Protective dual shell unlocks longer-lasting lithium-rich batteries
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Welcome to theTsinghua University Press (TUP) News Page.
Below are the latest research news from TUP.
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 31-Aug-2025 13:11 ET (31-Aug-2025 17:11 GMT/UTC)
Lithium-rich oxides are widely regarded as one of the most promising cathode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries, but their potential has been hampered by rapid performance degradation. Now, researchers have developed a protective LiF@spinel dual shell that dramatically improves their stability. The spinel layer acts as a fast highway for lithium ions, while the outer LiF layer serves as a shield against corrosive electrolytes. Working in tandem, the two layers prevent structural collapse and suppress damaging side reactions. With this innovation, the modified cathode demonstrates outstanding cycle life and capacity retention, opening a new path toward reliable high-energy batteries.
Although traditional spinel oxides exhibit excellent microwave dielectric or thermosensitive properties, achieving linear negative temperature coefficient (NTC) behaviour and stable microwave dielectric performance simultaneously across a wide temperature range remains challenging, making it impossible to meet the stringent requirements for multifunctional integration in 6G front-end devices. This study developed Sc3+-modified Mg-Al-Mn-Fe-O spinel ceramics through B-site cation doping, breaking through this performance trade-off bottleneck. On the one hand, Sc3+ inhibits the formation of oxygen vacancies and regulates the Mn/Fe valence ratio, achieving highly linear thermosensitive characteristics across an ultra-wide temperature range of 200-1000°C (B200°C/1000°C = 8367-9758 K). On the other hand, through the lattice stabilisation effect induced by Sc3+ and the octahedral site bond strength enhancement mechanism, excellent microwave dielectric properties were simultaneously obtained: low dielectric constants (εr = 8.86-10.55), ultrahigh quality factor (Q·f= 96,000-149,000 GHz), and near-zero temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τf = -33.2 to -10.2×10-6/°C). The cylindrical dielectric resonator antenna developed based on the prepared ceramic achieved 92% radiation efficiency and 6.28 dBi gain in the 12 GHz frequency band, verifying its engineering application potential in satellite communication front-end modules.
Maritime transportation is responsible for nearly 90% of global overseas trade. Modern shipboard power systems integrate inverter-based resources (IBRs) to increase the reliability and security of energy supplies. Led by Prof. Fei Feng of State University of New York Maritime College and Prof. Peng Zhang of Stony Brook University, USA, a research team has developed a generalized power flow approach for future shipboard microgrids. Their method incorporates advanced grid forming controls into power flow algorithms, enabling shipboard microgrids considering power sharing and voltage regulation effects under complex ocean-going conditions.
Thermal-sprayed nanostructured ceramic coatings have demonstrated considerable potential for surface protection applications. Nevertheless, regulation of their microstructure and mechanical properties remains challenging owing to the persistent dependence on reconstituted feedstocks. The advancement of novel feedstock preparation technologies for thermal-sprayed coatings assumes utmost significance. In response, a novel nano-eutectic Al2O3-ZrO2 powder was prepared using a unique combustion synthesis-air atomization (CS-AA) process, which was employed in atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) to fabricate a nanostructured coating for wear protection.
The review, entitled “Design strategies for high entropy materials in water electrolysis: enhancing activity, stability, and reaction kinetics,” presents an integrated framework guiding the development of HEMs from atomic-level tuning to industrial-scale application. “The core advantage of HEMs lies in their multi-element composition, which brings synergistic effects that single-element catalysts cannot achieve,” said Dr. Jing Zhang, the first author and a PhD candidate at Shanghai University. “This allows us to simultaneously optimize activity, stability, and reaction kinetics.”
Precise prediction of rocket plume radiative heat flux is critical for reusable launch vehicle design. LandSpace researchers have developed a breakthrough computational method integrating the discrete transfer method (DTM) with wide-band k-distribution modeling. Validated against high-resolution benchmarks with ≤6.0% error, this approach achieves engineering-viable efficiency while quantifying base/sidewall radiative heating throughout flight profiles for nine-engine LOX/CH4 rockets – providing key insights for thermal protection system optimization.
From the precise movements of drone wings to the smooth opening of cabin doors, modern aircraft rely heavily on electro-mechanical actuation. But a hidden challenge – disruptive "multi-source disturbances" – can limit their performance, affecting everything from response time to positioning accuracy and efficiency. New research, focusing on a powerful control strategy called Active Disturbance Rejection Control (ADRC), aims to conquer these disturbances, paving the way for significant advancements in aviation safety and capability.
The number of satellites, especially those operating in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), has been exploding in recent years. Additionally, the burgeoning development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) software and hardware has opened up new industrial opportunities in both air and space, with satellite-powered computing emerging as a new computing paradigm: Orbital Edge Computing (OEC). Compared to terrestrial edge computing, the mobility of LEO satellites and their limited communication, computation, and storage resources pose challenges in designing task-specific scheduling algorithms.
The use of hydrocarbon fuels in solid oxide fuel cell is hindered by anode incomplete reforming and carbon deposition. This study employs Ni0.1Fe0.1Ce0.8O2-δ (NFCO) as the anode reforming catalyst for tubular solid oxide fuel cell (T-SOFC) under low-concentration ethanol-CO2 fuel. With the in-situ formed NiFe alloy, the T-SOFC with NFCO achieves peak power densities of 538, 614, and 608 mW·cm-2 at 5 %, 10 %, and 15 % ethanol at 700℃, respectively, higher than the cell without NFCO. More importantly, no significant degradation is observed during long-term operation. DFT calculations confirm NiFe-CeO2 heterostructure enhances H2O adsorption, promotes fuel conversion, improves reforming efficiency and inhibits carbon deposition, aiding high-performance T-SOFC development.
Passive daytime radiative cooling materials are promising for energy-free cooling as global energy consumption rises. SrZrO3 crystals, with their wide band gap and infrared photon lattice vibration absorption, are potential candidates for such applications. Most importantly, Zn doping has been shown to enhance both solar reflectivity and atmospheric window emissivity, which are critical for cooling performance. Despite the recognized potential of SrZrO3-based materials, the systematic understanding of how specific dopants like Zn synergistically modify the spectral radiative characteristics, and ultimately the passive cooling performance through combined effects on electronic structure, grain morphology, and lattice symmetry has yet to be comprehensively established. Filling this research gap is imperative for the rational design of high-performance radiative cooling materials.