High-nickel cathodes attract increasing attention owing to their high specific capacity, yet exhibit structural instability and inferior cycling performance. Surface coating is an effective strategy to enhance their electrochemical behavior. This study introduces a nitrogen-doped zirconia-carbon composite (NC@ZrO2) as a coating for LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NCM811), with the composite prepared using the metal-organic framework material UiO-66-NH2 as a precursor. As a coating layer, NC@ZrO2 prevents direct contact between cathode and electrolyte to suppress side reactions and reduce interfacial resistance. Its porous structure facilitates lithium-ion diffusion. Consequently, the modified NCM811 presents remarkable rate capability and cycling stability. The 10 wt% coated NCM811 cathode demonstrates 78.3% capacity retention at 5 C, exceeding that of the unmodified NCM811 by 36.4%. After 500 cycles at 1 C, the modified material retains 82.4% capacity retention. This work presents a promising approach for optimizing high-nickel cathode materials using MOF-based composites.

Polylactic acid is currently the most widely produced biodegradable polyester plastic. However, its conventional disposal methods such as natural degradation, composting, and incineration not only generate substantial CO2 emissions but also result in significant resource loss. In contrast, upcycling technologies can transform plastic waste into high value-added chemicals, offering considerable application potential in producing renewable monomers for new polymers, sustainable fuels, and value-added fine chemicals for the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. In this study, we fabricated a self-supported NiCo bimetallic oxides (NiCoOx/NF) electrode via an electrodeposition strategy for the electrocatalytic upcycling of PLA wastes. Owing to the abundant exposure of active sites and efficient electron transfer between bimetallic species, the electrode exhibited excellent electrocatalytic performance, enabling the electrocatalytic reforming of PLA hydrolysates into acetate with Faradaic efficiencies exceeding 90% in the potential range of 1.32-1.52 V. In situ characterizations identified pyruvate and CH3CO- as key intermediates mediating the formation of acetate. Furthermore, techno-economic analysis demonstrated the scalability and profitability of this approach. This work provides a novel and sustainable pathway for the green and efficient utilization of PLA wastes.

Silicon-carbon (Si & horbar;C) anodes enable high energy density but suffer from poor thermal safety due to their strong reactivity with electrolytes. In this work, we identify the thermochemical reaction mechanism between lithiated silicon and carbonate solvents, revealing the formation of Si & horbar;C bonds as direct evidence of electrolyte decomposition. Density functional theory calculations confirm the reaction's spontaneity, establishing that the deteriorated safety of Si & horbar;C cells originates from the intrinsic Si-electrolyte reaction that intensifies anode-cathode crosstalk during thermal runaway. To validate this mechanism, tripropargyl phosphate (TPP) is introduced as an electrolyte additive. Its alkyne groups effectively scavenge protons and suppress hydrogen generation, leading to reduced gas evolution and delayed exothermic onset. Compared with the FEC system, the TPP-based electrolyte demonstrates lower H2 release and reduced thermal runaway peak temperature by 30 degrees C. Moreover, TPP facilitates the formation of a uniform and inorganic-rich SEI, enhancing interfacial stability and cycling performance. This study provides new insights into the design of safer high-energy Si-based lithium-ion batteries.

Accurate state-of-health estimation of lithium-ion batteries under high-temperature conditions (40-50 °C) remains challenging because of accelerated electrochemical degradation and strongly nonlinear aging patterns. This paper presents a hybrid Ridge regression-convolutional bidirectional long short-term memory framework with a dual-level transfer learning strategy. A Ridge regression baseline first captures the global degradation trend, after which a convolutional bidirectional long short-term memory network learns the nonlinear residuals. For cross-battery adaptation, Ridge coefficients are transferred through prior-regularized regression, and the pre-trained network is fine-tuned using limited target-domain data. The method is validated on cycling datasets from three institutions, namely Tsinghua University, the University of Oxford, and Tongji University, covering 15 batteries under temperatures up to 50 °C. Four health-related features are extracted and adaptively denoised using locally weighted scatterplot smoothing. In single-battery extrapolation, the proposed method achieves a root mean square error as low as 0.0009 on cell B6 at 50 °C, outperforming random forest, long short-term memory, bidirectional long short-term memory, and Ridge regression by 91.1%, 88.6%, 87.7%, and 82.0%, respectively. A cross-battery ablation experiment showed that the dual-level transfer learning strategy reduced the root mean square error from approximately 0.009 to 0.0028, whereas increasing network complexity alone yielded only marginal improvement. A further hierarchical ablation showed that jointly adapting the Ridge prior and the residual network achieved a mean RMSE of 0.004325, representing reductions of 9.39%, 4.14%, and 6.92% relative to the no-adaptation, Ridge-only adaptation, and residual-network-only adaptation configurations, respectively.

