Litchi-like porous Fe/N/C spheres with atomically dispersed FeN_x promoted by sulfur are highly efficient electrocatalysts for high-power Zn–air batteries.

This research examines vanadium‐deficient V₂C MXene, a two‐dimensional (2D) vanadium carbide with exceptional electrochemical properties for rechargeable zinc‐ion batteries. Through a meticulous etching process, a V‐deficient, porous architecture with an expansive surface area is achieved, fostering three‐dimensional (3D) diffusion channels and boosting zinc ion storage. Analytical techniques like scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, and X‐ray diffraction confirm the formation of V₂C MXene and its defective porous structure. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy further verifies its transformation from the MAX phase to MXene, noting an increase in V³⁺ and V⁴⁺ states with etching. Cyclic voltammetry reveals superior de‐zincation kinetics, evidenced by consistent V³⁺/V⁴⁺ oxidation peaks at varied scanning rates. Overall, this V‐deficient MXene outperforms raw MXenes in capacity and rate, although its capacity diminishes over extended cycling due to structural flaws. Theoretical analyses suggest conductivity rises with vacancies, enhancing 3D ionic diffusion as vacancy size grows. This work sheds light on enhancing V‐based MXene structures for optimized zinc‐ion storage.

This work developed a crystalline–amorphous Ni _x S _y @NiFe LDH heterojunction with outstanding activity for both the OER and the HER. As a result, the water splitting cell achieved 10 mA cm ⁻² at 1.48 V, outperforming noble metal Pt/C/NF‖RuO ₂ /NF.

We report the anion exchange membrane fuel cell (AEMFC) performance using commercial, polyimidazolium-based, Aemion+® as both the ionomer and membrane. Aemion+® affords reduced dimensional swelling yet higher water permeance compared to previously reported polybenzimidazolium-based Aemion® membranes and ionomers. Non-reinforced Aemion+® is shown to enhance the properties of Aemion® membranes, and Aemion+® reinforced with a fluorine-free polyolefin substrate is shown to enhance the properties considered important to fuel cell operation with respect to non-reinforced analogues. The highest AEMFC power density of 1.4 W cm⁻² at 70 °C, 250 kP_abs H₂/O₂ was obtained by using a direct membrane deposition (DMD) approach, where an ultrathin 5 μm membrane increased the voltage stability through enhanced water permeation, allowing characterization under these conditions. However, the reinforcement was found to be pivotal in enabling stable AEMFC operation at 80 °C, where a 10 μm-thick reinforced Aemion+® provided 1.1 W cm⁻² power at 80 °C, 300 kPa_abs H₂/O₂. The degradation properties of this material under varied cell temperatures, current densities and RHs are finally examined.