Rechargeable aqueous proton batteries are promising competitors for the next generation of energy storage systems with the fast diffusion kinetics and wide availability of protons. However, poor cycling stability is a big challenge for proton batteries due to the attachment of water molecules to the electrode surface in acid electrolytes. Here, a hydrogen‐bond disrupting electrolyte strategy to boost proton battery stability via simultaneously tuning the hydronium ion solvation sheath in the electrolyte and the electrode interface is reported. By mixing cryoprotectants such as glycerol with acids, hydrogen bonds involving water molecules are disrupted leading to a modified hydronium ion solvation sheaths and minimized water activity. Concomitantly, glycerol absorbs on the electrode surface and acts to protect the electrode surface from water. Fast and stable proton storage with high rate capability and long cycle life is thus achieved, even at temperatures as low as −50 °C. This electrolyte strategy may be universal and is likely to pave the way toward highly stable aqueous energy storage systems.
Investigation
of highly oxidized graphene oxide (GO) by solid-state
nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has revealed an exceptional
level of hitherto undiscovered structural complexity. A number of
chemical moieties were observed for the first time, such as terminal
esters, furanic carbons, phenolic carbons, and three distinct aromatic
and two distinct alkoxy carbon moieties. Quantitative one-dimensional
(1D) and two-dimensional (2D) 13C{1H} NMR spectroscopy
established the relative populations and connectivity of these different
moieties to provide a consistent “local” chemical structure
model. An inferred 2 nm GO sheet size from a very large (∼20%)
edge carbon fraction by NMR analysis is at odds with the >20 nm
sheet
size determined from microscopy and dynamic light scattering. A proposed
kirigami model where extensive internal cuts/tears in the basal plane
provide the necessary edge sites is presented as a resolution to these
divergent results. We expect this work to expand the fundamental understanding
of this complex material and enable greater control of the GO structure.
Copolymeric organo-sulfur based electrodes provide a unique framework to explore and subsequently improve lithium-sulfur (Li-S) cells. There is a general difference in the way copolymers trap lithium during cell function...
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