Inferior fast-charging and low-temperature performances remain a hurdle for lithium-ion batteries. Overcoming this hurdle is extremely challenging primarily due to the low conductivity of commercial ethylene carbonate (EC)-based electrolytes and the formation of undesirable solid electrolyte interphases with poor Li+-ion diffusion kinetics. Here, a series of EC-free fast-charging electrolytes (FCEs) by incorporating a fluorinated ester, methyl trifluoroacetate (MTFA), as a special cosolvent into a practically viable LiPF6-dimethyl carbonate-fluoroethylene carbonate system, is reported. With a solvent-dominated solvation structure, MTFA facilitates the formation of thin, yet robust, interphases on both the cathode and anode. Commercial 1 Ah graphite|LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 pouch cells filled with the FCE exhibit ≈80% capacity retention over 3000 cycles at 3 C and 4 C (15 min) charging rates in the full range of 0-100% state-of-charge. Moreover, even at a low operating temperature of -20 °C, the 1 Ah cell retains a high capacity of 0.65 Ah at a 2 C discharge rate and displays virtually no capacity fade on cycling at a C/5 rate. The work highlights the power of electrolyte design in achieving extra-fast-charging and low-temperature performances.

Traditional ethylene carbonate (EC)-based electrolytes constrain the applications of silicon carbon (Si-C) anodes under fast-charging and low-temperature conditions due to sluggish Li+ migration kinetics and unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Herein, inspired by the efficient water purification and soil stabilization of aquatic plants, a stable SEI with a 3D desolvation interface is designed with gel polymer electrolyte (GPE), accelerating Li+ desolvation and migration at the interface and within stable SEI. As demonstrated by theoretical simulations and experiment results, the resulting poly(1,3-dioxolane) (PDOL), prepared by in situ ring-opening polymerization of 1,3-dioxolane (DOL), creates a 3D desolvation area, improving the Li+ desolvation at the interface and yielding an amorphous GPE with a high Li+ ionic conductivity (5.73 mS cm-1). Furthermore, more anions participate in the solvated structure, forming an anion-derived stable SEI and improving Li+ transport through SEI. Consequently, the Si-C anode achieves excellent rate performance with GPE at room temperature (RT) and low temperature (-40 °C). The pouch full cell coupled with LiFePO4 cathode obtains 97.42 mAh g-1 after 500 cycles at 5 C/5 C. This innovatively designed 3D desolvation interface and SEI represent significant breakthroughs for developing fast-charging and low-temperature batteries.

Graphite-based lithium-ion batteries have succeeded greatly in the electric vehicle market. However, they suffer from performance deterioration, especially at fast charging and low temperatures. Traditional electrolytes based on carbonated esters have sluggish desolvation kinetics, recognized as the rate-determining step. Here, a weakly solvating ether electrolyte with tetrahydropyran (THP) as the solvent is designed to enable reversible and fast lithium-ion (Li+) intercalation in the graphite anode. Unlike traditional ether-based electrolytes which easily cointercalate into the graphite layers, the THP-based electrolyte shows fast desolvation ability and can match well with the graphite anode. In addition, the weak interconnection between Li+ and THP allows more anions to come into the solvating shell of Li+, inducing an inorganic-rich interface and thus suppressing the side reactions. As a result, the lithium iron phosphate/graphite pouch cell (3 Ah) with the THP electrolyte shows a capacity retention of 80.3% after 500 cycles at 2 C charging, much higher than that of the ester electrolyte system (7.6% after 200 cycles). At 4 C charging, the discharging capacity is increased from 2.29 Ah of esters to 2.96 Ah of THP. Furthermore, the cell can work normally over wide working temperatures (-20 to 60 °C). Our electrolyte design provides some understanding of lithium-ion batteries at fast charging and wide temperatures.

Charging power supplies with both fast and visualization functions have a wide range of applications in the information and new energy industries. In this paper, the visualized and contact-type fast charging power supply based on WO3 film and Zn sheet is presented, and the prototype devices are fabricated. Different with the charging method of conventional batteries, charging is achieved by a Zn sheet contacting with a WO3 film moistened with water, resulting in a rapid discoloration of WO3. Theoretical investigation indicates that the interaction between Zn sheet and water molecules is the primary cause of the color change in the WO3 film. The WO3 film completes the colouring state within 10 s in the presence of Zn sheet and water, and the open-circuit voltage of the device is 0.7 V, which can be used to drive various electronics by series-parallel connection. This research introduces a novel method to induce colouring of WO3 films and proposes a fast charging mode different from traditional power sources. It provides valuable insights for the future development of fast charging in the field of electrical energy.

