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1. Cement electrolytes with interconnected microporous structures for cement solid state batteries

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2026.116178  

   Liu, Ziyu; Liu, Shihui; Du, Kang; Liu, Yanhai; Magombana, Beatrice; Liu, Yinghao; Mu, Richard; Li, Lin (May 2026, Journal of Building Engineering)

   Not AvailableCement solid-state batteries have attracted significant attention in recent years due to their potential for structural energy storage integration. However, traditional cement-based electrolytes suffer from low porosity and poorly interconnected pore structures, which limit its ion-transport pathways and severely affect electrochemical performance. In this paper, porous cement electrolytes with three-dimensional interconnected microporous structures were prepared by a facile foaming strategy, and their microstructures and electrochemical properties were systematically evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Cement solid-state batteries were constructed by combining nickel-iron electrodes and tested for galvanostatic charge-discharge. The results showed that the three-dimensional connected pore structure provides abundant and continuous migration channels for ions, which significantly improves the electrochemical performance of the cement-based electrolytes, and their ionic conductivity reaches 2.091 mS/cm, which was better than that of the cement-based electrolytes reported in the literature so far. The cement-based solid-state batteries constructed based on this electrolyte exhibited excellent energy output capability with an average energy density of 13.01 Wh/m2 and good cycling stability. This study provided practical structural design ideas for realizing the high performance of cementbased energy storage materials and offers opportunities for further optimization and future development. 

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2. Preliminary evaluation of temperature effects on the electrochemical performance of high-performance rechargeable nickel foam cement-based batteries

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2026.121795  

   Yin, Dandan; Liu, Shihui; Du, Kang; Liu, Ziyu; Liu, Yanhai; Liu, Yinghao; Magombana, Beatrice; Mu, Richard; Li, Lin (May 2026, Journal of Energy Storage)

   Not AvailableGiven the complex service environments of concrete structures and the temperature sensitivity of rechargeable nickel foam cement-based batteries, this study presents the preliminary assessment of their electrochemical performance across a wide temperature range (􀀀 40–100 ◦C). Through cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), open-circuit voltage (OCV) testing, and galvanostatic charge-discharge measurements, key temperature-dependent behaviors were assessed, including redox reaction activity, internal resistance evolution, charge-discharge stability, self-discharge characteristics, and energy output capacity. Results indicate that moderate temperatures (0–50 ◦C) represent the optimal operating range, within which the batteries exhibit more consistent short-term charge–discharge behavior and higher discharge energy density. Temperature-dependent CV and EIS profiles further confirm that electrochemical activity and interfacial resistance are significantly affected by temperature, thereby influencing overall performance. Galvanostatic tests under various current densities (0.1–0.5 mA/cm2) revealed a typical decrease in coulombic efficiency with increasing discharge rate, while elevated temperatures effectively mitigated this effect. Additionally, the state-ofcharge versus open-circuit voltage (SOC-OCV) curves and self-discharge analysis revealed that the temperature range of 20–50 ◦C exhibited more stable voltage decay. This range can thus be identified as the optimal rest temperature window for enhancing energy retention and electrochemical stability in cement-based battery systems. This work establishes an initial temperature-dependent performance dataset for nickel-foam cementbased batteries and provides a reference framework for future mechanistic studies and infrastructure-oriented engineering applications. 

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3. The Integration of Biopolymer-Based Materials for Energy Storage Applications: A Review

   https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043975  

   Dalwadi, Shrey; Goel, Arnav; Kapetanakis, Constantine; Salas-de la Cruz, David; Hu, Xiao (February 2023, International Journal of Molecular Sciences)

