The rapid growth of electric vehicles and energy storage systems has accelerated the demand for high energy density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with low manufacturing cost. Recent advances in electrode material and processing/design have enabled energy density approaching 310 Wh kg⁻¹ while improving manufacturing cost-efficiency. Nevertheless, continued innovation is required to further improve both energy density and manufacturing cost-efficiency.

The development of thick electrodes via roll-to-roll dry coating has gained significant industrial interest as an environmentally benign and low-cost technology for achieving high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, its practical implementation remains challenging due to inhomogeneity of electrode microstructure and insufficient mechanical integrity, attributed to the non-uniform distribution of binders and conductive agents. In dry electrodes, the interfacial interactions between PTFE and carbonaceous conductive agents (London dispersion forces enhanced by π-electron polarizability) mediate the transmission of shear force to PTFE, thereby driving fibrillization and the formation of nano-/micro-scale fibril networks. This robust fibril scaffolding network enables the construction of a homogeneous electrode microstructure.

In this work, the surface crystallinity of carbon black (CB) was engineered via flash lamp annealing (FLA) treatment to enhance the π-electron cloud delocalization, thereby strengthening its interfacial interactions with PTFE. As a result, the developed dry cathodes with homogeneous microstructure exhibited superior mechanical integrity and electrochemical performance, even at low PTFE content (~1.0wt%), demonstrating the potential of PTFE-based dry coating as a scalable and sustainable technology for next generation high-energy-density LIBs.

In a fossil fuel phase-down era, the transition to cleaner energy solutions is the imperative need of the hour. Low carbon energy storage systems (ESS) such as supercapacitors(SCs) and rechargeable batteries are the potential key players in realising this changeover within the green and sustainable framework [2,3]. Aqueous electrolyte-based SCs have gained considerable attention due to their economic viability, environmental compatibility, high ionic conductivity, and safety, making them favourable alternatives to toxic organic electrolytes[4]. However, supercapacitors as such are not compatible to be integrated with energy harvesting devices as triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). TENGs produce low, irregular and instantaneous current. The inherent susceptibility to self-discharge in supercapacitors make it all the more challenging as the energy lost between the charging time could render the device unusable if left idle for longer durations. Any rapid decay or elevated leakage current can severely hinder the effective charge accumulation and sharply limit the system performance[5–7]. Consequently, understanding the electrode formulation, current collector selection, and the interfacial properties that influence the extend of different self-discharge mechanisms, is vital for advancing sustainable SCs compatible with low-power harvesters (SCs-TENGs).

In this study the influence of mass loading and electrochemically active surface area of carbon electrodes was examined on three different current collectors over a range of applied voltages. (Figure 1) The secondary yet beneficial role of ethyl cellulose as a binder towards self-discharge was established and the dominant self-discharge mechanism was identified across all electrodes. The insights obtained here contribute to the development of sustainable supercapacitors with regulated self-discharge and befitting electrochemical performance.

Biomass-derived porous carbons are attractive electrode materials for sustainable supercapacitors [1], yet the rational coupling of local graphitic order with hierarchical porosity remains challenging [2]. Herein, almond shell, a representative lignocellulosic biomass, is employed as a precursor to construct a series of porous carbons with tunable local graphitic nanocrystalline domains and hierarchical structures. By combining H₂SO₄ pretreatment at different concentrations (0, 6, and 12 M) with H₃PO₄ activation and two-step thermal treatment, porous carbons denoted as AC0-600(1000), AC6-600(1000), and AC12-600(1000) are obtained. Comprehensive FTIR, SEM, HRTEM, XRD, Raman, N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherms, and XPS analyses reveal that 6 M H₂SO₄ pretreatment enriches lignin and promotes the formation of locally ordered graphitic domains, while simultaneously constructing a mesopore-dominated pore network with a specific surface area of 1180 m² g⁻¹ and a mesopore fraction of 97.7%. In contrast, 12 M pretreatment introduces excessive micropores and oxygen-containing functional groups, which has shown to be detrimental. In 6 M KOH aqueous electrolyte, a symmetric supercapacitor based on AC6-600(1000) delivers a high specific capacitance of 152.9 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹, retains 83.2% of its capacitance at 20 A g⁻¹, and maintains 91.5% and 81.1% of its initial capacitance after 20000 cycles at 5 A g⁻¹ and 100000 cycles at 10 A g⁻¹, respectively. A flexible, free-standing, high-mass-loading electrode (~14.3 mg cm⁻²) fabricated from AC6-600(1000) achieves an areal capacitance of 1715.2 mF cm⁻², a maximum areal energy density of 228.7 µWh cm⁻², and a volumetric energy density of 3.1 mWh cm⁻³, while retaining 86.1% of its capacitance after 3000 cycles. Pouch-type symmetric devices further confirm the excellent rate capability. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that locally ordered carbon surfaces exhibit stronger adsorption toward K⁺ ions, thereby establishing a clear correlation between nanocrystalline order and interfacial charge storage. This work proposes a “nanocrystalline–pore co-design” strategy that provides a structural design framework for effectively translating the intrinsic properties of biomass-derived carbons into high device-level performance in supercapacitors.