Abstract The solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) critically governs the reversibility and kinetics of lithium-ion batteries, yet its formation has long been viewed as a potential-driven electrolyte reduction process, with the role of Li+ desolvation largely overlooked. Here, we reveal the decisive role of Li+ desolvation in SEI formation by employing tailored electrolyte–electrode pairs. By using a TiNb2O7 anode with a high working potential that substantially suppresses direct solvent reduction, the desolvation-regulated contribution to SEI chemistry becomes experimentally resolvable. Along this solvent-engineered desolvation gradient, faster desolvation suppresses solvent reduction, shifts interfacial decomposition toward anion-derived pathways, and leads to an inorganic-rich SEI. This principle is further validated on graphite anodes, where Li+ desolvation and potential-driven reduction coexist and jointly govern SEI formation. This work establishes a kinetic framework for SEI formation and provides a guideline for interphase design in advanced batteries.

Lithium salts are central to the performance, stability, and safety of modern lithium batteries. For decades, lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) has dominated as the benchmark electrolyte salt. However, emerging battery chemistries demanding higher energy density, wider operating temperatures, and enhanced safety have exposed the intrinsic limitations of LiPF6. This review presents a paradigm shift in understanding lithium salts—from passive ionic conductors to active molecular regulators that govern ion solvation, interfacial chemistry, and electrode stability. We systematically analyze recent advances in lithium salt design beyond LiPF6, covering key families including sulfonylimides, borates, phosphates, nitrates, and organic lithium salts. Central design principles—such as weakening Li+–anion interactions, promoting anion-derived interphase formation, and enabling sacrificial lithium supply—are discussed in the context of their influence on solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) and cathode-electrolyte interphase (CEI) formation. These molecular-level strategies directly enable performance enhancements in lithium deposition, dendrite suppression, and high-voltage stability. The review further highlights a clear evolution from single-salt systems toward multi-salt formulations and solid-state or hybrid electrolytes, where complementary salt functions decouple ionic transport from interfacial stability. Persistent challenges, including aluminum corrosion, limited temperature tolerance, and practical compatibility, are critically assessed. By establishing a unified structure–property–performance framework, this review underscores rational lithium salt engineering as a cornerstone for next-generation high-energy and safe lithium batteries.

Separator is a critical internal component, which can isolate the positive and negative electrodes, prevent short circuits, and allow lithium ions to pass freely, ensure safety and performance stability of battery. With the continuous improvement in the energy density of lithium-ion batteries, traditional polypropylene (PP) composite separators can no longer meet the growing demand for energy storage. To address this problem, this study proposes a simple method of modifying the conventional PP separators using an NiO coating to enhance the overall performance of PP separators. The results show that the separator with a 15 mm nickel oxide coating (NiO@PP-15) exhibits the best comprehensive performance. In 1C and 5C cycling tests, NiO@PP-15 demonstrates optimal stability, the slowest capacity decay, and more stable electrochemical performance. After a 5C cycle test, the NiO@PP-15 still has a battery capacity of 121.53 mAh g − 1 . Compared to the specific capacity of the PP separator (35.56 mAh g − 1 ), both the NiO@PP-5 (61.16 mAh g − 1 ) and NiO@PP-10 (110.33 mAh g − 1 ) also exhibited markedly superior electrochemical performance. These findings indicate that NiO coating not only improves the high discharge capacity but also enables cycling stability under high discharge rate conditions, which provided reliable technical support for high-energy-density and high-rate energy storage systems.

