excellent electrical conductivity and acquire good surface wettability. By adjusting the dosage of initiator, AC/PANI composites with different loading fractions of PANI were obtained. The electrochemical testing demonstrated that the AC/PANI composites have higher specific capacitance and lower ion diffusion resistance compared to pure AC, resulting in better desalinization performance. Specifically, with a feed concentration of 1600 mg/L, excellent adsorption capacity and high charge efficiency can be simultaneously achieved at 13.51 mg/g and 92.21%, respectively. Benefiting from the formation of a continuous electrical percolation network and reduced solid/liquid interfacial transport resistance, a 39% enhancement of average salt adsorption rate (from 0.54 to 0.75 μmol/min/cm2) was obtained.

Regulating Surface Wettability and Charge Density of Porous Carbon Particles by In Situ Growth of Polyaniline for Constructing an Efficient Electrical Percolation Network in Flow-Electrode Capacitive Deionization.

Influences of spatial variability of hydrothermal properties on the freezing process in artificial ground freezing technique

A spiral mosquito-repellent (MR) incense-shaped (MR-shape) channel was designed and equipped in a flow electrode capacitive deionization system. Computational fluid dynamics was conducted to analyze the hydrodynamic performance of the suspension electrode flow process. The current collector that equipped the newly designed MR-shaped channel showed low flow resistance and almost no stagnant regions. Compared with a traditional runway shape (R-shape) and snake shape (S-shape), the effects of flow rate and mass loading on desalination performance were investigated in detail. The MR-shaped channel showed a higher average salt removal rate than the R-shaped and S-shaped channels under the same operation conditions. Vortexes existing in the corners of R-shaped and S-shaped channels benefited from the charge transfer. 

Novel Current Collector with Mosquito-Repellent Incense-Shaped Channel of Flow Electrode Capacitive Deionization

Bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts for rechargeable zinc-air battery based on MXene and beyond

Small Particle Size Activated Carbon Enhanced Flow Electrode Capacitive Deionization Desalination Performances by Reducing the Interfacial Concentration Difference

Aqueous rechargeable zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have recently shined in energy storage and transmission, which are due to high safety and low cost. However, the extremely stubborn by-products in the Zn anode severely inhibited the Zn2+ adsorption/desorption and exacerbated the dendrite formation. Herein, we report a facile strategy to eliminate inert Zn4(OH)6SO4·xH2O for the improvement of ZIBs according to the coordination effect by employing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-diamine (EDTA-2Na) as a coordination additive in traditional electrolyte. Zn2+ is coordinated with the carboxyl group of the four acetyl carboxyl groups and the N in C–N bonds, forming a new chelating structure, and thus stubborn deposition will be dissolved in the electrolyte. As a result, the discharge capacity of 102 mAh g−1 in the ZnSO4/Li2SO4 with EDTA-2Na electrolyte at a current density of 4 C and a stable cycle life with a capacity of 90.3% after 150 cycles are achieved. It has been concluded that the coordination effect strategy provides a valuable idea for solving the defects of ZIBs.

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Jing Zhang

Papers

Cationic Covalent Organic Framework with Ultralow HOMO Energy Used as Scaffolds for 5.2 V Solid Polycarbonate Electrolytes

Novel Current Collector with Mosquito-Repellent Incense-Shaped Channel of Flow Electrode Capacitive Deionization

Bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts for rechargeable zinc-air battery based on MXene and beyond

Small Particle Size Activated Carbon Enhanced Flow Electrode Capacitive Deionization Desalination Performances by Reducing the Interfacial Concentration Difference

Eliminating Stubborn Insulated Deposition by Coordination Effect to Boost Zn Electrode Reversibility in Aqueous Electrolyte