Sibylle Riedel, Laurin Kahnt, Christoph Kiesl, Priya Ganesan, Argjend Blakaj, Liping Wang, Christian Bäucker, Yulia Ivanisenko, Maximilian Fichtner, Zhirong Zhao-Karger
{"title":"Cover Feature: A Mechanical Engineering Approach Toward Practical Calcium Metal Anodes with Improved Electrochemical Performance (Batteries & Supercaps 7/2026)","authors":"Sibylle Riedel, Laurin Kahnt, Christoph Kiesl, Priya Ganesan, Argjend Blakaj, Liping Wang, Christian Bäucker, Yulia Ivanisenko, Maximilian Fichtner, Zhirong Zhao-Karger","doi":"10.1002/batt.70379","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/batt.70379","url":null,"abstract":"<p><b>The Cover Feature</b> introduces a practical method for fabricating calcium foils with a well-defined thickness of ~100 μm. The approach combines pressing and rolling steps to refine calcium microstructure, thereby enhancing electrochemical performance as well as experimental reproducibility and reliability. More information can be found in the Research Article by S. Riedel, Z. Zhao-Karger and co-workers (DOI: 10.1002/batt.202500822).\u0000 <figure>\u0000 <div><picture>\u0000 <source></source></picture><p></p>\u0000 </div>\u0000 </figure></p>","PeriodicalId":132,"journal":{"name":"Batteries & Supercaps","volume":"9 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/batt.70379","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148615480","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Celine Röder, Ulf-Christian Rauska, Andreas Hofmann, Andreas Heyn, Valeriu Mereacre, Joachim R. Binder, Fabian Jeschull
{"title":"Degradation Pathways of Carbonate-Based Electrolyte Formulations in Potassium Vanadium Phosphate/Graphite Potassium-Ion Batteries","authors":"Celine Röder, Ulf-Christian Rauska, Andreas Hofmann, Andreas Heyn, Valeriu Mereacre, Joachim R. Binder, Fabian Jeschull","doi":"10.1002/batt.70398","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/batt.70398","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Electrolyte development for potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) pose great challenges due to the high intrinsic reactivity of the K-ion system as well as the desired high-voltage application of KIBs, which often trigger strong decomposition of the electrolyte at the electrode interfaces. A common approach to tailor the electrolyte’s properties is the use of cosolvents and additives. While their role in lithium- and sodium-based systems is progressively elucidated and even become established as standard cell components, the impact in KIBs still demands for a fundamental investigation. In this study, a comparative analysis of K-ion full cells based on a potassium vanadium phosphate cathode (KVP/C) and a graphite anode employing several electrolyte formulations was carried out to shed light on the complex interrelations of cyclability and the use of prevalent electrolyte additives. Thereby, vinylene carbonate (VC) was determined as most promising additive for next-generation high-voltage KIBs.</p>","PeriodicalId":132,"journal":{"name":"Batteries & Supercaps","volume":"9 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/batt.70398","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148462866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Murilo Machado Amaral, Arijit Roy, Romil Bhandavat, Hudson Zanin, Johanna Nelson Weker, Gurpreet Singh
{"title":"Boron-Modified Silicon Carbonitride as a Sulfur Host for Stable Lithium–Sulfur Batteries","authors":"Murilo Machado Amaral, Arijit Roy, Romil Bhandavat, Hudson Zanin, Johanna Nelson Weker, Gurpreet Singh","doi":"10.1002/batt.70395","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/batt.70395","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Failure in lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) is largely attributed to the uncontrolled transport of soluble polysulfides. Therefore, an electrically conducting matrix that hosts elemental sulfur and prevents polysulfide dissolution into the electrolyte is highly desirable. Covalent ceramics prepared through a polymer pyrolysis route contain polar bonds and a 3D network of conducting carbon phase that could enable chemical and physical adsorption of soluble lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and electrical transport, respectively. Herein, we report the preparation of boron-integrated silicon carbonitride (Si–B–C–N) from thermochemical conversion of a single-source precursor and its use as a sulfur host for LSBs. The SiBCN host provided superior electrochemical performance compared to the neat SiCN host, delivering an initial capacity of 1039.3 mAh g<sub>s</sub><sup>−1</sup> and retaining 858.8 mAh g<sub>s</sub><sup>−1</sup> after 100 cycles at 0.1 C with nearly 100% coulombic efficiency, exhibiting a 25.8% improvement over SiCN, possibly associated with the presence of B─N bonds, which enhanced the adsorption of intermediate LiPSs. These findings highlight the advantages of compositional tuning in PDCs, which can enhance the reversibility of sulfur's electrochemical reactions, inhibit active material loss, and improve cycling stability in LSBs.