Boosting the Reversible,High-Rate Na+ Storage Capability of the Hard Carbon Anode Via the Synergistic Structural Tailoring and Controlled Presodiation

Hard carbons (HCs) are extensively investigated as the potential anodes for commercialization of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, the practical deployment of HC anode suffers from the retarded Na⁺ diffusion at the high-rate or low-temperature operation scenarios. Herein, a multiscale modification strategy by tuning HC microstructure on the particle level as well as replenishing extra Na⁺ reservoir for the electrode through a homogeneous presodiation therapy is presented. Consequently, the coulombic efficiency of HC anode can be precisely controlled till the close-to-unit value. Detailed kinetics analysis observes that the Na⁺ diffusivity can be drastically enhanced by two orders of magnitude at the low potential region (< 0.1 V vs. Na⁺/Na), which accelerates the rate-limiting step. As pairing the presodiated HC anode (≈5.0 ± 0.2 mg cm⁻²) with the NaVPO₄F cathode (≈10.3 mg cm⁻²) in the 200 mAh pouch cell, the optimal balance of the cyclability (83% over 1000 cycles), low-temperature behavior till −40 °C as well as the maximized power output of 1500 W kg⁻¹ can be simultaneously achieved. This synergistic modification strategy opens a new avenue to exploit the reversible, ultrafast Na⁺ storage kinetics of HC anodes, which thus constitutes a quantum leap forward toward high-rate SIB prototyping.     

Impact of 2D Ligands on Lattice Strain and Energy Losses in Narrow-Bandgap Lead–Tin Perovskite Solar Cells

Mixed lead and tin (Pb/Sn) hybrid perovskites exhibit a great potential in fabricating all-perovskite tandem devices due to their easily tunable bandgaps. However, the energy deficit and instability in Pb/Sn perovskite solar cells (PSCs) constrain their practical applications, which renders defect passivation engineering indispensable to develop highly efficient and long-term stable PSCs. Herein, the mechanisms of strain tailoring and defect passivation in Pb/Sn PSCs by 2D ligands are investigated. The 2D ligands include electroneutral cations with long alkyl chain (LAC), iodates with relatively short alkyl chain (SAC) and their mixtures. This study reveals that LAC ligands facilitate the relaxation of tensile strain in perovskite films while SAC ligands cause strain buildup. By mixing LAC/SAC ligands, tensile strain in perovskite films can be balanced which improves solar cell performance. PSCs with admixed β-guanidinopropionic acid (GUA)/phenethylammonium iodide (PEAI) exhibit enhanced open circuit voltage and fill factor, which is attributed to reduced nonradiative recombination losses in the bulk and at the interfaces. Furthermore, the operational stability of PSCs is slightly improved by the mixed 2D ligands. This work reveals the mechanisms of 2D ligands in strain tailoring and defect passivation toward efficient and stable narrow-bandgap PSCs.     

Tailoring Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an attractive anionic polysaccharide polymer with inherent pharmacological properties and versatile chemical groups for modification. Due to their water retention ability, biocompatibility, biodegradation, cluster of differentiation-44 targeting, and highly designable capacity, HA hydrogels have been an emerging biomaterial, showing tailoring performance in terms of chemical modifications and hydrogel forms. Various preparation technologies have been developed for the fabrication of the tailoring HA hydrogels with unique structures and functions. They have been utilized in diverse biomedical applications like drug delivery and tissue engineering scaffolds. Herein, this review comprehensively summarizes the HA derivatives with different molecule weights and functional modifications. Then the various fabrication methods to obtain tailoring hydrogels in the forms of nanogel, nanofiber, microparticle, microneedle patch, injectable hydrogel, and scaffold are reviewed as well. The emphasis is focused on the shining biomedical applications of these tailoring HA hydrogels in anti-bacteria, anti-inflammation, wound healing, cancer treatment, regenerative medicine, psoriasis treatment, diagnosis, etc. The potentials and prospects are subsequently given to inspire further investigation, aiming at accelerating product translation from research to clinic.