The electrochemical aluminum storage of anatase TiO 2 nanotube arrays in AlCl 3 aqueous solution is investigated. It is firstly demonstrated that aluminum ions can be reversibly inserted/ extracted into/from anatase TiO 2 nanotube arrays in AlCl 3 aqueous solution due to the small radius steric effect of aluminum ions, indicating a potential application in aluminum ion batteries.

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This review summarizes the recent progress of DPP-based conjugated materials, including small molecules and conjugated polymers, for application in non-fullerene organic solar cells.

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A new aqueous TiO 2 /Ni(OH) 2 rechargeable battery system with a high voltage, consisting of a-phase nickel hydroxides as the cathode and TiO 2 nanotube arrays as the anode, is proposed for the first time. It is a feasible strategy to combine two different reaction mechanisms in an aqueous alkaline electrolyte: proton and lithium insertion/extraction reactions.Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are the most successful electrochemical devices with a high energy density in organic electrolytes. However, the safety issue arising from the flammable organic electrolytes handicaps their extensive applications in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). As the most ideal electrolyte solvent, water is abundant and friendly to the environment. Alkaline aqueous rechargeable batteries are the most promising power sources, especially for their large-scale application in EVs and HEVs based on the issue of safety. 1,2 In recent years, a new type of rechargeable lithium batteries with intercalation compounds as electrode-active materials in aqueous electrolytes containing Li ions has been proposed 1 and studied extensively, such as VO 2 (B)

In order to achieve solar energy conversion and storage, a solar rechargeable redox flow battery in dual-phase electrolytes is presented in this work. In the battery, LISICON film is employed as membrane to separate liquid anode/cathode-active species, and organic compounds in aqueous electrolyte and LiI in organic electrolyte are employed as anolyte and catholyte, respectively. In particular, it is demonstrated from the cyclic voltammetry that quinoxaline and its derivatives show good electrochemical activity with suitable redox potentials in aqueous electrolyte. Correspondingly, the as-fabricated battery presents good solar rechargeable capability, subsequent discharge capability, and cycle stability, and thus indicates the feasible solar energy conversion and storage. Therefore, the organic compounds can be used as potential electroactive alternatives in anolyte for applications of the solar rechargeable flow battery.

Solar cells hold a function of photovoltaic conversion, while rechargeable metal batteries have an advantage of high energy storage. The conventional charge mode of batteries is made based on complete utilization of electric energy. The combination of solar cells and rechargeable metal batteries brings a new opportunity for the development of photo‐assisted rechargeable batteries, in which the solar energy can be utilized to partially achieve photo‐charging with or without external electrical bias. This review highlights the working mechanism and structure design of photo‐assisted rechargeable metal batteries according to the characteristics of rechargeable metal batteries and advantage of the photovoltaic technology. In particular, the recent advances are introduced for photo‐assisted rechargeable batteries based on light‐weight metal anodes, including metal lithium, metal sodium, and metal zinc. The working features of the integrated devices are also discussed for energy saving under photo‐assisted charging mode. Finally, a future outlook is provided for further improving the performance of photo‐assisted rechargeable metal batteries.

TiN nanotube arrays on the metallic Ti mesh, prepared by a simple nitridation of TiO 2 nanotube arrays on the metallic Ti mesh in ammonia atmosphere, are introduced for the first time as low-cost electrocatalytic electrode for solar storable rechargeable battery. The microstructure of the as-prepared TiN nanotube arrays/Ti mesh is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It is shown that the obtained TiN retains its parent morphology of TiO 2 nanotube arrays after the calcination in ammonia atmosphere. It is demonstrated from cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) that the highly ordered TiN nanotube arrays on the metallic Ti mesh substrate show an excellent electrocatalytic activity. Correspondingly, the rechargeable battery with WO 3 /carbon nanotubes as charge-storage electrode and TiN nanotube arrays/Ti mesh as electrocatalytic electrode presents reliable solar storable capability and reversible electrochemical conversion performance. Therefore, the TiN nanotube arrays/Ti mesh prepared in this work can be used as a potential low-cost alternative to the expensive noble metal Pt in future applications of the solar storable rechargeable battery.