</p>","PeriodicalId":132,"journal":{"name":"Batteries & Supercaps","volume":"9 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148462865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Metallic 1T-MoS2-Modified CuO@TiO2 Anodes Delivering Fast Kinetics and Stable Cycling in Li/Na-Ion Batteries","authors":"Abhimanyu Kumar Prajapati, Ashish Bhatnagar","doi":"10.1002/batt.70344","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/batt.70344","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Designing high-rate and long-life anode materials for lithium/sodium-ion batteries (LIBs/SIBs) remains challenging owing to sluggish reaction kinetics, limited electrical conductivity, and severe volume variation in conversion-type materials. A metallic 1T-MoS<sub>2</sub>-enabled improved capacity and kinetic strategy is presented for a mesoporous core–shell CuO@TiO<sub>2</sub> anode, where the content of 1T-MoS<sub>2</sub> is systematically optimized to regulate interfacial charge transport and ion-diffusion behavior. The optimized CuO@TiO<sub>2</sub>/1T-MoS<sub>2</sub> (10 wt%) composite integrates a nanosized CuO core, a TiO<sub>2</sub> shell that buffers volume expansion, and metallic 1T-MoS<sub>2</sub> nanosheets that form a highly conductive and defect-rich network. As a result, the optimized electrode delivers a high reversible capacity of ∼1017 mAh g<sup>−1</sup> with 84.8% capacity retention after 200 cycles at 200 mA g<sup>−1</sup> in LIBs. In sodium-ion batteries, it maintains a stable capacity of ∼223 mAh g<sup>−1</sup> after 200 cycles. Kinetic analyses confirm reduced charge–transfer resistance and a balanced contribution of surface-controlled capacitive and diffusion-controlled storage. Postmortem FESEM, TEM with EDX analyses further reveal preserved morphology and stable interfacial chemistry after prolonged cycling. Based on XPS and electron microscopy analysis, the mechanism for better performance of optimum concentration is also proposed.</p>","PeriodicalId":132,"journal":{"name":"Batteries & Supercaps","volume":"9 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148462864","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fangyue Lin, Xin Chen, Ben Chen, Jinmeng Sun, Wei Ai
{"title":"Deciphering the Role of Crystallinity in Polysulfides Conversion: Defect-Rich Amorphous Co3S4 for Accelerated Li–S Chemistry","authors":"Fangyue Lin, Xin Chen, Ben Chen, Jinmeng Sun, Wei Ai","doi":"10.1002/batt.70400","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/batt.70400","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Li–S batteries (LSBs) are promising next-generation energy storage systems; however, their practical application is severely hindered by the shuttle effect of soluble lithium polysulfides and sluggish redox kinetics. Although separator functionalization with catalytic materials has been widely explored, the fundamental role of crystallinity in governing polysulfide conversion remains insufficiently understood. Herein, the effect of crystallinity on polysulfides regulation is systematically investigated using Co<sub>3</sub>S<sub>4</sub> as a model system. Amorphous Co<sub>3</sub>S<sub>4</sub> (A-Co<sub>3</sub>S<sub>4</sub>) and crystalline Co<sub>3</sub>S<sub>4</sub> (C-Co<sub>3</sub>S<sub>4</sub>) are deliberately constructed to establish a direct structure–property correlation. Compared with its crystalline counterpart, A-Co<sub>3</sub>S<sub>4</sub> features a disordered atomic configuration with abundant coordination-unsaturated sites and defect-induced electronic states, enabling stronger polysulfides adsorption and accelerated catalytic conversion. When integrated onto a polypropylene separator, the A-Co<sub>3</sub>S<sub>4</sub>-based interfacial layer effectively suppresses polysulfide migration, enhances interfacial charge transfer, and promotes ion transport kinetics. As a result, the A-Co<sub>3</sub>S<sub>4</sub>@PP-based cell delivers an initial capacity of 748 mAh g<sup>−1</sup> at 1 C and maintains 537 mAh g<sup>−1</sup> after 1000 cycles, corresponding to a low capacity decay rate of 0.02% per cycle. This work clarifies the critical role of crystallinity in polysulfide conversion and provides fundamental insights into the rational design of defect-engineered catalytic interfaces for advanced LSBs.