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A single-material battery is prepared using Li10GeP2S12 as the electrolyte, anode, and cathode, based on the Li-S and Ge-S components in Li10GeP2S12 acting as the active centers for its cathode and anode performance, respectively. The single-Li10GeP2S12 battery exhibits a remarkably low interfacial resistance due to the improvement of interfacial contact and interactions, and the suppression of interfacial strain/stress.

Efficient, rechargeable Mg and Ca batteries Divalent rechargeable metal batteries such as those based on magnesium and calcium are of interest because of the abundance of these elements and their lower tendency to form dendrites, but practical demonstrations are lacking. Hou et al . used methoxyethyl amine chelants in which the ligands attach to the metal atom in more than one place, modulating the solvation structure of the metal ions to enable a facile charge-transfer reaction (see the Perspective by Zuo and Yin). In full battery cells, these components lead to high efficiency and energy density. Theoretical calculations were used to understand the solvation structures. —MSL

The use of sulfur in the next generation Li-ion batteries is currently precluded by its poor cycling stability caused by irreversible Li 2 S formation and the dissolution of soluble polysulfi des in organic electrolytes that leads to parasitic cell reactions. Here, a new C/S cathode material comprising short-chain sulfur species (predominately S 2 ) confi ned in carbonaceous subnanometer and the unique charge mechanism for the subnano-entrapped S 2 cathodes are reported. The fi rst charge-discharge cycle of the C/S cathode in the carbonate electrolyte forms a new type of thiocarbonate-like solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). The SEI coated C/S cathode stably delivers ≈600 mAh g −1 capacity over 4020 cycles (0.0014% loss cycle −1 ) at ≈100% Coulombic effi ciency. Extensive X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis of the discharged cathodes shows a new type of S 2 species and a new carbide-like species simultaneously, and both peaks disappear upon charging. These data suggest a new sulfur redox mechanism involving a separated Li + /S 2− ion couple that precludes Li 2 S compound formation and prevents the dissolution of soluble sulfur anions. This new charge/discharge process leads to remarkable cycling stability and reversibility.