Shedding light on cerium( iii / iv ), the unsung hero, and mitigating its chemical inertness with Ni

Key Points

• The research aims to improve the electrochemical energy storage capacity of cerium(IV) by reducing its chemical inertness through nickel incorporation.
• Introduced nickel to cerium(IV) for electrochemical testing.
• Utilized 3d–2p–4f orbital coupling engineering techniques.
• Analyzed the effect on oxygen vacancy formation.
• Showed enhanced electrochemical energy storage performance.
• Demonstrated increased reactivity of cerium(IV) after nickel addition.
• Found a significant correlation between oxygen vacancies and energy storage capacity.