</p>","PeriodicalId":132,"journal":{"name":"Batteries & Supercaps","volume":"9 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148462798","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Recent Advances in Electrolytes for Silicon-Based Lithium-Ion Batteries: From Electrolyte Components to Formulation Design","authors":"Junhao Dai, Guochun Yan, Jiexi Wang, Zhixing Wang, Huajun Guo, Xinhai Li, Wenjie Peng, Hui Duan, Guangchao Li","doi":"10.1002/batt.70390","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/batt.70390","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Silicon-based anodes are considered one of the most promising candidates for next-generation high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because of their ultrahigh theoretical capacity (≈4200 mAh g<sup>−1</sup>) and natural abundance. However, their practical application is severely hindered by drastic volume changes during repeated lithiation and delithiation, which lead to unstable interfacial chemistry and rapid capacity fading. Electrolyte design has therefore emerged as a critical strategy for regulating interfacial reactions and enabling the stable operation of silicon-based anodes. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in electrolyte engineering for silicon-based anodes, with particular emphasis on the rational design of electrolyte components and formulation strategies. From the perspective of electrolyte composition, progress in lithium salts, solvents, and functional additives is critically discussed, highlighting the evolution from conventional single-component systems to multifunctional and synergistic electrolyte formulations. From the standpoint of formulation strategies, the evolution from empirical optimization to mechanism-driven approaches is focused, including molecular structure regulation, solvation structure regulation, AI-assisted electrolyte discovery, and solid-state electrolytes. Finally, electrolyte development for silicon-based anodes is analyzed, and unified design principles are proposed to guide future studies. This review aims to provide a systematic framework and forward-looking insights into the rational development of advanced electrolytes for silicon-based LIBs.</p>","PeriodicalId":132,"journal":{"name":"Batteries & Supercaps","volume":"9 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148386532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Residual Strain Analysis of Graphite Electrode During Galvanostatic Charge–Discharge at Different Current Densities","authors":"Hao Guo, Zihan Wang, Kaikai Li, Tong-Yi Zhang","doi":"10.1002/batt.70386","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/batt.70386","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The intercalation and deintercalation of lithium ions cause periodic volume expansion/contraction and lattice variation in anode materials, which strongly influence the cycling life of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Accurate characterization of these changes is essential for a deeper understanding of cycling stability, particularly under different charging/discharging rates. Herein, in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and digital image correlation (DIC) were combined to investigate the chemical strain of graphite anodes at different current densities. In situ XRD results reveal the phase-transition-induced volume changes of active graphite particles, allowing the determination of the partial molar volume of lithium ions in active material. These results were further incorporated into the overall strain analysis of composite graphite anode measured by DIC, enabling the quantification of the strain contributions from inactive components, as well as the corresponding partial molar volume of lithium ions. The results show that the overall strain decreases as the current density increases from 0.1 to 0.2 C. The residual strain contribution from inactive materials is significantly greater than that from active materials at both current densities, and the strain associated with inactive components is much higher at 0.1 C than at 0.2 C. This work may support future studies on mechanical degradation mechanisms of LIBs.</p>","PeriodicalId":132,"journal":{"name":"Batteries & Supercaps","volume":"9 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148386625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Interpretable Machine Learning-Driven Discovery of Sodium-Ion Battery Cathode Materials With First-Principles Validation","authors":"Yakubu Sani Wudil","doi":"10.1002/batt.70396","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/batt.70396","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This work presents a machine learning-accelerated high-throughput framework for the discovery of cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries. A dataset of 4156 sodium-based battery compounds was constructed from the Materials Project Battery Explorer and represented using 107 structural, chemical, and electronic descriptors. To address incomplete descriptor availability in large chemical spaces, a two-step learning strategy was employed, where a random forest model was first used to predict missing features prior to property estimation. Multiple machine learning models were benchmarked, with light gradient boosting machine (LGBM) exhibiting the highest predictive accuracy and further optimized using the sparrow search algorithm (SSA) to form an SSA-LGBM hybrid model. The optimized framework was subsequently