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Abstract Increasing the thickness of the electrodes is considered the primary strategy to elevate battery energy density. However, as the thickness increases, rate performance, cycling performance, and mechanical stability are affected due to the sluggish ion transfer kinetics and compromised structural integrity. Inspired by the natural hierarchical porous structure of trees, electrodes with bioinspired architecture are fabricated to address these challenges. Specifically, electrodes with aligned columns consist of tree‐inspired vertical channels, and hierarchical pores are constructed by screen printing and ice‐templating, imparting enhanced electrochemical and mechanical performance. Employing an aqueous‐based binder, the LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2cathode achieves a high areal energy density of 15.1 mWh cm−2at a rate of 1C at mass loading of 26.0 mg cm−2, benefitting from the multiscale pores that elevated charge transfer kinetics in the thick electrode. The electrodes demonstrate capacity retention of 90% at the 100th cycle at a high current density of 5.2 mA cm−2. To understand the mechanisms that promote electrode performance, simplified electro‐chemo‐mechanical models are developed, the drying process and the charge‐discharge process are simulated. The simulation results suggested that the improved performance of the designed electrode benefits from the lower ohmic overpotential and less strain gradient and stress concentration due to the hierarchical porous architecture.more » « less
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Abstract The identification of Chiral molecules is essential in pharmaceutical and food science. However, conventional methods are complex and cost‐prohibitive. This study introduces a sustainable method using hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) gel to identify amino acids enantiomers, such as phenylalanine and alanine, through visible light. By integrating the structural color properties of HPC, this research demonstrates the HPC gel's capability to distinguish L (Levo)‐phenylalanine (L‐Phe), D (Dextro)‐phenylalanine (D‐Phe), and DL (racemic mixture)‐phenylalanine (DL‐Phe) supplemented with visible circular dichroism (CD) spectra or hydrochloric acid (HCl) as visual indicators. Similar chiral sensing results are observed with D‐alanine, L‐alanine, and DL‐alanine. Unlike traditional UV‐based detection requiring expensive equipment, this approach simplifies the process while maintaining sensitivity. Varying phenylalanine concentrations altered the CD response without disrupting the gel's helical structure, and color changes in response to HCl addition facilitated visual identification of enantiomers. Furthermore, adding various salts generates colorful HPC/Phe gels, demonstrating their suitability for 3D printing. Meanwhile, the HPC gels remained functional for three months, indicating long‐term stability. These advancements are significant for pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries, facilitating efficient low‐concentration chirality detection (0.2 wt.%). Continued development and refinement of this technology are expected to expand its applications and improve analytical capabilities for future chirality‐related studies and photonic gel 3D printing.more » « less
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