As one of the promising anode materials for next-generation lithium ion batteries, tin-based materials have received considerable attentions owing to their high lithium storage capacity,lower voltage plateau and large compacted density. However,the large volume change during the charge/discharge process always results in severe pulverization problems,which greatly limits the life time and thus their commercial applications. Size-minimizing and hybridizing are two effective approaches to solve this problem of tin-based alloying anodes. In this paper,we reviewed the latest research progress and hot topics on the tin-based anode materials, especially the ultra-small SnO₂ nanoparticles and their hybridizing with carbon nanotubes and/or graphenes.

This bimonthly review paper highlights 100 recent published papers on lithium batteries. We searched the Web of Science and found 1032 papers online from June 1,2014 to July 31,2014. 100 of them were selected to be highlighted. Layered oxide and high voltage spinel cathode materials are still under extensive investigations. Large efforts were devoted to Si based anode materials and electrolyte additives, composite carboneceous anode, solid state electrolytes. There are a few papers related to Li/S battery, Li-air battery and more papers related to cell analyses, theoretical simulations, and modeling.

The International Conference on Clean Energy Science (ICCES) held every three years provides a forum for scientists and engineers to discuss the most recent developments in clean energy, and promoting international collaborations to identify and address challenges in the area. This paper briefly summarizes the work on clean energy and energy storage reported in the 2nd International Conference on Clean Energy Science (2nd ICCES) held in Qingdao, China, April 13--16, 2014. Solar energy conversion, photocatalysis and environmental catalysis, electrochemical energy conversion and storage remain hot topics. Clean coal and fossil fuels technologies, biofuels and biomass conversion, bio and bio-inspired systems for energy conversion are seen to become new hotspots of research. CO₂ capture, storage and utilization, hydrogen production and storage are still seen to be growing areas. Materials and nanotechnology for energy systems remain key areas for resolving some clean energy and energy storage related challenges.

Firstly, we introduced the purpose and meaning of thermal runaway research on energy-storage lithium-ion batteries (ESLIB) in this paper. After discussing the variations on thermal runaway test (TRT) research for power and energy-storage lithium-ion batteries, this paper concludes the triggering conditions and relevant thresholds of TRT for ESLIB from both theory and experiments. Hence, this work presents a design program on a TRT platform which could analyze ESLIB with relevant threshold under simulated triggering conditions and verified the function. At last, this paper gives out the conclusions and looks forward to the future on TRT platform applications.

Recovery of condensing heat is one of the important methods for energy saving in air conditioning. This not only increases the energy efficiency, but also reduces peak shaving and power load balancing demands. This paper reports the use of a self-developed phase change material for thermal storage in a dual energy storage air conditioning system. The thermal energy storage material is placed in the heat accumulator of the air conditioning unit. Experiments are carried out in different modes including space cooling and water heating, cool storage and water heating, and space cooling and heat storage. Effects of various factors including coolant flux, heat water flux and fan coil air flow are investigated on the whole system performance. It is found that, in the space cooling and heat storage mode, heat storage has little effect on space cooling, but improves the integrated energy efficiency ratio(IEER)significantly, an indication of energy saving of the air conditioning system. In this mode, the greater the coolant flux and fan coil air flow, the greater the IEER of the system. An IEER of 7.06 has been obtained at a fan coil air flowrate of 1033 m³/h and a coolant flux of 972 L/h.

Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) have power rating and energy durations those are independent of one another, which make them attractive for power systems applications. This paper focuses on the energy and power response capability of the VRFBs, which has been experimentally studied based on 5 kW/10 kW·h system. In power type applications, the reserve SOC curve is a baseline on which the VRFB can respond to less 1.35 times rated power demand with equally charge/discharge energy. In energy type applications, working on a constant-power model, the electrical energy absorbed and supply reach maximum under less 0.6 times rated power.

