Dual-ion batteries (DIBs) usually use carbon-based materials as electrodes, showing advantages in high operating voltage, potential low cost, and environmental friendliness. Different from conventional “rocking chair” type secondary batteries, DIBs perform a unique working mechanism, which employ both cation and anion taking part in capacity contribution at an anode and a cathode, respectively, during electrochemical reactions. Graphite has been identified as a suitable cathode material for anion intercalation at high voltages (> 4.8 V) with fast reaction kinetics. However, the development of DIBs is being hindered by dynamic mismatch between a cathode and an anode due to sluggish Li⁺ diffusion at a high rate. Herein, we prepared phyllostachys edulis derived carbon (PEC) through microstructure regulation strategy and investigated the carbonized temperature effect, which effectively tailored the rich short-range ordered graphite microdomains and disordered amorphous regions, as well as a unique nano-pore hierarchical structure. The pore size distribution of nano-pores was concentrated in 0.5-5 nm, providing suitable channels for rapid Li⁺ transportation. It was found that PEC-500 (carbonized at 500 ℃) achieved a high capacity of 436 mAh·g^-1 at 300 mA·g^-1 and excellent rate performance (maintaining a high capacity of 231 mAh·g^-1 at 3 A·g^-1). The assembled dual-carbon PEC-500||graphite full battery delivered 114 mAh·g^-1 at 10 C with 96% capacity retention after 3000 cycles and outstanding rate capability, providing 74 mAh·g^-1 at 50 C.

In the process of electroless cobalt plating, the saccharin additive can significantly change the surface morphology, texture orientation, and conductivity of the cobalt coating layer. When the amount of saccharin was 3 mg·L^-1, the cobalt coating transformed from disordered large grains to a honeycomb structure, with a preferred orientation of (002) facet on hexagonal close-packed (HCP) cobalt crystals. The resistivity of the cobalt film decreased to 14.4 μΩ·cm, and further decreased to 10.7 μΩ·cm after the annealing treatment. When the concentration of saccharin was increased, the grain size was gradually refined and a “stone forest” structure was observed, with the preferred orientation remaining unchanged. The addition of saccharin also slightly improves the purity of cobalt coating to a certain extent. Through the study of the crystallization behavior of cobalt electroless plating, saccharin molecules can adsorb to specific c-sites on the cobalt dense crystal plane, inhibiting the growth of abc stacking arrangement and inducing the crystal growth in ab stacking mode, thereby achieving optimal growth of HCP (002) texture.

Direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) are a promising alternative to conventional energy sources, offering high energy density, environmental sustainability, and operational safety. Compared to methanol fuel cells, DEFCs exhibit lower toxicity and a more mature preparation process. Unlike hydrogen fuel cells, DEFCs provide superior storage and transport feasibility, as well as cost-effectiveness, significantly enhancing their commercial viability. However, the stable C-C bond in ethanol creates a high activation energy barrier, often resulting in incomplete electrooxidation. Current commercial platinum (Pt)- and palladium (Pd)-based catalysts demonstrate low C-C bond cleavage efficiency (<7.5%), severely limiting DEFC energy output and power density. Furthermore, high catalyst costs and insufficient activity impede large-scale commercialization. Recent advances in DEFC anode catalyst design have focused on optimizing material composition and elucidating catalytic mechanisms. This review systematically examines developments in ethanol electrooxidation catalysts over the past five years, highlighting strategies to improve C1 pathway selectivity and C-C bond activation. Key approaches, such as alloying, nanostructure engineering, and interfacial synergy effects, are discussed alongside their mechanistic implications. Finally, we outline current challenges and future prospects for DEFC commercialization.

The conversion of urea-containing wastewater into clean hydrogen energy has gained increasing attention. However, challenges remain, particularly with sluggish catalytic kinetics and limited long-term stability of urea oxidation reaction (UOR). Herein, we report the loosely porous CoOOH nano-architecture (CoOOH LPNAs) with hydrophilic surface and abundant oxygen vacancies (O_v) on carbon fiber paper (CFP) by electrochemical reconstruction of the CoP nanoneedles precursor. The resulting three-dimensional electrode exhibited an impressively low potential of 1.38 V at 1000 mA·cm⁻² and excellent durability for UOR. Furthermore, when tested in an anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzer, it required only 1.53 V at 1000 mA·cm⁻² for industrial urea-assisted water splitting and operated stably for 100 h without degradation. Experimental and theoretical investigations revealed that rich oxygen vacancies effectively modulate the electronic structure of the CoOOH while creating unique Co₃-triangle sites with Co atoms close together. As a result, the adsorption and desorption processes of reactants and intermediates in UOR could be finely tuned, thereby significantly reducing thermodynamic barriers. Additionally, the superhydrophilic self-supported nanoarray structure facilitated rapid gas bubble release, improving the overall efficiency of the reaction and preventing potential catalyst detachment caused by bubble accumulation, thereby improving both catalytic activity and stability at high current densities.