Amorphous hollow carbon film as a flexible host for liquid Na-K alloy anode

Compared with solid alkali metal anodes (Li, Na, K), liquid metal anodes (LMAs) could enable high-energy batteries due to their unique advantages, such as self-healing property and no dendrites. Among LMAs, liquid Na-K alloy anode has become a hotspot due to its high theoretical capacity, low redox potential and formation at room temperature (RT). However, it is challenging to utilize liquid Na-K alloy directly and independently as an electrode; and the high surface tension makes it more difficult to immerse into porous current collectors at RT. Herein, an amorphous hollow carbon film (AHCF) consisting of hollow spheres with significant surface defects has been designed to quickly infiltrate Na-K liquid alloy into the hollow carbon film at RT, forming a composite electrode (Na-K@AHCF). The symmetric cell with Na-K@AHCF could exhibit a cycle lifespan up to 400 h at 0.1 mA/cm² and achieve stable stripping/deposition even at 5 mA/cm². When matching with cathode material of sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (SPAN), the obtained K-S full cell exhibits good cycle stability and rate performance.     

Recent Progress in High-Performance Lithium Sulfur Batteries: The Emerging Strategies for Advanced Separators/Electrolytes Based on Nanomaterials and Corresponding Interfaces

Lithium-sulfur (Li−S) batteries, possessing excellent theoretical capacities, low cost and nontoxicity, are one of the most promising energy storage battery systems. However, poor conductivity of elemental S and the “shuttle effect” of lithium polysulfides hinder the commercialization of Li−S batteries. These problems are closely related to the interface problems between the cathodes, separators/electrolytes and anodes. The review focuses on interface issues for advanced separators/electrolytes based on nanomaterials in Li−S batteries. In the liquid electrolyte systems, electrolytes/separators and electrodes system can be decorated by nano materials coating for separators and electrospinning nanofiber separators. And, interface of anodes and electrolytes/separators can be modified by nano surface coating, nano composite metal lithium and lithium nano alloy, while the interface between cathodes and electrolytes/separators is designed by nano metal sulfide, nanocarbon-based and other nano materials. In all solid-state electrolyte systems, the focus is to increase the ionic conductivity of the solid electrolytes and reduce the resistance in the cathode/polymer electrolyte and Li/electrolyte interfaces through using nanomaterials. The basic mechanism of these interface problems and the corresponding electrochemical performance are discussed. Based on the most critical factors of the interfaces, we provide some insights on nanomaterials in high-performance liquid or state Li−S batteries in the future.     

人工界面层在金属锂负极中的应用

金属锂具有极高的比容量(3860 mAh·g^?1)和最低的电化学反应电位(相对标准氢电位为?3.040 V),被认为是高能量密度二次电池最具潜力的负极材料。然而金属锂负极界面稳定性差、不可控的枝晶生长、沉积/剥离过程中巨大的体积变化等严重阻碍了金属锂负极的商业化应用。在金属锂表面构建一层物理化学性质稳定的人工界面保护层被认为是解决金属锂负极界面不稳定和枝晶生长,缓解体积膨胀带来的界面波动等一系列问题的有效手段。本综述依据界面传导性质,从离子导通而电子绝缘的人工固态电解质界面(SEI)层、离子/电子混合传导界面、纳米界面钝化层三个部分对人工界面保护层进行了归纳总结。分析了人工界面保护层的物质结构与性能之间的构效关系,探讨了如何提高人工界面保护层的物理化学稳定性、界面离子输运、界面强度与柔韧性、界面兼容性等。最后,指出用于金属锂负极的人工界面保护层目前面临的主要挑战,并对其未来的发展进行了展望。     

Water/ionic liquid interfaces as fluid scaffolds for the two-dimensional self-assembly of charged nanospheres