   Biopolymers are an emerging class of novel materials with diverse applications and properties such as superior sustainability and tunability. Here, applications of biopolymers are described in the context of energy storage devices, namely lithium-based batteries, zinc-based batteries, and capacitors. Current demand for energy storage technologies calls for improved energy density, preserved performance overtime, and more sustainable end-of-life behavior. Lithium-based and zinc-based batteries often face anode corrosion from processes such as dendrite formation. Capacitors typically struggle with achieving functional energy density caused by an inability to efficiently charge and discharge. Both classes of energy storage need to be packaged with sustainable materials due to their potential leakages of toxic metals. In this review paper, recent progress in energy applications is described for biocompatible polymers such as silk, keratin, collagen, chitosan, cellulose, and agarose. Fabrication techniques are described for various components of the battery/capacitors including the electrode, electrolyte, and separators with biopolymers. Of these methods, incorporating the porosity found within various biopolymers is commonly used to maximize ion transport in the electrolyte and prevent dendrite formations in lithium-based, zinc-based batteries, and capacitors. Overall, integrating biopolymers in energy storage solutions poses a promising alternative that can theoretically match traditional energy sources while eliminating harmful consequences to the environment. 

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4. Recyclable Organic Radical Electrodes for Metal‐Free Batteries

   https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202400788  

   Thakur, Ratul Mitra; Ma, Ting; Shamblin, Grant; Oka, Suyash S; Lalwani, Suvesh M; Easley, Alexandra D; Lutkenhaus, Jodie L (June 2024, ChemSusChem)

   Abstract Organic batteries are one of the possible routes for transitioning to sustainable energy storage solutions. However, the recycling of organic batteries, which is a key step toward circularity, is not easily achieved. This work shows the direct recycling of poly(2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinyloxy‐4‐yl) (PTMA) and poly(2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinyloxy‐4‐yl acrylamide) (PTAm) based composite electrodes. After charge‐discharge cycling, the electrodes are deconstructed using a solubilizing‐solvent and then reconstructed using a casting‐solvent. The electrochemical properties of the original and recycled electrodes are compared using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge‐discharge (GCD) cycling, from which it is discovered using time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) that recycling can be challenged by the formation of a cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI). In turn, an additive is proposed to modify the CEI layer and improve the properties after recycling. Last, an anionic rocking chair battery consisting of PTAm electrodes as both positive and negative electrodes is demonstrated, in which the electrodes are recycled to form a new battery. This work demonstrates the recycling of composite electrodes for organic batteries and provides insights into the challenges and possible solutions for recycling the next‐generation electrochemical energy storage devices. 

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5. Development of Novel Carbon Fiber based Electrodes for Lithium-ion Batteries

   Kaynan, Ozge; Raj, Ayush; Carrola, Mia; Castaneda, Homero; Asadi, Amir (September 2023, American Society for Composites-DESTech publications)

   Carbon fiber-based structural lithium-ion batteries are attracting significant attention in the automotive and aerospace industries due to their dual capability of energy storage and mechanical load-bearing, leading to weight reduction. These batteries utilize lightweight carbon fiber (CF) composites, which offer excellent stiffness, strength-to-weight ratios, and electrical conductivity. Polyacrylonitrile-based CFs, comprising graphitic and amorphous carbon, are particularly suitable for Li-ion battery applications as they allow the storage of lithium ions. However, integrating lithium iron phosphate (LFP) into CFs poses challenges due to complex lab-scale processes and the use of toxic dispersants, hindering large-scale industrial compatibility. To address this, we investigate the development of water-based LFP-integrated CF structural Li-ion batteries. Homogeneous suspensions are created using cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) to form hybrid structures. The battery system employs LFP-modified CF as the cathode, unsized CF as the anode, and a water-based electrolyte. The LFP-CNC-graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) hybrids are coated onto CFs through immersion coating. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirm the well-dispersed and well-adhered LFP-CNC-GNP structures on the CF surface, contributing to their mechanical interlocking and electrochemical performance. The batteries demonstrate a specific energy density of 62.67 Wh/kg and a specific capacity of 72.7 mAh/g. Furthermore, the cyclic voltammetry experiments reveal the stability of the LFP-CNC-GNP-coated CF batteries over 200 cycles without degradation. This research enables the engineering of hybrid nanostructured battery laminates using novel LFP-CNC-GNP-coated CFs, opening avenues for the development of innovative Li-ion structural batteries. 

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