Langmuir-Blodgett Film Formed by Amphiphilic Molecules for Facile and Rapid Construction of Zinc-Iodine Cell.

Zinc-iodine batteries (ZIBs) are promising candidates for ecofriendly, safe, and low-cost energy storage systems, but polyiodide shuttling and the complex cathode fabrication procedures have severely hindered their broader commercial usage. Herein, a protocol is developed using phospholipid-like oleylamine molecules for scalable production of Langmuir-Blodgett films, which allows the facile preparation of ZIB cathodes in less than 1 min. The resulting inhomogeneous cathode allows for the continuous conversion of iodine. Moreover, the amine group of the oleylamine molecule at the cathode is capable of producing [OA*I+]I3- charge-transfer complexes with iodine, which facilitates the rapid migration of iodine and results in a highly reversible iodine conversion process. Consequently, the as-prepared ZIBs can deliver over 2000 cycles at 0.5 mA cm-2 with a capacity retention of 75.3%. This work presents a novel, straightforward, and efficient method for the rapid construction of ZIBs.

Inducing Directional Charge Delocalization in 3D-Printable Micro-Supercapacitors Based on Strongly Coupled Black Phosphorus and ReS2 Nanocomposites.

The growing interest in so-called interface coupling strategies arises from their potential to enhance the performance of active electrode materials. Nevertheless, designing a robust coupled interface in nanocomposites for stable electrochemical processes remains a challenge. In this study, an epitaxial growth strategy is proposed by synthesizing sulfide rhenium (ReS2 ) on exfoliated black phosphorus (E-BP) nanosheets, creating an abundance of robust interfacial linkages. Through spectroscopic analysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, the authors investigate the interfacial environment. The well-developed coupled interface and structural stability contribute to the impressive performance of the 3D-printed E-BP@ReS2 -based micro-supercapacitor, achieving a specific capacitance of 47.3 mF cm-2 at 0.1 mA cm-2 and demonstrating excellent long-term cyclability (89.2% over 2000 cycles). Furthermore, density functional theory calculations unveil the positive impact of the strongly coupled interface in the E-BP@ReS2 nanocomposite on the adsorption of H+ ions, showcasing a significantly reduced adsorption energy of -2.17 eV. The strong coupling effect facilitates directional charge delocalization at the interface, enhancing the electrochemical performance of electrodes and resulting in the successful construction of advanced micro-supercapacitors.