Liquid-liquid interfaces formed between water and ionic liquids serve as fluid scaffolds to self-assemble anionic nanospheres two-dimensionally. When aqueous dispersions of anionic fluorescent polystyrene nanospheres (diameter ～500 nm) are layered on ionic liquids, ordered monolayers are spontaneously formed at the interface. Fluorescent nanospheres are hexagonally packed in the interfacial monolayers, as observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The adsorption and alignment of nanospheres at the interface are affected by the ionic strength and pH of the aqueous phase, indicating electrostatic interaction as the primary driving force for the self-assembly. CLSM observation of the water/ionic liquid interface reveals that the lower hemisphere of nanospheres is exposed to the ionic liquid phase, which effectively alleviates lateral electrostatic repulsion between charged nanospheres and promotes their close packing. The densely packed monolayer structure of nanospheres is stably immobilized on the surface of CLSM glass dishes simply by rinsing the ionic liquid layer with pure water, probably as a consequence of the gluing effect exerted by imidazolium cations. The fluidic nature of the water/ionic liquid interface facilitates the diffusion and ordering of nanospheres into a hexagonal lattice, and these features render the interface promising soft scaffolds to self-assemble anionic nanomaterials two-dimensionally.     

Inhibition of lithium dendrites and dead lithium by an ionic liquid additive toward safe and stable lithium metal anodes

The uncontrolled growth of lithium dendrites and accumulation of “dead lithium” upon cycling are among the main obstacles that hinder the widespread application of lithium metal anodes. Herein, an ionic liquid (IL) consisting of 1-methyl-1-propylpiperidinium cation (Pp₁₃⁺) and bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide anion (FSI^?), was chosen as the additive in propylene carbonate (PC)-based liquid electrolytes to circumvent the shortcoming of lithium metal anodes. The optimal 1% Pp₁₃FSI acts as the role of electrostatic shielding, lithiophobic effect and participating in the formation of solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer with enhanced properties. The in-situ optical microscopy records that the addition of IL can effectively inhibit the growth of lithium dendrites and the corrosion of lithium anode. This study delivers an effective modification to optimize electrolytes for stable lithium metal batteries.     

Heavy metals adsorption by novel EDTA-modified chitosan-silica hybrid materials

Ionic liquid based microemulsions were characterized by absorption solvatochromic shifts, (1)H NMR and kinetic measurements in order to investigate the properties of the ionic liquid within the restricted geometry provided by microemulsions and the interactions of the ionic liquid with the interface. Experimental results show a significant difference between the interfaces of normal water and the new ionic liquid microemulsions. Absorption solvatochromic shift experiments and kinetic studies on the aminolysis of 4-nitrophenyl laurate by n-decylamine show that the polarity at the interface of the ionic liquid in oil microemulsions (IL/O) is higher than at the interface of water in oil microemulsions (W/O) despite the fact that the polarity of [bmim][BF(4)(-)] is lower than the polarity of water. (1)H NMR experiments showed that an increase in the ionic liquid content of the microemulsion led to an increase in the interaction between [bmim][BF(4)(-)] and TX-100. The reason for the higher polarity of the microemulsions with the ionic liquid can be explained in terms of the incorporation of higher levels of the ionic liquid at the interface of the microemulsions, as compared to water in the traditional systems.     

Two-dimensional connective nanostructures of electrodeposited Zn on Au (111) induced by spinodal decomposition

Phase formation of surface alloying by spinodal decomposition has been studied at an electrified interface. For this aim Zn was electrodeposited on Au(111) from the ionic liquid AlCl(3)-MBIC (58:42) containing 1 mM Zn(II) at different potentials in the underpotential range corresponding to submonolayer up to monolayer coverage. Structure evolution was observed by in situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at different times after starting the deposition via potential jumps and at temperatures of 298 and 323 K. Spinodal or labyrinth two-dimensional structures predominate at middle coverage, both in deposition and in dissolution experiments. They are characterized by a length scale of typically 5 nm which has been determined from the power spectral density of STM images. Structure formation and surface alloying are governed by slow kinetics with a rate constant k with activation energy of 120 meV and preexponential factor of 0.17 s(-1). The evolution of the structural features is described by a continuum model and is found to be in good agreement with the STM observations. From the experimental and model calculation results we conclude that the two-dimensional phase formation in the Zn on Au(111) system is dominated by surface alloying. The phase separation of a Zn-rich and a Zn-Au alloy phase is governed by two-dimensional spinodal decomposition.     

