All Publications

  • Field-Responsive Dynamic Monolayer Regulated Interphase for Enhanced Lithium Metal Batteries. Journal of the American Chemical Society Zhang, E., Holoubek, J., Lyu, H., Li, Y., Florian, J., Shuchi, S. B., Lee, J. K., Michalek, L., Chen, T., Chen, Z., Choi, I. R., Guo, X., Mondonico, L., Cui, Y., Bao, Z. 2026

    Abstract

    Lithium metal batteries offer high energy density but suffer from persistent interphase instability, where continuous corrosion, solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) growth and poor lithium deposition morphology remain key barriers to long cycle and calendar life. Here, we introduce a novel concept of dynamic monolayers on Li metal anodes, consisting of electric field-responsive molecules that assemble into packed, structured layers at the lithium interphase under an applied voltage. We employed electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring for in situ verification of the field responsiveness and packing behavior of these molecules. Dynamic monolayers with stronger packing are found to promote more inorganic-rich SEI and chunkier lithium growth, as directly observed by cryogenic X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and operando optical microscopy. Together, these interfacial improvements translate into enhanced Coulombic Efficiency, reduced overpotential, and improved long-term cycling stability across Li||Cu, Li||Li, ultrathin lithium (20 mum) and anode-free NMC811 configurations. Dynamic monolayers potentially provide a broadly applicable approach for tackling interfacial challenges across a range of alkali metal battery systems.

    View details for DOI 10.1021/jacs.5c19365

    View details for PubMedID 41649298

  • Simply Fabricatable Reference Electrode for Studying Li Metal Interfaces <i>Operando</i> ACS ENERGY LETTERS Florian, J., Lyu, H., Mondonico, L., Zhao, Y., Lee, J. K. J., Musgrove, A. L., Cui, Y., Sacci, R. L., Bao, Z. 2026

    View details for DOI 10.1021/acsenergylett.5c03496

    View details for Web of Science ID 001659662500001

  • Mesh-like structure integrated core-shell-shell nanocomposites for enhanced stability and performance in carbon capture. Nature communications Yang, S., Mao, H., Dun, C., Liu, J., Hou, K., Cai, A., Wang, J., Lee, J. K., Li, D., Lyu, H., Chen, Z., Lv, X., Zhuang, H., Xu, X., Zheng, X., Ren, G., Reimer, J. A., Cui, Y., Urban, J. J. 2025; 16 (1): 10526

    Abstract

    Carbon capture is essential for mitigating climate change, yet most sorbents struggle to combine high capacity with chemical stability. Here we report core-shell-shell (CSS) nanocomposites that integrate adsorption efficiency with exceptional robustness. The design couples a metal-organic framework (MOF) core, which enriches local CO2 concentration, with a polyamine shell that is reorganized into a porous, ordered network through entanglement with an outer covalent organic framework (COF) shell. This hierarchical architecture enables dual amine functionalization via sequential "click" and Schiff-base reactions, achieving a CO2 uptake of 3.4 mmol g-1 at 1 bar. The COF outer layer also acts as a protective barrier, suppressing humidity interference and doubling cycling stability under simulated flue gas. Remarkably, the nanocomposites maintain structural integrity after one week in strongly acidic (3 M HNO3) or basic (NaOH, pH=14) environments, underscoring their chemical resilience. By uniting high capacity, cycling durability, and environmental tolerance, this CSS strategy offers a versatile platform for next-generation carbon capture materials.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41467-025-65531-3

    View details for PubMedID 41298365

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC12658231

  • Resolving three-dimensional nanoscale heterogeneities in lithium metal batteries with cryoelectron tomography MATTER Zhang, Z., Lee, J. K. J., Li, Y., Zhou, W., Wu, G., Lyu, H., Wan, J., Chen, H., Huang, W., Ye, Y., Schmid, M. F., Cui, Y., Chiu, W. 2025; 8 (7)

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.matt.2025.102266

    View details for Web of Science ID 001532637500008