Potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) are plagued by a lack of materials for reversible accommodation of the large-sized K ion. Herein we present, the Bi anode in combination with the dimethoxyethane-(DME) based electrolyte to deliver a remarkable capacity of ca. 400 mAh g and long cycle stability with three distinct two-phase reactions of Bi↔ KBi ↔K Bi ↔K Bi. These are ascribed to the gradually developed three-dimensional (3D) porous networks of Bi, which realizes fast kinetics and tolerance of its volume change during potassiation and depotassiation. The porosity is linked to the unprecedented movement of the surface Bi atoms interacting with DME molecules, as suggested by DFT calculations. A full KIB of Bi//DME-based electrolyte//Prussian blue of K Fe[Fe(CN) ] is demonstrated to present large energy density of 108.1 Wh kg with average discharge voltage of 2.8 V and capacity retention of 86.5 % after 350 cycles.

Dipotassium terephthalate coupled with an ether-based electrolyte is used as a novel anode for potassium-ion batteries and exhibits superior electrochemical performance.

Potassium‐ion batteries (KIBs) are plagued by a lack of materials for reversible accommodation of the large‐sized K+ ion. Herein we present, the Bi anode in combination with the dimethoxyethane‐(DME) based electrolyte to deliver a remarkable capacity of ca. 400 mAh g−1 and long cycle stability with three distinct two‐phase reactions of Bi↔ KBi2↔K3Bi2↔K3Bi. These are ascribed to the gradually developed three‐dimensional (3D) porous networks of Bi, which realizes fast kinetics and tolerance of its volume change during potassiation and depotassiation. The porosity is linked to the unprecedented movement of the surface Bi atoms interacting with DME molecules, as suggested by DFT calculations. A full KIB of Bi//DME‐based electrolyte//Prussian blue of K0.72Fe[Fe(CN)6] is demonstrated to present large energy density of 108.1 Wh kg−1 with average discharge voltage of 2.8 V and capacity retention of 86.5 % after 350 cycles.

While Type I and Type II photosensitizers are often carefully tailored to achieve their respective advantages in treating different cancers, the identifications of the Type I and II mechanisms as such, the key reaction intermediates, and the consequent oxidation products of the substrates have never been easy. Using our unique home‐built field‐induced droplet ionization mass spectrometry (FIDI‐MS) method that selectively samples molecules at the air–water interface, here we show the facile determination of both Type I and II mechanisms of a poster‐child photosensitizer, temoporfin, without the addition of any probes. The unstable doublet radical resulting from the hydrogen abstraction by the triplet temoporfin through the Type I mechanism is captured, manifesting the in situ advantage of FIDI‐MS. We anticipate that the method developed in this study can be widely utilized in the future designs of novel photosensitizers and the screening of their photosensitization mechanisms.

Even though the general mechanism of photodynamic cancer therapy is known, the details and consequences of the reactions between the photosensitizer‐generated singlet oxygen and substrate molecules remain elusive at the molecular level. Using temoporfin as the photosensitizer, here we combine field‐induced droplet ionization mass spectrometry and acoustic levitation techniques to study the “wall‐less” oxidation reactions of 18:1 cardiolipin and 1‐palmitoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phospho‐(1′‐rac‐glycerol) (POPG) mediated by singlet oxygen at the air–water interface of levitated water droplets. For both cardiolipin and POPG, every unsaturated oleyl chain is oxidized to an allyl hydroperoxide, which surprisingly is immune to further oxidation. This is attributed to the increased hydrophilicity of the oxidized chain, which attracts it toward the water phase, thereby increasing membrane permeability and eventually triggering cell death.

Electron-induced proton transfer depicts the proton motion coupled with the attachment of a low-energy electron to a molecule, which helps to understand copious fundamental chemical processes. Intramolecular electron-induced proton transfer is a similar process that occurs within a single molecule. To date, there is only one known intramolecular example, to the best of our knowledge. By studying the 10-hydroxybenzo[h]quinoline and 8-hydroxyquinoline molecules using anion photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory, and by theoretical screening of six other molecules, here we show the intramolecular electron-induced proton transfer capability of a long list of molecules that meanwhile have the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer property. Careful examination of the intrinsic electronic signatures of these molecules reveals that these two distinct processes should occur to the same category of molecules. Intramolecular electron-induced proton transfer could have potential applications such as molecular devices that are responsive to electrons or current.

A dual-function battery composed of a NaTi2(PO4)3 anode and a Ag cathode with NaCl aqueous electrolyte has been reported for simultaneous seawater desalination and renewable energy storage.

Potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) are of interest for large-scale electrical energy storage, owing to the abundance of K resources and potential high energy density. Low-cost cathodes with high performance are crucial for KIBs. Herein, K Fe(CN) is shown to be a low-cost and high-voltage cathode for KIBs. It can deliver a high voltage of approximately 3.6 V and a discharge capacity of 65.5 mAh g with a lifespan of 400 cycles of discharge and charge. This is attributed to the strong σ bonds between C atoms and Fe and to the reduced particle size and good contact with conductive carbon brought about by ball milling, which benefit both the K ion and the electronic conduction. The [Fe(CN) ] redox couple is found to be responsible for charge compensation upon reversible extraction/insertion of K from/into K Fe(CN) . The high voltage and stability of K Fe(CN) will make it a promising low-cost cathode for KIBs and encourage more investigations into high-performance cathode materials.