Characterization of SEI layer formed on high performance Si–Cu anode in ionic liquid battery electrolyte

Formation of the SEI layer on Si–Cu film electrode in the ionic liquid electrolyte of 1 M lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide/1-methyl-1-propylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI/MPP-TFSI) was investigated using ex-situ ATR FTIR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The SEI layer is found to be composed of organic and inorganic compounds that are the decomposition products of MPP cation and TFSI anion, and effectively passivate the electrode surface during initial cycling. Formation of a stable SEI layer leads to an excellent capacity retention 98% of the maximum discharge capacity, delivering discharge capacities of > 1620 mAhg^? 1 over 200 cycles. The data contribute to a basic understanding of SEI formation and composition responsible for the cycling performance of Si-based alloy anodes in ionic liquid electrolyte-based rechargeable lithium batteries.     

Theoretical studies of solute vibrational energy relaxation at liquid interfaces

Recent advances in the theoretical understanding of solute vibrational energy relaxation at liquid interfaces and surfaces are described. Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations of the relaxation of an initially excited solute molecule are combined with equilibrium force autocorrelation calculations to gain insight into the factors that influence the vibrational relaxation rate. Diatomic and triatomic nonpolar, polar, and ionic solute molecules adsorbed at the liquid/vapor interface of several liquids as well as at the water/CCl(4) liquid/liquid interface are considered. In general, the vibrational relaxation rate is significantly slower (a factor of 3 to 4) at the liquid/vapor and liquid/liquid interface than in the bulk due to the reduced density, which gives rise to a reduced contribution of the repulsive solvent-solute forces on the vibrational mode. The surface effects on the ionic solutes are much smaller (50% or less slower relaxation relative to the bulk). This is due to the fact that ionic solutes at the interface are able to keep part of their solvation shell to a degree that depends on their size. Thus, a significant portion of the repulsive forces is maintained. A high degree of correlation is found between the peak height of the solvent-solute radial distribution function and the vibrational relaxation rate. The relaxation rate at the liquid/liquid interface strongly depends on the location of the solute across the interface and correlates with the change in the density and polarity profile of the interface.     

Reactive wetting, evolution of interfacial and bulk IMCs and their effect on mechanical properties of eutectic Sn-Cu solder alloy

Lead free solders are increasingly being used in electronic applications. Eutectic Sn-Cu solder alloy is one of the most favored lead free alloys used for soldering in electronic applications. It is inexpensive and principally used in wave soldering. Wetting of liquid solder on a substrate is a case of reactive wetting and is accompanied by the formation of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) at the interface. Wettability of Sn-0.7Cu solder on metallic substrates is significantly affected by the temperature and the type of flux. The wettability and microstructural evolution of IMCs at the Sn-0.7Cu solder/substrate interfaces are reviewed in the present paper. The reliability of solder joints in electronic packaging is controlled by the type and morphology of interfacial IMCs formed between Sn-0.7Cu solder and substrates. The formation and growth mechanisms of interfacial IMCs are highlighted. Mechanical behavior of bulk solder alloy and solder joint interfaces are analyzed. The characteristics of the IMCs which have marked effect on the mechanical properties and fracture behavior as well as reliability of solder joints of the alloy are discussed. An attempt has also been made to discuss the effect of cooling rate and strain rate on shear strength, tensile properties and creep resistance of the solder alloy. It is recommended that future work should focus on evolving a standard procedure involving sequential assessment of wetting behavior, evolution of IMCs and mechanical properties.     

Probing the neutral graphene-ionic liquid interface: insights from molecular dynamics simulations

We study basic mechanisms of the interfacial layer formation at the neutral graphite monolayer (graphene)-ionic liquid (1,3-dimethylimidazolium chloride, [dmim][Cl]) interface by fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. We probe the interface area by a spherical probe varying the charge (-1e, 0, +1e) as well as the size of the probe (diameter 0.50 nm and 0.38 nm). The molecular modelling results suggest that: there is a significant enrichment of ionic liquid cations at the surface. This cationic layer attracts Cl(-) anions that leads to the formation of several distinct ionic liquid layers at the surface. There is strong asymmetry in cationic/anionic probe interactions with the graphene wall due to the preferential adsorption of the ionic liquid cations at the graphene surface. The high density of ionic liquid cations at the interface adds an additional high energy barrier for the cationic probe to come to the wall compared to the anionic probe. Qualitatively the results from probes with diameter 0.50 nm and 0.38 nm are similar although the smaller probe can approach closer to the wall. We discuss the simulation results in light of available experimental data on the interfacial structure in ionic liquids.     