applied to screen 12,823 sodium-containing compounds for average voltage and specific capacity. Initial screening identified 70 candidate materials based on practical performance thresholds, which were further refined using criteria, including thermodynamic stability, electronic conductivity, elemental abundance, cost, and environmental considerations. Ultimately, 15 promising cathode candidates were identified and validated through formation energy and bandgap analysis, as well as comparison with established sodium-ion battery cathodes. This study demonstrates a scalable and interpretable strategy for accelerating cathode discovery in sodium-ion battery systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":132,"journal":{"name":"Batteries & Supercaps","volume":"9 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148386627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mikel Undagoitia, Rita Abreu, Carlos M. Costa, Senentxu Lanceros-Méndez, Manuel Salado
{"title":"Strategies for Unlocking Safe and Sustainable Aqueous Sodium-Ion Batteries","authors":"Mikel Undagoitia, Rita Abreu, Carlos M. Costa, Senentxu Lanceros-Méndez, Manuel Salado","doi":"10.1002/batt.70385","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/batt.70385","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Despite their limited energy density resulting from the narrow electrochemical stability window (ESW) of water, aqueous sodium-ion batteries (ASIBs) offer a sustainable and accessible alternative for energy storage, particularly suited for stationary energy storage where high energy density is less critical. However, further efforts are still needed to identify compatible materials and to develop strategies for expanding ESW, mitigating active materials dissolution and managing proton cointercalation. This work provides a compressive overview of materials used in ASIBs from the electrolyte to the cathode and anode. It also discusses strategies to mitigate electrolyte-related drawbacks, while highlighting key advantages such as sustainability, high ionic conductivity, nonflammability and nontoxicity. In addition, other essential materials for components are addressed including current collectors, binders, and separators. Finally, the current status of both scientific and industrial efforts is examined, and future perspectives are also provided.</p>","PeriodicalId":132,"journal":{"name":"Batteries & Supercaps","volume":"9 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148386628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Electrolyte-Dependent Aging Analysis in SiOx-Based Li-Ion Batteries via Composite Electrode Model","authors":"Mitsunori Nakamoto, Benoit Mathieu, Khawla Zrikem, Masato Yano, Masatomo Tanaka, Irina Profatilova, Hideyuki Kumita, Anass Benayad, Ambroise Van Roekeghem","doi":"10.1002/batt.70391","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/batt.70391","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The performance of lithium-ion batteries with silicon oxide (SiO<sub>x</sub>) is influenced by solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation and associated lithium consumption. This study investigates the role of electrolyte composition in governing SEI evolution, lithium consumption, and aging behaviors in LiCoO<sub>2</sub>|SiOx cells using complementary experimental and modeling approaches. Electrolytes containing fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) exhibit significantly improved cycle retention compared with conventional ethylene carbonate (EC)-based electrolytes. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy reveals two distinct SEI formation pathways: EC decomposition yields an organic-rich SEI, whereas FEC and PF<sub>6</sub><sup>−</sup> decomposition produce an inorganic, LiF-rich SEI. The total SEI mass remains nearly constant after aging, indicating dynamic breathing behavior rather than continuous growth. Based on these insights, we developed a pseudo-two-dimensional model that couples electrolyte consumption and SEI growth by distinguishing organic and inorganic SEI components with different mechanical responses to SiO<sub>x</sub> volume changes. The model successfully predicts electrolyte-dependent aging, reproducing the influence of FEC concentration on overpotential, loss of lithium inventory, and capacity fade. The rate performance of the cell is primarily limited by lithium transport within SiO<sub>x</sub> particles and by electrolyte transport across the electrode, particularly under fast-charging conditions. Our combined experimental-modeling approach provides a foundation for electrolyte-specific aging assessment and electrolyte design for SiO<sub>x</sub>-based batteries.</p>","PeriodicalId":132,"journal":{"name":"Batteries & Supercaps","volume":"9 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/batt.70391","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148386119","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}