Interfacial Activity of Starch-Based Nanoparticles at the Oil–Water Interface

Understanding the interfacial activity of polysaccharide nanoparticles adsorbed at oil–water interfaces is essential and important for the application of these nanoparticles as Pickering stabilizers. The interfacial properties of starch-based nanospheres (SNPs) at the interface of an <i>n</i>-hexane–water system were investigated by monitoring the interfacial tension at different bulk concentrations. The three-phase contact angle (θ) and the adsorption energy (Δ<i>E</i>) increased with increasing size and degree of substitution with octenyl succinic groups (OSA) in the particles. Compared with the OSA-modified starch (OSA-S) macromolecule, the SNPs effectively reduced the interfacial tension of the <i>n</i>-hexane–water system at a relatively higher concentration. These results and the method reported herein are useful for selecting and preparing polysaccharide nanoparticles as Pickering stabilizers for oil–water emulsions

Rational Design of Vinylene Carbonate-Inspired 1,3-Dimethyl‑1<i>H</i>‑imidazol-2(3<i>H</i>)‑one Additives to Stabilize High-Voltage Lithium Metal Batteries

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) employing high-voltage nickel-rich cathodes represent a promising strategy to enable higher energy density storage systems. However, instability at the electrolyte–electrode interfaces (EEIs) currently impedes the translation of these advanced systems into practical applications. Herein, 1,3-dimethyl-1H-imidazol-2(3H)-one (DMIO), integrating structural features of vinylene carbonate (VC) while substituting oxygen with electron-donating nitrogen, has been synthesized and validated as a multifunctional electrolyte additive for high-voltage LMBs. Theoretical calculations and experimental results demonstrate that the potent electron-donating nitrogen in DMIO enables preferential DMIO oxidation at the cathode while preserving its carbon–carbon double bond for a concomitant reduction on the anode. Thereby, robust DMIO-derived EEIs are generated, reinforcing cycling in the full cells. Additionally, DMIO leverages Lewis acid-based interactions to coordinate and sequester protons from acidic LiPF6 decomposition byproducts, concurrently retarding LiPF6 hydrolysis while attenuating parasitic consumption of EEIs by acidic species. Consequently, incorporating DMIO into conventional carbonate electrolytes enables an improved capacity retention of Li||NCM622 cells to 81% versus 26% in the baseline electrolyte after 600 cycles. Similarly, DMIO improves Li anode cycling performance, displaying extended life spans over 200 h in Li||Li symmetric cells and enhancing Coulombic efficiency from 76% to 88% in Li||Cu cells. The synergistic effects of DMIO on both the cathode and anode lead to substantially improved cell lifetime. This rationally designed, multifunctional electrolyte additive paradigm provides vital insights that can be translatable to further electrolyte molecular engineering strategies