Phosphorus's high theoretical capacity and abundance make it a promising anode material for lithium/sodiumion batteries. However, large volume changes during cycling cause particle displacement, and inadequate binder adhesion leads to active material loss and rapid capacity fade. Herein, a 3D crosslinked multifunctional binder sodium alginate-tannic acid (SA/TA) binder synthesized by hydrogen bonding and chemical crosslinking is designed. The catechol-rich TA enhances interfacial compatibility with carbon-based particles through it-it interactions, resulting in a more homogeneous dispersion and improved dispersion stability of the electrode slurry components. Crosslinking enhances both the mechanical strength and dynamic viscoelasticity of the SA/TA binder. The abundant hydroxyl groups facilitate dynamic hydrogen bonding, enabling adaptation to strain caused by phosphorus/carbon particle expansion and relative displacement. Electrodes fabricated with the SA/ TA binder and high-capacity phosphorus/carbon materials exhibit exceptional high-rate performance (1011.40 mAh g- 1 at 5C) and long-term cycling stability (83.75% capacity retention after 200 cycles at 0.5C). This work's dynamic-static bond binder design enables strong adaptation to particle movement, offering a novel approach for high-performance binders in high-performance lithium/sodium-ion batteries, especially for high-capacity anodes like phosphorus-based ones.

The accelerating adoption of electric vehicles has led to a surge in spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), intensifying the demand for efficient and low-carbon recycling technologies. Molten salt-based recycling methods have become a transformative approach that integrates pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, and direct regeneration. This review systematically summarizes the recent advances in molten salt-assisted recycling, covering electrode separation, selective metal extraction, graphite purification, and electrode material regeneration. By utilizing the unique thermochemical and electrochemical properties of molten salts, critical metals can be efficiently recovered while reducing energy consumption and minimizing the environmental burden. Additionally, eutectic and composite molten salts can achieve low temperature relithiation and lattice reconstruction, thereby restoring the electrochemical properties of degraded electrodes and realizing direct upgrading and regeneration of materials. Life cycle assessment reveals that molten salt-based recycling substantially lowers greenhouse gas emissions and operating costs compared with conventional processes. Finally, the challenges of mechanism analysis, process integration, and waste management are discussed, and the prospects of integrating molten salt systems with carbon capture, renewable energy, and intelligent process control are envisioned. Therefore, these advances establish molten salt-based recycling as a green, efficient, and economically viable pathway for achieving closed-loop, high-value recovery of spent LIBs.

Stereolithography (SLA) is a promising technique for fabricating lithium disilicate glass-ceramics (LDGC). However, the porous nature of SLA-derived glass green bodies creates a complex interaction between densification and crystallization during sintering, necessitating precise optimization of sintering parameters. This study investigated the effects of crystallization temperature on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and translucency of SLA-fabricated LDGC. Specimens were fabricated by SLA and sintered at crystallization temperatures of 800, 825, 850, 875, and 900 °C, with milled LDGC serving as the control. Microstructure was characterized in terms of crystalline phase, grain morphology, density, and porosity. Mechanical performance was evaluated through nanohardness, elastic modulus, Vickers hardness, and fracture toughness, while translucency was assessed using translucency parameter, contrast ratio, and transmittance. Increasing crystallization temperature promoted lithium disilicate grain coarsening and reduced densification without altering the predominant crystalline phase. These microstructural changes resulted in reduced hardness and elastic modulus, increased fracture toughness, and improved translucency. Within an evaluation framework prioritizing densification and mechanical performance while also considering translucency, 825 °C is identified as the most favorable crystallization temperature that produces well-balanced overall performance. Although the translucency of SLA-fabricated LDGC remains inferior to that of milled LDGC, several microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties approach those of the milled material. These findings provide guidance for sintering optimization and support the further development of SLA-fabricated LDGC for digital prosthodontic applications.

Due to the high cost and environmental concerns related to the use of cobalt in conventional layered cathode materials based on transition metals, such as NCM, high-nickel and cobalt-free layered oxides have emerged as promising candidates for lithium-ion batteries, offering potentially higher capacities and lower costs. However, the transition to these materials is not without its hurdles, as they typically exhibit poor cycling stability. In light of this, LiNiO2 (LNO), which serves as a prototype for high-nickel and cobalt-free materials, has been the subject of this investigation. Hereby, we have developed a one-step synthesis method for an Al-doped and La4NiLiO8-coated synergistically modified LNO (LA-LNO), involving in situ wet coating followed by high-temperature lithiation, demonstrating that this modification reduces the Ni2+ content in LA-LNO. These alterations effectively alleviate stress variations within the particles during cycling and prevent electrolyte attack on the bulk material in the event of particle fracturing. The La4NiLiO8 epitaxial coating acts as a protective interfacial barrier while also diminishing interface impedance due to its superior electronic and ionic conductivity. This highlights the substantial improvement in the electrochemical performance of LNO achieved through La/Al synergistic modification, providing a valuable benchmark for the synthesis of high-nickel and cobalt-free cathode materials.

