Innovative development and nondestructive evaluation of CQD-doped ZIF metal-organic frameworks for advanced battery electrocatalysts

Zeolite imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) doped with carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are emerging as promising electrocatalytic materials, particularly for battery technology, with significant breakthroughs in energy storage options. This novel strategy utilizes the synergistic properties of ZIFs and CQDs to significantly improve the electrochemical performance of batteries while addressing important efficiency and sustainability issues. When doped with carbon quantum dots, these scaffolds acquire electrocatalytic properties, paving the way for better battery performance. CQDs, small carbon nanoparticles with quantum mechanical properties, have various advantages in electrocatalysis. In the field of batteries, the CQDs@ZIFs composite material shows significant catalytic activity during both charging and discharging. The porous framework of the ZIFs enables efficient ion transport, while the CQDs improve overall conductivity and minimize energy losses during electrochemical processes. This leads to more efficient batteries, faster charge and discharge rates and cycle stability. In addition to the advancements in material design, nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques play a critical role in ensuring the reliability and longevity of CQDs@ZIFs. Techniques such as ultrasonic testing, X-ray diffraction, infrared thermography, Raman spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy provide invaluable insights into these materials' internal structure, thermal stability, and electrochemical performance without causing damage. These methods allow for the precise detection of defects, monitoring of phase changes, and assessing ion transport dynamics, all of which are essential for optimizing the performance and durability of the materials in battery applications. The novelty of this review lies in its integrative focus on both the advanced synthesis of CQD-doped ZIFs and their NDE—a combination not comprehensively addressed in previous studies. This dual approach provides a unique framework for linking material design with performance diagnostics in energy storage applications. This review systematically discusses current achievements in the design, synthesis, electrochemical characterization, and NDE of CQDs@ZIFs, while critically analyzing how structural parameters, doping ratios, and diagnostic insights collectively impact energy efficiency, durability, and scalability of these hybrid electrocatalysts.