Volumetric expansion of sulfur during electrochemical conversion is widely regarded as one of the major challenges limiting the practical deployment of metal-sulfur batteries. The drastic theoretical volume increase associated with the S₈ to M₂S (M = Li, Na, K) reaction is thought to generate mechanical stress, disrupt electronic pathways, and accelerate electrode degradation. Yet despite its central role in performance loss, the actual magnitude, origin, and spatial distribution of sulfur expansion remains poorly understood, particularly in room-temperature Na-S batteries, where most sulfur cathodes originally developed for Li-S, suffer from severe polysulfide shuttling. In commonly employed electrolytes for Na-S batteries, long-chain polysulfides exhibit higher solubility and mobility, causing extensive sulfur loss and preventing meaningful quantification of electrode-level dimensional changes.

To address this long-standing limitation, we employ a sulfur-carbon hybrid in which sulfur is highly confined suppressing polysulfide dissolution, retaining nearly all sulfur within the cathode, and enabling near-quantitative sulfur utilization (~99%).[1] This uniquely stable system provides, for the first time, a reliable platform for correlating molecular-scale sulfur conversion with electrode-level volume evolution in room-temperature Na-S batteries.

Operando electrochemical dilatometry measurements reveal that the effective electrode expansion is only ~3%, far below the theoretically predicted 171% for S₈ to Na₂S conversion. Multiscale characterization explains this discrepancy: FIB-SEM 3D reconstruction resolves dimensional evolution and material redistribution at the micrometer scale, clarifying how the electrode accommodates reaction-driven changes. Depth-resolved XPS and ToF-SIMS track sodium incorporation and sulfur speciation through the electrode depth, offering insight into interfacial and compositional processes linked to volumetric behavior. At the nanoscale, ex-situ cryo-TEM visualizes structural evolution of individual sulfur–carbon domains, revealing how local confinement shapes particle-level deformation. Together, these operando and ex-situ insights establish the first quantitative and mechanistic picture of volumetric expansion in room-temperature Na-S cathodes.

During fast-charging, uneven lithium plating on the surface of commercial graphite anode impedes the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries, causing a safety issue. The formation of a passivation layer, the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI), due to side reactions with the organic electrolyte, correlates with long-term cycling performance under fast-charging conditions, necessitating comprehensive analysis. Herein, it is demonstrated that a molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) coating on natural graphite (NG) modulates the properties of the SEI layer, enabling reduction of the charging time and the enhancement of long-term cycling performance. MoS2 spontaneously transforms into Li2S and Mo nanoclusters through intercalation and conversion with Li+, altering the chemical composition and stability of the SEI layer on the NG, promoting faster Li+ transport, and reducing interfacial resistance. The MoS2-NG anode shows improved fast-charging capability and cycling performance under 3.0 C-charging and 1.0 C-discharging over 300 cycles without compromising energy density. In the full-cell configuration, a charging time of 14.7 min at 80% state of charge is achieved, making it suitable for electric vehicle applications.

Transition metal oxide electrodes that combine high charge-storage capacity with efficient water-splitting activity are attractive for sustainable energy systems coupling electrochemical energy storage and conversion. Here we report NiMoO₄/MoO₃ heterostructures grown directly on nickel foam via a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-assisted solvothermal route, in which the soft template controls nucleation and growth.

By adjusting the PVP content, the morphology evolves from compact agglomerates to flower-like architectures built from ultrathin nanoneedles with a mesoporous texture and enlarged surface area. Structural and microstructural characterization (XRD, SEM/TEM, and N₂ adsorption) confirms the formation of intimately interfaced NiMoO₄ and MoO₃ domains and a hierarchical pore network.

In 3 M KOH, the optimized electrode delivers a specific capacitance of 3626 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹ with about 76% retention at 5 A g⁻¹ in a three-electrode configuration. An asymmetric aqueous capacitor using activated carbon as the negative electrode achieves an energy density of ~33 Wh kg⁻¹ at ~1.6 kW kg⁻¹ and retains ~86% of its capacitance after 2000 cycles.

The same NiMoO₄/MoO₃/NF electrode operates as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for alkaline water splitting, reaching 10 mA cm⁻² at overpotentials of ~169 mV for the hydrogen evolution reaction and ~318 mV for the oxygen evolution reaction, with low Tafel slopes and stable performance over extended operation.