Accurate state‐of‐charge (SOC) estimation is essential for ensuring the safety and efficiency of lithium‐ion battery systems under complex operating conditions. To address limitations in convergence speed and estimation accuracy, this paper proposes an improved Latin Hypercube Tuna Swarm Optimization (LHTSO) algorithm. The method enhances population initialization via Latin hypercube sampling, incorporates a stage‐adaptive search strategy, and introduces an elite‐guidance mechanism to improve global optimization performance. An integrated LHTSO‐BP‐UKF framework is further developed for SOC estimation. Experimental validation is conducted under multiple driving cycles (Dynamic Stress Test (DST), New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), Federal Test Procedure (FTP), Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS)) and a wide temperature range (−10 to 40 °C). Results demonstrate that the proposed method consistently outperforms conventional Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) and its variants. Under the challenging DST condition at 25 °C, the proportion of samples with estimation error exceeding 1% is reduced from 80.20% to 4.10%, achieving a 96.55% relative improvement. Moreover, the method maintains stable and bounded estimation under low‐temperature conditions. These results confirm the robustness, generalization capability, and practical applicability of the proposed approach.

The large-format design of blade batteries poses unique thermal safety challenges, where thermal runaway propagation (TRP) involves a complex interplay between internal cell and cell-to-cell processes, differing fundamentally from conventional batteries. This study investigates this synergistic TRP mechanism within blade battery modules via nail penetration tests. Results reveal a progressive migration of the TR initiation point toward the safety vent in successive cells, associated with localized hot spots formed near the safety vents by high temperature venting gases and ejected materials. This migration extends the internal TRP time up to 44.7 s-significantly longer than in traditional cells (<10 s). Concurrently, shortened cell-to-cell TRP intervals (<= 22 s) and synchronized TR events between adjacent cells were observed. These coupled phenomena lead to a prolonged total energy release duration of 138.5 s, markedly increasing the thermal hazard compared to conventional modules (similar to 30 s). Furthermore, safety vent placement is identified as a critical design parameter: side vents decelerate energy release, while a central vent shortens the TR duration but doubles the energy release rate. The findings provide essential insights and practical design guidelines for mitigating TRP risks in next-generation high-energy-density blade battery systems.

Background Hyperglycemia-related metabolic encephalopathy is an uncommon but clinically important neurological complication of diabetes. It most frequently presents as hemichorea–hemiballism associated with characteristic striatal abnormalities on neuroimaging. However, atypical presentations without imaging correlates remain underrecognized. Case presentation We report a 72-year-old woman with long-standing type 2 diabetes who developed paroxysmal involuntary movements involving the head, neck, and bilateral upper limbs following pancreatic tumor resection. The episodes were irregular, non-stereotyped, and occurred with preserved consciousness. Brain MRI revealed no acute lesions or characteristic striatal signal changes. Long-term video electroencephalography showed diffuse slow-wave activity without epileptiform discharges, effectively excluding an epileptic origin. Comprehensive cerebrospinal fluid and serological testing ruled out autoimmune and paraneoplastic etiologies. Notably, the patient exhibited marked glucose fluctuations during hospitalization rather than persistent severe hyperglycemia. The involuntary movements gradually resolved following stabilization of blood glucose levels. Conclusions This case expands the clinical spectrum of hyperglycemia-related movement disorders by demonstrating that they may present as paroxysmal, bilateral, and complex involuntary movements without typical imaging abnormalities. Postoperative metabolic instability following pancreatic resection may represent an important precipitating factor. Early recognition of this atypical phenotype is essential to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary interventions.

