Lithium–sulfur batteries are regarded as promising candidates for energy storage devices due to their high theoretical energy density. Various approaches are proposed to break through the obstacles ...that are preventing Li–S batteries from realizing practical application. Recently, the importance of the strong chemical interaction between polar materials and polysulfides is recognized by researchers to improve the performance of Li–S batteries, especially with respect to the shuttle effect. Polar materials, unlike nonpolar materials, exhibit strong interactions with polysulfides without any modification or doping because of their intrinsic polarity, absorbing the polar polysulfides and thus suppressing the notorious shuttle effect. The recent advances on polar materials for Li–S batteries are reviewed here, especially the chemical polar–polar interaction effects toward immobilizing dissolved polysulfides, and the relationship between the intrinsic properties of the polar materials and the electrochemical performance of the Li–S batteries are discussed. Polar materials, including polar inorganics in the cathode and polar organics as binder for the Li–S batteries are respectively described. Finally, future directions and prospects for the polar materials used in Li–S batteries are also proposed.
The importance of the strong chemical interaction between polar materials and polysulfides is recognized by researchers to improve the performance of the lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries, especially with respect to the shuttle effect. Herein, recent advances in polar materials for Li–S batteries are reviewed, including polar inorganics in the cathode and polar organics as binders.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (RZIBs) provide a promising complementarity to the existing lithium-ion batteries due to their low cost, non-toxicity and intrinsic safety. However, Zn anodes ...suffer from zinc dendrite growth and electrolyte corrosion, resulting in poor reversibility. Here, we develop an ultrathin, fluorinated two-dimensional porous covalent organic framework (FCOF) film as a protective layer on the Zn surface. The strong interaction between fluorine (F) in FCOF and Zn reduces the surface energy of the Zn (002) crystal plane, enabling the preferred growth of (002) planes during the electrodeposition process. As a result, Zn deposits show horizontally arranged platelet morphology with (002) orientations preferred. Furthermore, F-containing nanochannels facilitate ion transport and prevent electrolyte penetration for improving corrosion resistance. The FCOF@Zn symmetric cells achieve stability for over 750 h at an ultrahigh current density of 40 mA cm
. The high-areal-capacity full cells demonstrate hundreds of cycles under high Zn utilization conditions.
Potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) are interesting as one of the alternative metal-ion battery systems to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to the abundance and low cost of potassium. We have herein ...investigated Sn4P3/C composite as a novel anode material for PIBs. The electrode delivered a reversible capacity of 384.8 mA h g–1 at 50 mA g–1 and a good rate capability of 221.9 mA h g–1, even at 1 A g–1. Its electrochemical performance is better than any anode material reported so far for PIBs. It was also found that the Sn4P3/C electrode displays a discharge potential plateau of 0.1 V in PIBs, slightly higher than for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) (0.01 V), and well above the plating potential of metal. This diminishes the formation of dendrites during cycling, and thus Sn4P3 is a relatively safe anode material, especially for application in large-scale energy storage, where large amounts of electrode materials are used. Furthermore, a possible reaction mechanism of the Sn4P3/C composite as PIB anode is proposed. This work may open up a new avenue for further development of alloy-based anodes with high capacity and long cycle life for PIBs.
Full text
Available for:
IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
Potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) have attracted tremendous attention due to their low cost, fast ionic conductivity in electrolyte, and high operating voltage. Research on PIBs is still in its infancy, ...however, and achieving a general understanding of the drawbacks of each component and proposing research strategies for overcoming these problems are crucial for the exploration of suitable electrode materials/electrolytes and the establishment of electrode/cell assembly technologies for further development of PIBs. In this review, we summarize our current understanding in this field, classify and highlight the design strategies for addressing the key issues in the research on PIBs, and propose possible pathways for the future development of PIBs toward practical applications. The strategies and perspectives summarized in this review aim to provide practical guidance for an increasing number of researchers to explore next-generation and high-performance PIBs, and the methodology may also be applicable to developing other energy storage systems.
Aqueous monovalent‐ion batteries have been rapidly developed recently as promising energy storage devices in large‐scale energy storage systems owing to their fast charging capability and high power ...densities. In recent years, Prussian blue analogues, polyanion‐type compounds, and layered oxides have been widely developed as cathodes for aqueous monovalent‐ion batteries because of their low cost and high theoretical capacity. Furthermore, many design strategies have been proposed to expand their electrochemical stability window by reducing the amount of free water molecules and introducing an electrolyte addictive. This review highlights the advantages and drawbacks of cathode and anode materials, and summarizes the correlations between the various strategies and the electrochemical performance in terms of structural engineering, morphology control, elemental compositions, and interfacial design. Finally, this review can offer rational principles and potential future directions in the design of aqueous monovalent‐ion batteries.
The aqueous monovalent‐ion batteries have gained tremendous attention from the scientific community due to their fast charging capability, resulting from the outstanding ionic conductivity of aqueous electrolytes (twice as high as for organic electrolytes), and the smaller hydrated ionic radius and lower hydration free energy of monovalent ions compared with those of multivalent ions.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Due to massively growing demand arising from energy storage systems, sodium ion batteries (SIBs) have been recognized as the most attractive alternative to the current commercialized lithium ion ...batteries (LIBs) owing to the wide availability and accessibility of sodium. Unfortunately, the low energy density, inferior power density and poor cycle life are still the main issues for SIBs in the current drive to push the entire technology forward to meet the benchmark requirements for commercialization. Over the past few years, tremendous efforts have been devoted to improving the performance of SIBs, in terms of higher energy density and longer cycling lifespans, by optimizing the electrode structure or the electrolyte composition. In particular, among the established anode systems, those materials, such as metals/alloys, phosphorus/phosphides, and metal oxides/sulfides/selenides, that typically deliver high theoretical sodium-storage capacities have received growing interest and achieved significant progress. Although some review articles on electrodes for SIBs have been published already, many new reports on these anode materials are constantly emerging, with more promising electrochemical performance achieved
via
novel structural design, surface modification, electrochemical performance testing techniques,
etc.
