Yusong Zhu

/graphite. Thirdly, the device innovations for the next generation of supercapacitors are provided successively, mainly emphasizing flow supercapacitors, alternating current (AC) line-filtering supercapacitors, redox electrolyte enhanced supercapacitors, metal ion hybrid supercapacitors, micro-supercapacitors (fiber, plane and three-dimensional) and multifunctional supercapacitors including electrochromic supercapacitors, self-healing supercapacitors, piezoelectric supercapacitors, shape-memory supercapacitors, thermal self-protective supercapacitors, thermal self-charging supercapacitors, and photo self-charging supercapacitors. Finally, the future developments and key technical challenges are highlighted regarding further research in this thriving field.

A core–shell structure of polypyrrole grown on V2O5 nanoribbons as a high performance anode material for supercapacitors is fabricated using anionic dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBS−) as surfactant. Benefiting from the nanoribbon morphology of V2O5, the improved charge-transfer and polymeric coating effect of PPy, PPy@V2O5 nanocomposites exhibits high energy density, and excellent cycling and rate capability in K2SO4 aqueous electrolyte.

An aqueous rechargeable Zn//Co3O4 battery is demonstrated with Zn@carbon fibers and Co3O4@Ni foam as the negative and positive electrodes, respectively, using an electrolyte of 1 m KOH and 10 × 10−3m Zn(Ac)2. It can operate at a cell voltage as high as 1.78 V with an energy density of 241 W h kg−1 and presents excellent cycling. The battery is also assembled into a flexible shape, which can be applied in flexible or wearable devices requiring high energy. As a service to our authors and readers, this journal provides supporting information supplied by the authors. Such materials are peer reviewed and may be re-organized for online delivery, but are not copy-edited or typeset. Technical support issues arising from supporting information (other than missing files) should be addressed to the authors. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.

Due to the energy crisis within recent decades, renewable energies such as solar, wind and tide energies have received a lot of attention. However, these renewable energies are dependent on the time and season. Consequently, energy storage systems are needed to fully utilize these energies including their connection with smart grids. Aqueous rechargeable lithium batteries (ARLBs) may be an ideal energy storage system due to its excellent safety and reliability. However, since the introduction of ARLBs in 1994, the progress on improving their performance has been very limited. Recently, their rate performance, especially superfast charging performance, reversible capacity and cycling life of their electrode materials were markedly improved. The present work reviews the latest advances in the exploration of the electrode materials and the development of battery systems. Also the main challenges in this field are briefly commented on and discussed.

A composite membrane of a nonwoven fabric with poly(vinylidene fluoride) exhibiting high safety (self-extinguishing), good mechanical property and low cost is reported. The ionic conductivity of the as-prepared gel membrane saturated with 1 mol l−1 LiPF6 electrolyte at ambient temperature can be up to 0.30 mS cm−1, higher than that of the corresponding well-used commercial separator (Celgard 2730), 0.21 mS cm−1. Moreover, the lithium ion transference in the gel membrane at room temperature is almost twice that in the commercial separator. Furthermore, the absorbed solvent is difficult to evaporate at elevated temperature. Its electrochemical performance is evaluated by using a LiFePO4 cathode. The obtained results suggest that this gel-type composite membrane is very attractive for large-capacity battery systems requiring high safety and low cost.