It is highly desirable for the promising sodium storage possessing high rate and long stable capability, which are mainly hindered by the unstable yet conventional solvent-derived organic-rich solid electrolyte interphases. Herein, an electrolyte solvation chemistry is elaborately manipulated to produce an enhanced anion-derived and inorganic components-dominated solid electrolyte interphases by introducing a low permittivity (4.33) bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) ether diluent into the sodium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide-dimethoxyethane-based high concentration electrolyte to obtain a localized high concentration electrolyte. The bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) ether breaks the balance of original cation solvation structure and tends to interact with Na⁺-coordinated dimethoxyethane solvent rather than Na⁺ in high concentration electrolyte, leaving an enhanced Coulombic interaction between Na⁺ and (FSO₂)₂N⁻, and more (FSO₂)₂N⁻ can enter the Na⁺ solvation shell, forming a further increased number of Na⁺-(FSO₂)₂N⁻-dimethoxyethane clusters (from 82.0% for high concentration electrolyte to 94.3% for localized high concentration electrolyte) at a low salt dosage. The preferential reduction of this (FSO₂)₂N⁻-enriched clusters rather than the dimethoxyethane-dominated Na⁺ solvation structure produces an enhanced anion-derived and inorganic components-dominated solid electrolyte interphases. The reversible charge storage process of Na is decoupled by operando Raman along with a shift of D and G peaks. Benefiting from the enhanced anion-derived electrode-electrolyte interface, the commercial hard carbon anode in localized high concentration electrolyte shows a well rate capability (5 A g⁻¹, 70 mAh g⁻¹), cycle performance and stability (85% of initial capacity after 700 cycles) in comparison to that of high concentration electrolyte (68%) and low concentration electrolyte (only 5% after 400 cycles), indicative of uniqueness and superiorities towards stable Na storage.

As one of carbon nanomaterials, carbon dots have attracted widespread attention due to their ultra-small size, abundant surface functional groups, good chemical stability, and superior optoelectronic properties. In this review, the structures, classifications, characteristics, and preparation methods of carbon dots were introduced. Recent research studies on carbon dots as various components or additives in dye-sensitized solar cells were represented. The challenges of controllable synthesis, structure-property relationship, and performance optimization of carbon dots were analyzed. In addition, the development directions of large-scale controllable preparation for carbon dots and their application in dye-sensitized solar cells were proposed.

Amorphous carbon derived from biomass unusually combines the merits of large specific surface area and abundant micropores, offering massive anchoring points for ion adsorption in electrolyte. Nevertheless, the short-range ordered structure in amorphous carbon hinders the fast electron transfer. Conversely, graphitic carbon with long-range ordered structure is beneficial for electron transfer. Thus, a low-cost strategy is required to marry hierarchical porous structure with long-range ordered structure, resulting in a long/short-range interconnected porous carbon and then leading to fast ion and electron transfer. Herein, we modified the solid-phase conversion process of biomass by employing the features of liquid-phase carbonization for petroleum asphalt. With the assistance of asphalt, the large specific surface area (> 2,000 m²·g^-1), high ratio of mesopores (ca. 60%) together with long-range ordered structure are in-situ created in as-made porous carbon. Thanks to the well configured structure in small scale, the as-made co-converted carbon can be operated in high-viscosity EMIMBF₄ electrolyte with a superior capacitance (315 F·g^-1@1 A·g^-1). Besides, the as-assembled symmetric supercapacitor can deliver a super-high specific energy of 174 Wh·kg^-1@2.0 kW·kg^-1. This work provides a new version for designing highly porous biomass-derived carbon with long/short-range alternating structure at molecular level.