So, we herein summarize the most recent developments on these high-performance anode materials for SIBs in this review. Furthermore, the different reaction mechanisms, the challenges associated with these materials, and effective approaches to enhance performance are discussed. The prospects for future high-energy anodes in SIBs are also discussed.
Zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) feature high safety, low cost, environmental‐friendliness, and promising electrochemical performance, and are therefore regarded as a potential technology to be applied in ...large‐scale energy storage devices. However, ZIBs still face some critical challenges and bottlenecks. The electrolyte is an essential component of batteries and its properties affect the mass transport, energy storage mechanisms, reaction kinetics, and side reactions of ZIBs. The adjustment of electrolyte formulas usually has direct and obvious impacts on the overall output and performance. In this review, advanced electrolyte strategies are overviewed for optimizing the compatibility between cathode materials and electrolytes, inhibiting anode corrosion and dendrite growth, extending electrochemical stability windows, enabling wearable applications, and enhancing temperature tolerance. The underlying scientific mechanisms, electrolyte design principles, and recent progress are presented to provide a better understanding and inspiration to readers. In addition, a comprehensive perspective about electrolyte design and engineering for ZIBs is included.
In this review, the basic scientific issues of Zinc‐ion batteries are carefully analyzed and the recent development in extending lifespan, suppressing dendrite formation, inhibiting side reactions, widening electrochemical stability window, and extending useable temperature range via electrolyte design and engineering are discussed. The comparation among different strategies and effect evaluation is provided, as well as the perspectives of future trends.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Although Zn metal has been regarded as the most promising anode for aqueous batteries, it persistently suffers from serious side reactions and dendrite growth in mild electrolyte. Spontaneous Zn ...corrosion and hydrogen evolution damage the shelf life and calendar life of Zn‐based batteries, severely affecting their industrial applications. Herein, a robust and homogeneous ZnS interphase is built in situ on the Zn surface by a vapor–solid strategy to enhance Zn reversibility. The thickness of the ZnS film is controlled via the treatment temperature, and the performance of the protected Zn electrode is optimized. The dense ZnS artificial layer obtained at 350 °C not only suppresses Zn corrosion by forming a physical barrier on the Zn surface, but also inhibits dendrite growth via guiding the Zn plating/stripping underneath the artificial layer. Accordingly, a side reaction‐free and dendrite‐free Zn electrode is developed, the effectiveness of which is also convincing in a MnO2/ZnS@Zn full‐cell with 87.6% capacity retention after 2500 cycles.
Based on the sulfur phase diagram, a dense and robust artificial layer of ZnS is introduced on the surface of Zn metal via an in situ vapor–solid strategy. This ZnS protective layer not only suppresses side reactions by blocking water from the surface of such a Zn electrode in a Zn‐ion battery, but also inhibits Zn dendrite growth by guiding homogenous Zn plating/stripping.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Antisolvent addition has been widely studied in crystallization in the pharmaceutical industries by breaking the solvation balance of the original solution. Here we report a similar antisolvent ...strategy to boost Zn reversibility via regulation of the electrolyte on a molecular level. By adding for example methanol into ZnSO4 electrolyte, the free water and coordinated water in Zn2+ solvation sheath gradually interact with the antisolvent, which minimizes water activity and weakens Zn2+ solvation. Concomitantly, dendrite‐free Zn deposition occurs via change in the deposition orientation, as evidenced by in situ optical microscopy. Zn reversibility is significantly boosted in antisolvent electrolyte of 50 % methanol by volume (Anti‐M‐50 %) even under harsh environments of −20 °C and 60 °C. Additionally, the suppressed side reactions and dendrite‐free Zn plating/stripping in Anti‐M‐50 % electrolyte significantly enhance performance of Zn/polyaniline coin and pouch cells. We demonstrate this low‐cost strategy can be readily generalized to other solvents, indicating its practical universality. Results will be of immediate interest and benefit to a range of researchers in electrochemistry and energy storage.
Water activity and Zn2+ solvation in an ZnSO4 electrolyte are regulated by adding methanol as antisolvent. Methanol gradually interacts with the free and coordinated water in the Zn2+ solvation sheath in the electrolyte, to suppress side reactions and enhance the Zn2+ transference number. Concomitantly, Zn2+ deposition orientation is changed, resulting in dendrite‐free Zn deposition and boosted Zn reversibility.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Constructing heterostructures can endow materials with fascinating performance in high‐speed electronics, optoelectronics, and other applications owing to the built‐in charge‐transfer driving force, ...which is of benefit to the specific charge‐transfer kinetics. Rational design and controllable synthesis of nano‐heterostructure anode materials with high‐rate performance, however, still remains a great challenge. Herein, ultrafine SnS/SnO2 heterostructures were successfully fabricated and showed enhanced charge‐transfer capability. The mobility enhancement is attributed to the interface effect of heterostructures, which induces an electric field within the nanocrystals, giving them much lower ion‐diffusion resistance and facilitating interfacial electron transport.
Tin anodes: Ultrafine SnS/SnO2 heterostructures were fabricated and applied as anodes for sodium‐ion batteries. The as‐prepared material shows excellent performance and outstanding cycling stability at high rates, which can be ascribed to the charge‐transfer driving force, good structural stability, and excellent electrical conductivity.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
PDF
