Aqueous zinc (Zn)-based batteries with high cyclic stability, exceptional safety, and low cost hold great promise as next-generation energy storage devices. However, Zn metal anode suffers from serious dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution and Zn corrosion during plating/stripping cycles, hampering its practical utilization. Herein, we report a multicore-shell structure of bismuth (Bi) nanoparticles embedded within N-doped porous carbon nanorods (Bi@NPCN) to regulate Zn deposition behavior. Theoretical simulation and in situ optical microscopy revealed that the abundant Bi nanoparticles with high zincophilic property strongly adsorbed Zn²⁺, enabling the rapid and massive Zn deposition, meanwhile NPCN with porous feature provides sufficient space for accommodating Zn volume expansion. Electrochemical tests demonstrated an ultra-stable dendrite-free Zn deposition behavior for 1500 h, high rate capability up to 20 mA cm^-2, and an exceptional Coulombic efficiency of ~100% after 1200 cycles. The Zn-ion batteries coupled with ammonium vanadate cathode exhibit a highly-stable cyclic performance for 3000 cycles at 5.0 A g^-1, with a high capacity retention of 66.7%. Impressively, a remarkable long-term cyclic performance over 10000 cycles was realized when employing active carbon cathode. This study offers a new strategy of utilizing multicore-shell structure with zincophilic seeds to achieve dendrite-free Zn metal anode.

The rapid evolution of flexible wearable electronics has spurred a growing demand for energy storage devices, characterized by low-cost manufacturing processes, high safety standards, exceptional electrochemical performance and robust mechanical properties. Among novel flexible devices, fiber-shaped batteries (FSBs) have emerged as prominent solutions exceptionally suited to future applications, owing to their unique one-dimensional (1D) architecture, remarkable flexibility, potential for miniaturization, adaptability to deformation and compatibility with the conventional textile industry. In the forefront research on fiber-shaped batteries, zinc-based FSBs (ZFSBs) have garnered significant attentions, featured by the promising electrochemical properties of metallic Zn. This enthusiasm is driven by the impressive capacity of Zn (820 mAh·g⁻¹) and its low redox potential (Zn/Zn²⁺: −0.76 V vs. standard hydrogen electrode). This review aims to consolidate recent achievements in the structural design, fabrication processes and electrode materials of flexible ZFSBs. Notably, we highlight three representative structural configurations: parallel type, twisted type and coaxial type. We also place special emphasis on electrode modifications and electrolyte selection. Furthermore, we delve into the promising development opportunities and anticipate future challenges associated with ZFSBs, emphasizing their potential roles in powering the next generation of wearable electronics.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries, known for their high energy density, are attracting extensive research interest as a promising next-generation energy storage technology. However, their widespread use has been hampered by certain issues, including the dissolution and migration of polysulfides, along with sluggish redox kinetics. Metal sulfides present a promising solution to these obstacles regarding their high electrical conductivity, strong chemical adsorption with polysulfides, and remarkable electrocatalytic capabilities for polysulfide conversion. In this review, the recent progress on the utilization of metal sulfide for suppressing polysulfide shuttling in Li-S batteries is systematically summarized, with a special focus on sulfur hosts and functional separators. The critical roles of metal sulfides in realizing high-performing Li-S batteries have been comprehensively discussed by correlating the materials’ structure and electrochemical performances. Moreover, the remaining issues/challenges and future perspectives are highlighted. By offering a detailed understanding of the crucial roles of metal sulfides, this review dedicates to contributing valuable knowledge for the pursuit of high-efficiency Li-S batteries based on metal sulfides.

Niobium oxide (Nb₂O₅) is a promising material in photocatalytic, solar cell, electronic like electron field emitters, and especially lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because of its adjustable morphologies, controllable crystal type, stable structure, and environmental friendliness. However, its low electrical conductivity lowers the rate performance and limits the practical applications in LIBs. Herein, we present a one-step solid-state synthesis of orthogonal Nb₂O₅ nanocrystals/graphene composites (Nb₂O₅/G) as high-performance anode materials in LIBs. Benefiting from the nanoscale crystalline structure Nb₂O₅ and highly-conductive graphene substrate, the as-prepared Nb₂O₅/G exhibits excellent electrochemical performances. Impressively, a reversible structural phase transition between orthogonal Nb₂O₅ and tetragonal Li_1−xNbO₂ (0 < x < 1) was verified by ex-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). After coupling with graphite cathode based on PF₆⁻ intercalation/deintercalation mechanisms, Nb₂O₅/G||graphite dual-ion batteries (DIBs) full cell delivers good electrochemical performance in terms of cyclic performance and rate capability. We believe this work can provide a clear route towards developing advanced transition metal oxide/graphene composite anode and a comprehension of its electrochemical reaction mechanism.