The solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer is pivotal for the stable and rechargeable batteries especially under high rate. However, the mechanism of Li+ transport through the SEI has not been clearly...
2D materials' membranes with well-defined nanochannels are promising for precise molecular separation. Herein, the design and engineering of atomically thin 2D MXene flacks into nanofilms with a thickness of 20 nm for gas separation are reported. Well-stacked pristine MXene nanofilms are proven to show outstanding molecular sieving property for H 2 preferential transport. Chemical tuning of the MXene nanochannels is also rationally designed for selective permeating CO 2 . Borate and polyethylenimine (PEI) molecules are well interlocked into MXene layers, realizing the delicate regulation of stacking behaviors and interlayer spacing of MXene nanosheets. The MXene nanofilms with either H 2 -or CO 2 -selective transport channels exhibit excellent gas separation performance beyond the limits for state-of-the-art membranes. The mechanisms within these nanoconfined MXene layers are discussed, revealing the transformation from "diffusion-controlled" to "solution-controlled" channels after chemical tuning. This work of precisely tailoring the 2D nanostructure may inspire the exploring of nanofluidics in 2D confined space with applications in many other fields like catalysis and energy conversion processes.fabrication. Hence, MXene is considered to be a novel potential candidate for developing separative 2D-material membranes. However, there are a very few reports on MXene separation membranes. Gogotsi and co-workers first reported MXene membranes for rejection of trivalent cation in solution using nonpressure diffusion. [12] A high water permeance was obtained by applying MXene stacks in the pressure-filtration process, [13] but the membrane can only rejected matters with a size larger than 2.5 nm. Very recently, Wang and co-workers [14] reported the manufacturing of MXene membranes with highly ordered nanochannel structures for high-performance separation of H 2 /CO 2 , which opens the door of applying MXene membranes for molecular separation. It is considered that rationally regulating the nanostructure of 2D channels may, thereby, enlighten the exploring of MXene materials for sub-nanoscale separation with versatile functionalities.Herein, we report the design and engineering of MXene nanofilms with tunable transport channels for gas separation. Ultrathin pristine MXene nanofilms with a thickness down to 20 nm were fabricated by horizontally aligning the exfoliated MXene nanosheets on porous substrates. Molecular sieving channels within pristine MXene nanofilm can be formed to show highly selective H 2 permeation, as shown in Figure 1. Interestingly, these MXene laminates, as functionalized by borate and amine, exhibit different stacking behaviors and tunable interlayer spacing, allowing preferential CO 2 permeation. The resulting separation performance of either H 2 -or CO 2selective MXene nanofilms is beyond the performance limits for state-of-the-art membranes.
Lithium‐sulfur (Li‐S) batteries are one of the most promising next‐generation energy‐storage systems. Nevertheless, the sluggish sulfur redox and shuttle effect in Li‐S batteries are the major obstacles to their commercial application. Previous investigations on adsorption for LiPSs have made great progress but cannot restrain the shuttle effect. Catalysts can enhance the reaction kinetics, and then alleviate the shuttle effect. The synergistic relationship between adsorption and catalysis has become the hotspot for research into suppressing the shuttle effect and improving battery performance. Herein, the adsorption‐catalysis synergy in Li‐S batteries is reviewed, the adsorption‐catalysis designs are divided into four categories: adsorption‐catalysis for LiPSs aggregation, polythionate or thiosulfate generation, and sulfur radical formation, as well as other adsorption‐catalysis. Then advanced strategies, future perspectives, and challenges are proposed to aim at long‐life and high‐efficiency Li‐S batteries.
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