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Submitted papers will be published following Peer Review approvals.

Preformation of Insoluble Solid-Electrolyte Interphase for Highly Reversible Na-Ion Batteries
by Dr Minfei Fei

Na-ion batteries (NIBs), with their natural resource abundance, potentially lower cost, and compatibility with the existing Li-ion processing techniques, are an optimal solution to address future energy challenges.

However, NIBs suffer from parasitic and continuous Na ion loss at the interface, namely solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) dissolution, leading to short cycle life. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms of such interface dissolution are unclear. In this work, the quantified correlation between SEI solubility and SEI components is established, inspiring a feasible strategy to preform an insoluble SEI with 80.0% capacity retention over 900 cycles in a practical full cell within commercial electrolyte chemistries.

Symmetry-Adaptive Algorithm for Accurate Graphene Layer Digital Characterization Using XRD Data

by Viktor Andonovikj

The precise characterization of graphene’s layer structure is essential for advancing its applications in materials science. We introduce an algorithm that improves the accuracy of determining graphene layer number and distribution using only XRD data. The method employs a symmetry assessment based on a correlation metric to select between two fitting approaches.

For symmetric peaks, a straightforward model optimizes the occupancy and number of layers, as well as their distribution through an exhaustive search for the best parameter combination. For asymmetric 002 peaks, an enhanced model partitions the angular range into multiple intervals, fitting each segment independently with the straightforward model, and iteratively adjusts interval boundaries to maximize similarity with the experimental data.

While existing theoretical models struggle with such asymmetric peaks, this approach was validated on experimental XRD data, achieving high similarity scores and providing detailed insights into layer distribution. This cost-eHicient and robust framework oHers a powerful computational tool for determining the distribution of layers, and consequently the average number in graphene samples, based only on XRD data, with broad implications for materials characterization.

"Electric Field Assisted Hydrogen Evolution Using Metallic Molybdenum Disulfide Catalysts"

by Dr Jiahang Li

Hydrogen utilization is a prospective approach for alleviating the increasing global energy crisis and environmental pollution issues. Metallic phase molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has emerged as a promising non-precious metal catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Numerous studies have focused on enhancing its catalytic performance with complex structural engineering.

Recently, field-assisted catalysis has been explored due to its relatively facile and controllable nature, among which electric field-related studies have drawn great attention. Inspired by the electric field-assisted catalysis, A more practical system was then designed by combining MoS2 with electroactive poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) copolymer, P(VDF-TrFE), to facilitate HER by localized dielectric polarization. Enhanced reaction kinetics were observed due to increased hydrogen accessibility and accelerated mass transport, as supported by mechanistic studies.

To further overcome some limitations of the binary hybrid, a ternary catalyst was designed and tested, including MoS2, poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorofluoroethylene, P(VDF-TrFE-CFE), terpolymer and carbon black. Notably, a distinctive improvement of HER performance was observed with an increase in current density (~310%) and a reduction in overpotential at 10 mA cm-2 (~80 mV).

Developing Sustainable Routes to Recycle Transition Metals and Rare Earth Containing Wastes

by Abhishek Lahiri

As the world shifts towards electrification and renewable energy to address climate change, the demand for transition metals, rare earth oxides, and noble metals has surged. Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and spent batteries contains more than 50 different elements, and therefore offers a reliable and resilient source of these materials, as evidenced by supply chain challenges in the UK and EEA concerning virgin materials.

However, recycling these wastes are challenging due to the presence of alloys, polymers, and carbon composites that bind these valuable metals. Existing recycling methods, which rely on pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy, face significant drawbacks, including high costs, harmful gas emissions, toxic byproducts, and CO2 emissions.

Herein, we propose sustainable route combining hydrometallurgy and electrometallurgy for the extraction of valuable components from spent lithium-ion batteries and waste permanent magnets. We provide examples of selective recovery of transition metals from LiCoO2 and spent lithium-ion batteries (Blackmass) using leaching in deep eutectic solvents followed by electrochemical deposition. Besides, we have also developed a technique for recycling rare-earth oxides using leaching in green solvents followed by gravitation separation. The methodology described here shows a green and potentially scalable technology toward the recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries and waste permanent magnets.