With the rapid expansion of electric vehicles, the echelon utilization of decommissioned lithium-ion batteries has become an urgent research priority, yet current studies remain preliminary and the technology is still immature. This study proposes a two-stage framework, Combination Weighting Method for Game Theory (CWMGT)-VIse Kriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR)- Kernel Self-Organizing Map (KSOM), for comprehensive sorting and clustering of decommissioned lithium-ion batteries of Electric Vehicles (EVs) to enhance echelon utilization. CWMGT balances subjective and objective weights, VIKOR provides multi-criteria ranking, and KSOM ensures high-accuracy clustering. By replacing Euclidean distance with Gaussian kernel functions, KSOM improves clustering quality by 12% (Dataset 1) and 17.1% (Dataset 2) compared with traditional SOM, while eliminating misclassifications. The two-stage design also improves efficiency, reducing runtime by 41% on Dataset 2 relative to single-stage KSOM. Validation on laboratory and MIT-Stanford-Toyota datasets confirms that the framework effectively reduces inconsistency, improves classification reliability, and supports optimized reuse in energy storage. Key innovations include: (1) game-theoretic weight optimization, (2) VIKOR-based preliminary sorting, and (3) kernel-enhanced clustering. Overall, the proposed approach advances decommissioned battery management by combining precision and efficiency, thereby supporting large-scale echelon utilization and the circular economy of the EVs industry.

The rapid adoption of new energy vehicles (NEVs) hinges on the intrinsic safety of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). While stringent safety standards like China's GB 38031 exist, a disconcerting paradox persists: field fire incidents continue to rise despite certified compliance. This disconnect underscores a critical “standards-reality gap” between controlled laboratory tests and complex, coupled real-world conditions. Here, we construct and analyze a unique dataset of 417 real-world EV fire incidents (2022-2025H1) to uncover the material-level root causes and systemic vulnerabilities behind dominant high-risk scenarios: parked-state spontaneous combustion, charging-related cascading fires, and high-fatality post-collision ignitions. Our analysis reveals that these incidents predominantly stem from coupled and time-dependent material degradation pathways—such as SEI instability aggravated by high SOC/ temperature, lithium plating from fast charging, and separator compromise from mechanical abuse—that are not adequately captured by single-stress, pass/fail certification tests. A critical evaluation of evolving standards (GB 38031-2020/2025, China) identifies persistent gaps in addressing full-lifecycle material aging and scenario-specific material responses. We argue that moving beyond static material qualification is imperative. This study concludes by proposing a roadmap for next-generation, material-informed safety standards that advocate for dynamic monitoring, chemistry-aware safety protocols, and redundancy design, thereby fostering a more resilient material-to-system safety ecosystem for sustainable energy storage.

Electrochemical potential plays a crucial role in various electrochemical systems. However, the influence distance of electrochemical potential (IDEP) remains unclear. In this study, we experimentally measured the dynamic influence range of IDEP using a designed Li|Li pouch cell with four lithium metal electrodes. The results revealed that the IDEP could reach over 1 mm, which overturns the previous understanding of its limited range. This finding may provide new insights into interface studies and interphase device design, such as batteries and capacitors.

The pursuit of safer and higher energy‐density batteries has positioned all‐solid‐state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) at the forefront of next‐generation energy storage technologies. The solid‐state electrolyte (SSE) serves as the pivotal component, with its thin‐film fabrication being critical for minimizing inactive material mass and maximizing energy density—a decisive step toward commercial viability. However, the transition from fundamental materials discovery to high‐performance, ultrathin SSE membranes faces significant challenges, including insufficient ionic conductivity, poor interfacial stability, and inadequate mechanical integrity at reduced dimensions. This review provides a comprehensive overview and critical analysis of the latest advancements in the design and manufacturing of thin‐film composite SSEs. We first delineate the intrinsic limitations of conventional inorganic and polymer SSEs, establishing the imperative for composite strategies. The core of the review systematically navigates advanced fabrication methodologies—spanning wet, dry, and emerging processes—and architectural innovations, with a focus on nanofiller engineering, layered structures, and 3D scaffolds. We emphasize the synergistic interplay between processing techniques and multiscale structures in simultaneously enhancing ionic transport, mechanical robustness, and electrode compatibility. By framing a comprehensive “processing–structure–performance” paradigm, this review aims to guide future research endeavors and accelerate the development of industrially relevant thin‐film SSEs for practical high‐energy‐density ASSLBs.