Nowadays, sodium-ion batteries are considered the most promising large-scale energy storage systems (EESs) due to the low cost and wide distribution of sodium sources as well as the similar working principle to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Therefore, screening suitable materials with high abundance, low cost, and excellent reliability and modified with different strategies based on them is the key point for the development of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). In addition, the ideal anodes with high abundance, and low cost elements also greatly influence the cost of SIB systems, determining the large-scale application. Herein, recent advances in carbon, iron, manganese, and phosphorusbased anodes of various types, such as hard carbon, iron oxides, manganese oxides, and red phosphorus, are highlighted. The various sodium storage mechanisms and structure-function properties for these four types of materials are summarized and analyzed in detail. Considering the commercial profits that the EESs can bring and their suitability for mass electrode manufacturing, the participation of high-abundance and low-cost elements such as Fe, Mn, C, and P is convincing and encouraging.

Zinc metal stands out as a promising anode material due to its exceptional theoretical capacity, impressive energy density, and low redox potential. However, challenges such as zinc dendrite growth, anode corrosion, and side reactions in aqueous electrolytes significantly impede the practical application of zinc metal anodes. Herein, 3-(1-pyridinio)-1-propanesulfonate (PPS) is introduced as a zwitterionic additive to achieve long-term and highly reversible Zn plating/stripping. Due to the orientation polarization with the force of electric field, PPS additive with π–π conjugated pyridinio cations and strong coordination ability of sulfonate anion tends to generate a dynamic adsorption layer and build a unique water–poor interface. PPS with steric hindrance effect and strong coordination ability can attract solvated Zn²⁺, thereby promoting the desolvation process. Moreover, by providing a large number of nucleation sites and inducing zinc ion flow, the preferred orientation of the (002) crystal plane can be achieved. Therefore, the interfacial electrochemical reduction kinetics is regulated and uniform zinc deposition is ensured. Owing to these advantages, the Zn//Zn symmetrical cell with PPS additive exhibits remarkable cycling stability exceeding 2340 h (1mA cm^–2 and 1mA h cm^–2). The Zn//V₂O₅ full cell also delivers stable cycling for up to 6000 cycles.

In the domain of novel catalyst design and application, metal phosphides have attracted widespread interest due to their unique electronic structure and potential catalytic activity. Various types of supports that can effectively anchor metal phosphides have been reported, among which MXene have received significant attention due to their two-dimensional (2D) structure, adjustable composition, and composite variability. This work mainly aims to elucidate the preparation of novel MXene carriers and their unique roles in loading metal phosphides and participating in catalytic reactions. We will clarify the preparation strategy of MXene, the interaction between metal phosphides and MXene carriers, to explain the stabilization of metal phosphide active sites and the rational adjustment of electronic structure. In addition, we will comprehensively summarize recent research progress of MXene-based metal phosphide composites, with particular emphasis on advancements in the synergistic effect of heterostructures. Regarding applications, we review the utilization of MXene-based metal phosphide composites in electrocatalysis, including hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Finally, some fundamental challenges and prospects for the efficient electrocatalysis of MXene-based metal phosphide composites are introduced.

Titanium niobium oxide (TiNb_xO_{2 + 2.5x}) is emerging as a promising electrode material for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its exceptional safety characteristics, high electrochemical properties (e.g., cycling stability and rate performance), and eco-friendliness. However, several intrinsic critical drawbacks, such as relatively low electrical conductivity, significantly hinder its practical applications. Developing reliable strategies is crucial to accelerating the practical use of TiNb_xO_{2 + 2.5x}-based materials in LIBs, especially high-power LIBs. Here, we provide a chronicle review of the research progress on TiNb_xO_{2 + 2.5x}-based anodes from the early 1950s to the present, which is classified into early stage (before 2008), emerging stage (2008–2012), explosive stage (2013–2017), commercialization (2018), steady development (2018–2022), and new breakthrough stage (since 2022). In each stage, the advancements in the fundamental science and application of the TiNb_xO_{2 + 2.5x}-based anodes are reviewed, and the corresponding developing trends of TiNb_xO_{2 + 2.5x}-based anodes are summarized. Moreover, several future research directions to propel the practical use of TiNb_xO_{2 + 2.5x} anodes are suggested based on reviewing the history. This review is expected to pave the way for developing the fabrication and application of high-performance TiNb_xO_{2 + 2.5x}-based anodes for LIBs.

In recent decades, the “trade-off” problem of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) has been a concern. Herein, a series of urea-based multication poly (biphenyl alkylene)s AEMs are prepared by obtaining an ether bond-free backbone through ultra-strong acid catalysis, grafting it with multication side chains, and then by accessing urea-based groups in different ratios. By accessing the urea group, noncovalent bonds are used to link the molecules to act as cross-links, giving them solubility that chemical cross-links do not have. The PBTA-DQA-35U membrane possessed the highest ionic conductivity of 62.43 mS/cm. Compared with the PBTA-DQA membrane (80°C, WU= 20.45%, SR = 17.67%), the PBTA-DQA-25U membrane showed an increase in water uptake but not much change in swelling (WU = 30.23%, SR = 19.36%), which was attributed to the fact that the hydrophilic urea groups provide cation transport sites while hydrogen bonding inhibits membrane swelling. The PBTA-DQA-35U ionic conductivity is retained above 75% after 960 h of alkali stability testing. The power density of the MEA device assembled using PBTA-DQA-35U membrane is 421.78 mW/cm².

Proton exchange membrane water electrolyser (PEMWE) possesses great significance for the production of high purity of hydrogen. To expedite the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) that involved multiple electron– proton-coupled process, efficient and stable electrocatalysts are highly desired. Currently, noble-metal Ir-based materials are the benchmark anode due to its corrosion-resistant property and favourable combination of activity/stability. However, the large-scale deployment of PEMWE is usually constrained due to the use of the scarcest element iridium. In this review, we disclose the current research progress towards the non-iridium-based electrocatalysts for OER in acidic media, and then summarize some typical oxides that possesses good catalytic performance. Besides, we also present the unresolved problems and challenges in an attempt to enhance the activity/stability of these catalysts.

Searching for low-cost, high-capacity, high-power, high-stability, high-tapdensity, and inherently safe materials for developing cheap, safe, and highperformance batteries has always been a research hotspot. Herein, an inherently safe, low-cost, and low-strain KTiOPO₄ (KTOP) submicron single crystals with a uniform thin layer carbon coating are developed using a ball-mill assisted solid-state method. Uniform solid electrolyte interphase, carbon coating, and inherently stable structure synergistically help compact KTOP submicron single crystals achieve an exceptional anodic K-ion storage performance. The carbon-coated KTOP single crystals obtained under the carbonization temperature of 400°C (KTOP-C-400) can deliver an exceptional potassium ion storage performance of 253.3, 224.0, 175.5, and 131.1mA h g^–1 at the current density of 100, 200, 500, and 1000 mA g^–1, respectively, in the electrolyte of 5M potassium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (KFSI) in DIGLYME electrolytes. Even after being cycled at 1000 mA g^–1 for 1000 cycles, the capacity was maintained at 182.5 mAh g^–1 with a coulombic efficiency of 99.9%.