A novel double-sided conductive (DSC) separator consisting of two 5 μm-thick carbon nanotube (CNT)/cellulose nanofiber (CNF) composite layers coated on each side of a 20 μm-thick glass-fiber (GF)/CNF composite membrane is described. In a lithium-metal battery (LMB), the DSC separator exhibits a high ionic conductivity (i.e. 1.7 mS cm−1 using an LP40 electrolyte) due to the high porosity (i.e. 66%) of the GF/CNF membrane. More stable Li anodes can also be realized by depositing Li within the porous electronically conducting CNT/CNF matrix at the DSC separator anode side due to the decreased current density. The CNT/CNF layer of the DSC separator facing the cathode, which is in direct electric contact with the current collector, decreases the overpotential for the cathode and consequently improves its capacity and rate performance significantly. A Li/Li cell containing a DSC separator showed an improved cycling stability compared to an analogous cell equipped with a commercial Celgard separator at current densities up to 5 mA cm−2 for Li deposition and stripping capacities up to 5 mAh cm−2. A proof-of-concept LMB containing a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) composite cathode and a DSC separator showed a significantly improved rate capability, yielding capacities of about 110 mAh g−1 at 5 C and 80 mAh g−1 at 10 C. The LMB cell containing a DSC separator also exhibited a capacity retention of 80% after 200 cycles at a rate of 6 C indicating that the two-sided conductive separator design has significant potential in facilitating the development of well-functioning LMBs.

The performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) can be effectively increased with functionalized separators. Herein, it is demonstrated that polydopamine-based redox-active (PRA) separators can provide additional capacity to that of typical anode materials, increase the volumetric capacity of the cell, as well as, decrease the cell resistance to yield an improved performance at higher cycling rates. The PRA separators, which are composed of a 2 μm thick electrically insulating nanocellulose fiber (NCF) layer and an 18 μm thick polydopamine (PDA) and carbon nanotube (CNT) containing redox-active layer, are readily produced using a facile paper-making process. The PRA separators are also easily wettable by commonly employed electrolytes (e.g. LP40) and exhibit a high dimensional stability. In addition, the pore structure endows the PRA separator with a high ionic conductivity (i.e. 1.06 mS cm−1) that increases the rate performance of the cells. Due to the presence of the redox-active layer, Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) half-cells containing PRA separator were found to exhibit significantly higher capacities than the corresponding cells containing commercial separators. These results clearly show that the implementation of this type of redox-active separators constitutes a straightforward and effective way to increase the energy and power densities of LIBs.

Although the increased need for high-energy/power-density energy storage systems has revived the research on lithium metal batteries (LMBs), the influence of the separator on the performance of LMBs is still generally neglected. In the present study, a sandwich-structured separator (referred to as the CGC separator below) composed of two 2.5µm thick cellulose nanofiber (CNF) surface layers and an intermediate 15µm thick glass microfiber (GMF) and CNF composite layer is described. While the CNF surface layers of the CGC separator feature a homogeneous distribution of nano-sized pores favoring the attainment of a homogeneous current distribution at both electrodes, the intermediate GMF/CNF layer contains macropores facilitating the ionic transport through the separator. The CGC separator exhibited a much better electrolyte wettability and thermal stability compared to a Celgard separator, due to the use of the hydrophilic and thermally stable CNFs and GMFs. It is also shown that the combination of nano-sized and micro-sized fibers used in the CGC separator yields a higher ionic conductivity than that for the commercial separator (1.14 vs. 0.49 mS cm−1). Moreover, the influence of the separator pore structure (e.g. the porosity and pore distribution) on the performance of LMBs is studied for both Li anodes and LiFePO4 composite cathodes. The results demonstrate that the use of separators with high porosities and homogeneous surface pore distributions can improve the performances (e.g. capacities and stabilities) of LMBs considerably, and also highlights the importance of proper separator/electrode interactions. The present approach constitutes a practical engineering strategy for the production of separators with nano/micro fibers and a promising route for the development of LMBs with improved safety and enhanced electrochemical performances.

Sulfonated cellulose beads were prepared by oxidation of Cladophora nanocellulose to 2,3-dialdehyde cellulose followed by sulfonation using bisulfite. The physicochemical properties of the sulfonated beads, i.e., high surface area, high degree of oxidation, spherical shape, and the possibility of tailoring the porosity, make them interesting candidates for the development of immunosorbent platforms, including their application in extracorporeal blood treatments. A desired property for materials used in such applications is blood compatibility; therefore in the present work, we investigate the hemocompatibility of the sulfonated cellulose beads using an in vitro whole blood model. Complement system activation (C3a and sC5b-9 levels), coagulation activation (thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) levels) and hemolysis were evaluated after whole blood contact with the sulfonated beads and the results were compared with the values obtained with the unmodified Cladophora nanocellulose. Results showed that neither of the cellulosic materials presented hemolytic activity. A marked decrease in TAT levels was observed after blood contact with the sulfonated beads, compared with Cladophora nanocellulose. However, the chemical modification did not promote an improvement in Cladophora nanocellulose hemocompatibility in terms of complement system activation. Even though the sulfonated beads presented a significant reduction in pro-coagulant activity compared with the unmodified material, further modification strategies need to be investigated to control the complement activation by the cellulosic materials.

