The limited resources and uneven distribution of lithium stimulate a strong motivation to develop new rechargeable batteries that use alternative charge carriers. Potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) are at the top of...

2D MXene‐based nanomaterials have attracted tremendous attention because of their unique physical/chemical properties and wide range of applications in energy storage, catalysis, electronics, optoelectronics, and photonics. However, MXenes and their derivatives have many inherent limitations in terms of energy storage applications. In order to further improve their performance for practical application, the nanoengineering of these 2D materials is extensively investigated. In this Review, the latest research and progress on 2D MXene‐based nanostructures is introduced and discussed, focusing on their preparation methods, properties, and applications for energy storage such as lithium‐ion batteries, sodium‐ion batteries, lithium–sulfur batteries, and supercapacitors. Finally, the critical challenges and perspectives required to be addressed for the future development of these 2D MXene‐based materials for energy storage applications are presented.

Recently, due to the excessive consumption of fossil energy and the intermittent nature of clean energy resources, the electricity storage has attracted great attention from both academia and industry. Lithium...

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have been regarded as the most promising candidates for the next-generation energy storage devices owing to their low price and high abundance. However, the development of SIBs is mainly hindered by the instability of cathode materials. Here, we report a new P2-type manganese-rich cathode material, Na0.66Li0.18Mn0.71Mg0.21Co0.08O2 (P2-NaLiMMCO) with uniform spherical structure prepared via a simple solvothermal method and subsequent solid-state reaction. This P2-NaLiMMCO cathode material with uniform microsize secondary spheres and nanosize primary crystalline particles delivers a high initial discharge capacity of 166 mA h g–1 and superior capacity retention, which are superior to most previously reported results. The improved stability of the cathode material was further investigated by the in situ X-ray diffraction technique, which suggests an enhanced reversibility of the cathode material during the desodiation/sodiation process. With the superior electrochemical performance and stable structures, this new P2-NaLiMMCO can serve as a practical cathode material for SIBs.

The ORCID identification number(s) for the author(s) of this article can be found under https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202101292. (2 of 11)www.advancedsciencenews.com www.small-methods.com Scheme 1. Schematic diagram of the preparation process of NaLiZNMO and NaNMO.

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Lithium metal with high theoretical specific capacity (3,860 mAh g −1), low mass density, and low electrochemical potential (−3. 040 V vs. SHE) is an ideal candidate of the battery anode. However, the challenges including dendrite propagation, volume fluctuation, and unstable solid electrolyte interphase of lithium metal during the lithium plating impede the practical development of Lithium metal batteries (LMBs). Carbon-based materials with diverse structures and functions are ideal candidates to address the challenges in LMBs. Herein, we briefly summarize the main challenges as well as the recent achievements of lithium metal anode in terms of utilizing carbon-based materials as electrolyte additives, current collectors and composite anodes. Meanwhile, we propose the critical challenges that need to be addressed and perspectives for ways forward to boost the advancement of LMBs.

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