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.

The intermittent nature of solar energy calls for integrated solar cell-energy storage systems that combine solar cells with various energy storage devices. This review summarizes recent advancements in these integrated systems, including design, performance evaluation and applications.

The remarkable flexibility and heightened sensitivity of flexible sensors have drawn significant attention, setting them apart from traditional sensor technology. Within this domain, hydrogels—3D crosslinked networks of hydrophilic polymers—emerge as a leading material for the new generation of flexible sensors, thanks to their unique material properties. These include structural versatility, which imparts traits like adhesiveness and self-healing capabilities. Traditional templating-based methods fall short of tailor-made applications in crafting flexible sensors. In contrast, 3D printing technology stands out with its superior fabrication precision, cost-effectiveness, and satisfactory production efficiency, making it a more suitable approach than templating-based strategies. This review spotlights the latest hydrogel-based flexible sensors developed through 3D printing. It begins by categorizing hydrogels and outlining various 3D-printing techniques. It then focuses on a range of flexible sensors—including those for strain, pressure, pH, temperature, and biosensors—detailing their fabrication methods and applications. Furthermore, it explores the sensing mechanisms and concludes with an analysis of existing challenges and prospects for future research breakthroughs in this field.

The integration of low-dimensional nanomaterials into direct ink writing (DIW) 3D-printed micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) represents a groundbreaking approach in developing high-performance energy storage devices.

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.