Natural biomaterials, including polysaccharides and amino acids, provide a sustainable source of functional carbon materials for electric energy storage applications. We present a one-pot reductive amination process to functionalize 2,3-dialdehyde cellulose (DAC) beads with chitosan and l-cysteine to provide single (N)- and dual (N/S)-doped materials. The functionalization enables the physicochemical properties of the materials to be tailored and can provide carbon precursors with heteroatom doping suitable for energy storage applications. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis were used to characterize the changes to the beads after functionalization and carbonization. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy verified that the doping was effective, while the nitrogen sorption isotherms and pore-size distributions of the carbonized beads showed the effects of doping with different hierarchical porosities. In the electrochemical experiments, three kinds of carbon beads [pyrolyzed from DAC, chitosan-crosslinked DAC (CS-DAC) and l-cysteine-functionalized DAC] were used as electrode materials. Electrodes of carbonized CS-DAC beads had a specific capacitance of up to 242 F g(-1) at a current density of 1 A g(-1). These electrodes maintained a capacitance retention of 91.5% after 1000 charge/discharge cycles, suggesting excellent cycling stability. The results indicate that reductive amination of DAC is an effective route for heteroatom doping of carbon materials to be used as electrode active materials for energy storage.

A series of sustainable activated carbons (ACs) with large surface areas and tunable pore sizes is synthesized from Cladophora cellulose and its chemically modified derivatives in a one-step physical carbonization/activation process. The molecular structure of the cellulose precursors and the carbonization/activation atmosphere (N₂ or CO₂) significantly influence the pore structure of the ACs. When using oxidized cellulose and its further cross-linkages as the precursor, the ACs have a large volume of ultramicropores (pore diameter < 0.8 nm). Activation in CO₂ results in ACs with surface areas up to 1241 m² g⁻¹. These ACs have a high CO₂ uptake capacity (2.29 mmol g⁻¹ at 0.15 bar, 5.52 mmol g⁻¹ at 1 bar; 273 K) and a high CO₂–over–N₂ selectivity (42 at 273 K). In addition, the capacity of the ACs to adsorb vapors of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is remarkable, with values up to 0.97 mmol g⁻¹ at very low VOC concentrations (200 ppmv). The ACs have ultrahigh VOCs–over–N₂ selectivity up to 9.35 × 10³ at 293 K for 0.02 vol%/99.8 vol% of benzene/N₂ mixture. It is anticipated that these ACs will be useful as sorbents for the postcombustion capture of CO₂ and for indoor removal and direct air capture of various VOCs.

Abstract Poor cycling stability and safety concerns regarding lithium (Li) metal anodes are two major issues preventing the commercialization of high‐energy density Li metal‐based batteries. Herein, a novel tri‐layer separator design that significantly enhances the cycling stability and safety of Li metal‐based batteries is presented. A thin, thermally stable, flexible, and hydrophilic cellulose nanofiber layer, produced using a straightforward paper‐making process, is directly laminated on each side of a plasma‐treated polyethylene (PE) separator. The 2.5 µm thick, mesoporous (≈20 nm average pore size) cellulose nanofiber layer stabilizes the Li metal anodes by generating a uniform Li+ flux toward the electrode through its homogenous nanochannels, leading to improved cycling stability. As the tri‐layer separator maintains its dimensional stability even at 200 °C when the internal PE layer is melted and blocks the ion transport through the separator, the separator also provides an effective thermal shutdown function. The present nanocellulose‐based tri‐layer separator design thus significantly facilitates the realization of high‐energy density Li metal‐based batteries.

Micrometer sized 2,3-dialdehyde cellulose (DAC) beads were produced via a recently developed method relying on periodate oxidation of Cladophora nanocellulose. The produced dialdehyde groups and pristine hydroxyl groups provided the DAC beads with a vast potential for further functionalization. The sensitivity of the DAC beads to alkaline conditions, however, limits their possible functionalization and applications. Hence, alkaline-stable and porous cellulose beads were prepared via a reductive amination crosslinking reaction between 2,3-dialdehyde cellulose beads and chitosan. The produced materials were thoroughly characterized with different methods. The reaction conditions, including the amount of chitosan used, conditions for reductive amination, reaction temperature and time, were investigated and the maintained morphology of the beads after exposure to 1 M NaOH (aq.) was verified with SEM. Different washing and drying procedures were used and the results were studied by SEM and BET analysis. Furthermore, FTIR, TGA, EDX, XPS, DLS and elemental analysis were performed to characterize the properties of the prepared beads. Finally, the alkaline-stable porous chitosan cross-linked 2,3-dialdehyde cellulose beads were applied as adsorbent for the dye Congo red. The crosslinked beads displayed fast and high adsorption capacity at pH 2 and good desorption properties at pH 12, providing a promising sorption material.