Development of Proteins for High‐Performance Energy Storage Devices: Opportunities, Challenges, and Strategies

Abstract

In pursuit of reducing environmental impact during battery manufacture, the utilization of nontoxic and renewable materials is essential for building a sustainable future. As one of the most intensively investigated biomaterials, proteins have recently been applied in various high‐performance rechargeable batteries. In this review, the opportunities and challenges of using protein‐based materials for high‐performance energy storage devices are discussed. Recent developments of directly using proteins as active components (e.g., electrolytes, separators, catalysts or binders) in rechargeable batteries are summarized. The advantages and disadvantages of using proteins are compared with the traditional counterparts, and the working mechanisms when using proteins to improve the electrochemical performances of rechargeable batteries are elucidated. Finally, the future development of applying biomaterials to build better batteries is predicted.

Balancing Charged Groups in Protein Additives: A Key to Enhancing the Performance of Polymer-Based Electrolytes in Solid-State Lithium–Metal Batteries

“…28 As depicted in Figure 1a, C�O, −COOH, − OH present in the backbone and residue can adsorb Li + and improved the ion conductivity. 29,30 The N−H, −NH 2 , and − NH 3 groups can help anchor [EO] − chains for enhancing the strength of the polymer and also have the capability to absorb TFSI − for improving the Li + transference number. 30,31 The type and proportion of charged residues determine the protein's function and its role in Li + migration.…”

“…. As depicted in Figure a, CO, –COOH, –OH present in the backbone and residue can adsorb Li + and improved the ion conductivity. , The N–H, –NH 2 , and –NH 3 groups can help anchor [EO] − chains for enhancing the strength of the polymer and also have the capability to absorb TFSI – for improving the Li + transference number. , The type and proportion of charged residues determine the protein’s function and its role in Li + migration. To study the influence of the positive/negative CG ratios on the electrochemical performance of PEO-based SEs, herein we selected alpha-amylase (AMS), bovine serum albumin (BSA), and casein (CS) as fillers.…”

Insights Into Electrolyte Strategies for Suppressing Side Reactions Towards Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Batteries

“…[98,110] However, it is worth noting that the variations in main chain structures and the quantity and types of polar groups among different hydrophilic materials result in different hydrogen bonding networks in polymer electrolytes. [94,[111][112][113] These variations can significantly impact the performance of the polymer electrolyte, including its mechanical properties, water retention ability and low-temperature performance. [94,114] Caoer Jia et al [94] designed a ternary cross-linked polymer electrolyte (PCG) comprising PAM, CMC, and CG.…”

ForceGen: End-to-end de novo protein generation based on nonlinear mechanical unfolding responses using a language diffusion model

“…Through well-controlled comparisons, we demonstrate that our pLDM outperforms the vanilla diffusion model with or without an iterative design scheme. Built upon the property-to-sequence generation capability of our model and the broad potential of protein materials in achieving superior mechanical properties, as well as other interesting properties (80)(81)(82)(83) [e.g., optical (82,83), electronic (80), energy storage (81), etc. ], we expect that our end-to-end design model can be useful in numerous biological and engineering applications for the property-targeted generative design of various protein material systems.…”