We relate this dual functionality to synergistic electronic interactions at the NiMoO₄/MoO₃ interface and to the highly porous nanoneedle network, which shortens ion-diffusion paths and maximizes accessible redox sites. This work demonstrates a simple morphology-engineering strategy to obtain high-performance electrodes for aqueous hybrid supercapacitors and integrated water electrolysis devices.

Silicon monoxide (SiO)-based materials have garnered significant attention as one of the promising high-capacity Li-storage anode materials. However, their practical application in commercial lithium-ion batteries is hindered by their low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and poor cycle stability. The prelithiation of SiO can increase the ICE but does not guarantee cycle performance improvement. To address the ICE and cycle performance issues, we propose a heterogeneous Al2O3@Al-Si/Li2SiO3 nanocomposite material obtained through a two-step reaction of SiO, LiH, and Al. Scanning transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and laser-assisted atom probe tomography reveal a heterogeneous structure consisting of an Al2O3 sheath and inner Si/Li2SiO3 nanocomposite, with a concentration gradient between them. The resulting Al2O3@Al-Si/Li2SiO3 nanocomposite material exhibits a high ICE of up to 89% and capacity retention of 72.8% after 200 cycles. The high structural stability induced by the core–sheath architecture plays a critical role in mitigating volume expansion and enhancing cycle performance.

Liquid metal batteries (LMBs) have emerged as promising candidates for grid-scale energy storage due to their intrinsic advantages of low cost, long lifespan, inherent safety, and straightforward, scalable architecture. However, their rate performance is often limited by the formation of dense solid intermetallic compounds during discharge, which hinder ion transport and induce large polarization. To overcome these kinetic constraints, recent studies have focused on interface engineering using alloyed positive electrodes. Networked liquid pathways constructed through alloying—such as Bi–Sn, Bi–Cd, and Bi–Cu systems—significantly enhance electrochemical kinetics by improving ionic diffusivity, increasing electrical conductivity, and lowering diffusion energy barriers. These strategies enable higher reaction stoichiometry, reduced polarization, and improved adaptability to lower operating temperatures. As a result, LMBs incorporating such engineered alloy cathodes demonstrate outstanding performance, including high energy efficiency (>91%), excellent high-rate capability (up to 3–3.4 C with >80% capacity retention), stable cycling over hundreds to thousands of cycles, and competitive system-level cost. Collectively, these advances highlight the critical role of interface-guided alloy architecture design in unlocking fast-kinetic, durable, and scalable LMBs, offering a powerful pathway toward practical large-scale energy storage deployment.

Large-scale energy storage is a key technology for efficient integration of renewable energy generation into the grid and the development of smart grids. Liquid metal batteries based on liquid metal electrodes and molten salts electrolytes, with the merits of long-lifespan, low-cost, and high-safety, shows broad prospects in large-scale energy storage applications. Sodium metal has attracted considerable attention due to its abundant reserves, low-cost, and excellent compatibility with sealing. Consequently, liquid metal batteries constructed with Na hold greater promise in large-scale energy storage. Herein, the electrode material system of sodium-based liquid metal batteries, including Na||Bi and Na||Sb, the design methods of multiple cation composite molten salt electrolytes, and the mechanism of in-situ exchange reactions between the electrodes and the electrolytes will all be discussed in this report. Based on these results, the novel Na-Li dual cation LMB based on the in-situ displacement reaction between Na and molten salts of lithium halides electrolyte will be demonstrated. Furthermore, the progress in the construction technology of large-capacity liquid metal batteries will also be presented in the report. Moreover, some key challenges in the engineering application of liquid metal batteries and corresponding solutions will also be discussed.

Direct recycling of active materials from Li-ion batteries preserves the structure of the materials, rather than separating them into their constituent elements. This offers an energy and resource efficient recycling route for relevant materials, when compared to process such as hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy. Direct recycling has stringent requirements, including high material purity, thus most direct recycling is conducted on single-component feeds of cathodes from production scrap or manually disassembled cells. Manual disassembly is expensive, hazardous, and challenging to scale.

This presentation highlights the integration of a novel and scalable shredding process applied to NMC532 pouch cells, followed by separator and casing removal through electrostatic separation, and subsequent anode/ cathode sorting via high intensity magnetic separation. Thermal debinding was used to produce cathodic black mass with <1 wt% impurity, separate from the anodic black mass isolated earlier in the process. The cathodic active material was found to be Li-deficient, and relithiated using commercial or recycled Li₂CO₃ to Li₁Ni_0.5Mn_0.3Co_0.2O₂. The morphology of the cathodic active material was preserved throughout the process, and manufactured into electrodes, achieving discharge capacities up to 142mAh g^-1 after formation.