This paper mainly discusses the control strategy of microgrid in islanding mode, according to the photovoltaic system with constant power control and energy storage system with constant voltage and frequency control of microgrid in islanding mode on the stability of power supply load. Simulation of the proposed theory by Simulink software,through introduction and analysis of the simulation waveform to verify the correctness and feasibility of the proposed theory.

An adsorption heat pump uses sorption heat for refrigeration or heating. Such a technology has gained significant attention in recent years with lots of research and development nationally and internationally. This paper provides a review on the area covering working fluids, new adsorption heat pump technologies and commercial products, and methods to enhance heat and mass transfer. Challenges and recommendations for future research and development are also given.

Flywheel is a mechanical based energy storage system with a broad range of applications. As flywheels at high rotational speeds,fabrication of the devices presents an engineering challenge. This paper summarized the progress in the fabrication of composite energy storage flywheels. It covers materials,shapes and manufacturing technology. Based on theoretical analyses and experimental work,an engineering oriented advanced composite flywheel design method is proposed to improve the manufacturing technology,which is also recommended as a direction of future research.

Vanadium flow battery is being attracted more and more attentions because it can be used for large-scale electrical energy storage. Different from other types of secondary batteries, the electrolyte of vanadium flow battery (VLB) is not only the ion conductor, but also serves as the electrochemical active substances for storing energy. In order to make the batteries more stable and more efficient, it is indispensable to understand thermodynamic properties of the electrolyte. The thermodynamics of vanadium solution can provide us useful information including the ion existing form in the solution, activity of vanadium ions and their disassociation constants etc. In this review, we will summarize the recent development of thermodynamic studies of vanadium flow batteries including experimental methods such as calorimetry, densimetry and conductivity methods. The Pitzer's theory is also introduced to describe the vanadium electrolyte. Besides, the future work on thermodynamic studies for vanadium flow battery has been put forward.

This paper reviews the recent developments metal-phase change material composites with a focus on thermal conductivity. There have been numerous studies in the literature using theoretical, numerical simulation and experimental methods. Metals in the composite occur mainly in three forms, porous foams metals, dispersed metallic particles, and metallic matrices. Most phase change (PCMs) have a low thermal conductivity. Addition of metallic components increases the thermal conductivity but suppresses the effects of natural convection and the heat storage capacity of heat storage apparatus when PCMs are at the liquid state. As a result, there is an urgent need for both basic and applied research on the area.

In recent years, rechargeable nonaqueous lithium air battery has attracted wide attention due to its very high theoretical energy density. However, it is at early stage of research because there are still many challenges for developing lithium air battery. In this paper, the concept, structures, challenges of lithium air battery and two special types of lithium air batteries are briefly summarized. In addition, the lithium sulfur battery which also belongs to rechargeable lithium metal battery and has high energy density was introduced.

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) method is effectively used to analyze the kinetic and diffusion features in electrode process. Based on the expermental data, the individual electrochemical step can be analyzed from the electrode polarization processes including charge transfer resistance, concentration polarization resistance, and ohmic resistance, which is a key factor for the design of an electrode. The principles of EIS including the kinetics, mass transfer performances and the distributed resistances inside the porous electrode are introduced by taking a gas diffusion electrode and redox flow batteries as the examples. Moreover, applications of EIS method on the optimization of porous electrodes are also reviewed.

Lithium battery integration with mobile container energy system is a new collection of energy storage and power conversion system, which used container or shelter to transport and placement. This system is mainly applied to many electricity demand region, such as the abundant renewable energy power station, the weakness of the power grid, the occasion of high quality demand of power supply, covering restricted situation, and temporary emergency demand area. The energy system consists of the battery, battery management system (BMS), power control system (PCS), energy management system (EMS) and intelligence auxiliary system. In this paper, some issues such as the modules of the system, function of each part, and the key technology should be breakthrough were discussed. Finally, the system was prospected for the future development direction and application, the lithium battery can benefit the development of new electric energy system.