Li-ion battery degradation and safety events are often attributed to undesirable metallic lithium plating. Since their release, Li-ion battery electrodes have been made progressively thicker to provide a higher energy density. However, the propensity for plating in these thicker pairings is not well understood. Herein, we combine an experimental plating-prone condition with robust mesoscale modeling to examine electrode pairings with capacities ranging from 2.5 to 6 mAh/cm2 and negative to positive (N/P) electrode areal capacity ratio from 0.9 to 1.8 without the need for extensive aging tests. Using both experimentation and a mesoscale model, we identify a shift from conventional high state-of-charge (SOC) type plating to high overpotential (OP) type plating as electrode thickness increases. These two plating modes have distinct morphologies, identified by optical microscopy and electrochemical signatures. We demonstrate that under operating conditions where these plating modes converge, a high propensity of plating exists, revealing the importance of predicting and avoiding this overlap for a given electrode pairing. Further, we identify that thicker electrodes, beyond a capacity of 3 mAh/cm2 or thickness >75 μm, are prone to high OP, limiting negative electrode (NE) utilization and preventing cross-sectional oversizing the NE from mitigating plating. Here, it simply contributes to added mass and volume. The experimental thermal gradient and mesoscale model either combined or independently provide techniques capable of probing performance and safety implications of mild changes to electrode design features.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), recognized for balanced energy density and cost-effectiveness, are positioned as a promising complement to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and a substitute for lead-acid batteries, particularly in low-speed electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage. Despite their extensive potential, concerns about range anxiety due to lower energy density underscore the importance of fast-charging technologies, which drives the exploration of high-rate electrode materials. Polyanionic cathode materials are emerging as promising candidates in this regard. However, their intrinsic limitation in electronic conductivity poses challenges for synchronized electron and ion transport, hindering their suitability for fast-charging applications. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of sodium ion migration during charging/discharging, highlighting it as a critical rate-limiting step for fast charging. By delving into intrinsic dynamics, key factors that constrain fast-charging characteristics are identified and summarized. Innovative modification routes are then introduced, with a focus on shortening migration paths and increasing diffusion coefficients, providing detailed insights into feasible strategies. Moreover, the discussion extends beyond half cells to full cells, addressing challenges and opportunities in transitioning polyanionic materials from the laboratory to practical applications. This review aims to offer valuable insights into the development of high-rate polyanionic cathodes, acknowledging their pivotal role in advancing fast-charging SIBs.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have undergone rapid development as a complementary technology to lithium-ion batteries due to abundant sodium resources. However, the extended charging time and low energy density pose a significant challenge to the widespread use of SIBs in electric vehicles. To overcome this hurdle, there is considerable focus on developing fast-charging anode materials with rapid Na⁺ diffusion and superior reaction kinetics. Here, the key factors that limit the fast charging of anode materials are examined, which provides a comprehensive overview of the major advances and fast-charging characteristics across various anode materials. Specifically, it systematically dissects considerations to enhance the rate performance of anode materials, encompassing aspects such as porous engineering, electrolyte desolvation strategies, electrode/electrolyte interphase, electronic conductivity/ion diffusivity, and pseudocapacitive ion storage. Finally, the direction and prospects for developing fast-charging anode materials of SIBs are also proposed, aiming to provide a valuable reference for the further advancement of high-power SIBs.

Despite widely used as a commercial cathode, the anisotropic 1D channel hopping of lithium ions along the [010] direction in LiFePO4 prevents its application in fast charging conditions. Herein, an ultrafast nonequilibrium high-temperature shock technology is employed to controllably introduce the Li-Fe antisite defects and tensile strain into the lattice of LiFePO4. This design makes the study of the effect of the strain field on the performance further extended from the theoretical calculation to the experimental perspective. The existence of Li-Fe antisite defects makes it feasible for Li+ to move from the 4a site of the edge-sharing octahedra across the ab plane to 4c site of corner-sharing octahedra, producing a new diffusion channel different from [010]. Meanwhile, the presence of a tensile strain field reduces the energy barrier of the new 2D diffusion path. In the combination of electrochemical experiments and first-principles calculations, the unique multiscale coupling structure of Li-Fe antisite defects and lattice strain promotes isotropic 2D interchannel Li+ hopping, leading to excellent fast charging performance and cycling stability (high-capacity retention of 84.4% after 2000 cycles at 10 C). The new mechanism of Li+ diffusion kinetics accelerated by multiscale coupling can guide the design of high-rate electrodes.

2D layered molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has garnered considerable attention as an attractive electrode material in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), but sluggish mass transfer kinetic and capacity fading make it suffer from inferior cycle capability. Herein, hierarchical MoS2 nanosheets decorated porous TiO2 nanofibers (MoS2 NSs@TiO2 NFs) with rich oxygen vacancies are engineered by microemulsion electrospinning method and subsequent hydrothermal/heat treatment. The MoS2 NSs@TiO2 NFs improves ion/electron transport kinetic and long-term cycling performance through distinctive porous structure and heterogeneous component. Consequently, the electrode exhibits excellent long-term Na storage capacity (298.4 mAh g-1 at 5 A g-1 over 1100 cycles and 235.6 mAh g-1 at 10 A g-1 over 7200 cycles). Employing Na3V2(PO4)3 as cathode, the full cell maintains a desirable capacity of 269.6 mAh g-1 over 700 cycles at 1.0 A g-1. The stepwise intercalation-conversion and insertion/extraction endows outstanding Na+ storage performance, which yields valuable insight into the advancement of fast-charging and long-cycle life SIBs anode materials.

Lithium metal is a highly promising anode for next-generation high-energy-density rechargeable batteries. Nevertheless, its practical application faces challenges due to the uncontrolled lithium dendrites growth and infinite volumetric expansion during repetitive cycling. Herein, a composite lithium anode is designed by mechanically rolling and pressing a cerium oxide-coated carbon textile with lithium foil (Li@CeO2/CT). The in situ generated cerium dioxide (CeO2) and cerium trioxide (Ce2O3) form a heterojunction with a reduced lithium-ion migration barrier, facilitating the rapid lithium ions migration. Additionally, both CeO2 and Ce2O3 exhibit higher adsorbed energy with lithium, enabling faster and more distributed interfacial transport of lithium ions. Furthermore, the high specific surface area of 3D skeleton can effectively reduce local current density, and alleviate the lithium volumetric changes upon plating/stripping. Benefiting from this unique structure, the highly compact and uniform lithium deposition is constructed, allowing the Li@CeO2/CT symmetric cells to maintain a stable cycling for over 500 cycles at an exceptional high current density of 100 mA cm-2. When paired with LiNi0.91Co0.06Mn0.03O2 (NCM91) cathode, the cell achieves 74.3% capacity retention after 800 cycles at 1 C, and a remarkable capacity retention of 81.1% after 500 cycles even at a high rate of 4  C.