3 research outputs found
Biodegradable Pea Protein Fibril Hydrogel-Based Quasi-Solid-State Zn-Ion Battery
Zinc-ion
batteries show great potential as the next-generation
power source due to their nontoxic, low-cost, and safe properties.
However, issues with zinc anodes, such as dendrite growth and parasitic
hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs), must be addressed to commercialize
them. Solutions, such as quasi-solid-state electrolytes made from
synthetic polymer hydrogels, have been proposed to improve battery
flexibility and energy density. However, most polymers used are nonbiodegradable,
posing a challenge to sustainability. In this study, hydrogels made
from biodegradable poly(vinyl alcohol) and protein nanofibrils from
pea protein, a renewable plant-based source, are used as an electrolyte
in aqueous zinc-ion batteries. Results show that the flexible and
biodegradable hydrogel can enhance the zinc anode stability and effectively
restrict HER. This phenomenon is because of the hydrogen-bond network
between nanofibril functional groups and water molecules. In addition,
the interaction between functional groups on nanofibrils and Zn2+ constructs ion channels for the even migration of Zn2+, avoiding dendrite growth. The Zn||Zn symmetric cell using
the hydrogel electrolyte exhibits a long lifespan of over 3000 h and
improved capacity retention in the Zn||AC-I2 hybrid ion
batteries by suppressing cathode material dissolution. This study
suggests the potential of biodegradable hydrogels as a sustainable
and effective solution for biodegradable soft powering sources
Highly Crumpled Hybrids of Nitrogen/Sulfur Dual-Doped Graphene and Co<sub>9</sub>S<sub>8</sub> Nanoplates as Efficient Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysts
A bifunctional
electrocatalyst for both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen
evolution reaction (OER) is highly attractive for the manufacture
of clean energy conversion devices. In this work, highly crumpled
hybrid of nitrogen and sulfur dual-doped graphene and quasi-hexagonal
Co<sub>9</sub>S<sub>8</sub> nanoplates (Co<sub>9</sub>S<sub>8</sub>/NSG<sub>g‑C3N4</sub>) is fabricated via a facile ionic assembly
approach. The unique structure of Co<sub>9</sub>S<sub>8</sub>/NSG<sub>g‑C3N4</sub> renders it high specific surface area (288.3
m<sup>2</sup> g<sup>–1</sup>) and large pore volume (1.32 cm<sup>3</sup> g<sup>–1</sup>). As the electrocatalyst for ORR, Co<sub>9</sub>S<sub>8</sub>/NSG<sub>g‑C3N4</sub> demonstrates excellent performance with the onset
potential of −0.02 V vs Ag/AgCl and the limited current density
of 6.05 mA cm<sup>–2</sup> at −0.9 V vs Ag/AgCl. Co<sub>9</sub>S<sub>8</sub>/NSG<sub>g‑C3N4</sub> also presents outstanding
catalytic activity toward OER by delivering a limited current density
of 48 mA cm<sup>–2</sup> at 1 V vs Ag/AgCl. The bifunctional
catalytic behaviors of Co<sub>9</sub>S<sub>8</sub>/NSG<sub>g‑C3N4</sub> enable the assembly of a rechargeable Zn–air battery with
it as the cathode catalyst, which exhibits stable discharge/charge
voltage plateaus upon long time cycling over 50 h
Additional file 6: Table S3. of Comparative genomics reveals Cyclospora cayetanensis possesses coccidia-like metabolism and invasion components but unique surface antigens
Comparison of essential cellular metabolic pathways among some common apicomplexan parasites. (XLSX 70 kb