Li/LiFePO4 batteries with room temperature ionic liquid as electrolyte

Room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) was prepared on basis of N-methyl-N-butylpiperidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (PP₁₄TFSI), which showed a wide electrochemical window (?0.1–5.2 V vs. Li⁺/Li) and is theoretically feasible as an electrolyte for batteries with metallic Li as anodes. The addition of vinylene carbonate (VC) improved the compatibility of PP₁₄TFSI-based electrolyte towards lithium anodes and enhanced the formation of solid electrolyte interphase film to protect lithium anodes from corrosion. Accordingly, Li/LiFePO₄ cells initially delivered a discharge capacity of about 127 mAh g^?1 at a current density of 17 mA g^?1 in the ionic liquid with the addition of VC and showed better cyclability than in the neat ionic liquid. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy disclosed that the addition of VC enhanced Li-ion diffusion and depressed interfacial resistance significantly.     

Ionic Liquid Based Polymer Gel Electrolytes for Use with Germanium Thin Film Anodes in Lithium Ion Batteries

Thermally stable, flexible polymer gel electrolytes with high ionic conductivity are prepared by mixing the ionic liquid 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (C₄mpyrTFSI), LiTFSI and poly(vinylidene difluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP). FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy show that an amorphous film is obtained for high (60 %) C₄mpyrTFSI contents. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirms that the polymer gels are stable below ∼300 °C in both nitrogen and air environments. Ionic conductivity of 1.9×10⁻³ S cm⁻² at room temperature is achieved for the 60 % ionic liquid loaded gel. Germanium (Ge) anodes maintain a coulombic efficiency above 95 % after 90 cycles in potential cycling tests with the 60 % C₄mpyrTFSI polymer gel.     

Adsorption of phytosterol ethoxylates on silica in an aprotic room-temperature ionic liquid

The adsorption of a nonionic surfactant at a silica/room-temperature ionic liquid interface has been characterized on the basis of analytical data obtained through a combination of surface force measurements, in situ soft-contact atomic force microscope (AFM) images, and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) data. The surfactant employed in this study is a kind of phytosterol ethoxylate (BPS-20), and the ionic liquid selected here is aprotic 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (EmimTFSI). This ionic liquid spontaneously forms solvation layers on silica, being composed of an Emim(+) cation layer and EmimTFSI ion pair layers. The addition of BPS-20 disrupts these solvation layers and suggests a surfactant layer adsorbed at the interface. This is the first report demonstrating the adsorption of nonionic surfactants at the solid/aprotic ionic liquid interface.     

Influence of water on the surface of the water-miscible ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate: a sum frequency generation analysis

Sum frequency generation spectroscopy (SFG) was used to study the influence of water on the surface of the water-miscible ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate. The orientation of the cation at the gas-liquid interface was analyzed as a function of ionic liquid concentration in water for concentrations from 0 to 1 mole fraction of the ionic liquid. The cation was found to be oriented with the imidazolium ring nearly parallel to the surface plane with a tilt angle > or = 70 degrees when the ionic liquid was dry. Furthermore, no noticeable change in the orientation was observed when high concentrations of water were mixed with the ionic liquid. The cation butyl chain is projecting into the gas phase with a CH(3) tilt angle of 54 +/- 2 degrees when the ionic liquid is dry and 46 +/- 4 degrees when mixed with water. Water is oriented at the surface only for concentration < or = 0.02 mole fraction of the ionic liquid. At higher ionic liquid concentrations (mole fractions > or = 0.05) the gas-liquid interface resembles that of the pure ionic liquid.     

Plasma-assisted synthesis and properties of Na(3)N

Dark-blue sodium nitride, Na(3)N, was prepared by the reaction of metallic sodium or liquid Na-K alloy with plasma-activated nitrogen at low pressure. The compound crystallizes in the cubic anti-ReO(3)-type structure (space group Pm3m with a = 4.73301(6) Angstrom and Z = 1) according to powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Na(3)N decomposes above 104 degrees C into the elements, with DeltaH(f) estimated at +64(2) kJ/mol.     

Liquid-phase microextraction of hydrophilic drugs by carrier-mediated transport

Basic studies on carrier-mediated transport as a mechanism to extract polar drugs by hollow fibre-based liquid-phase microextraction are presented for the first time. Hydrophilic alkaline drugs with log P (octanol/water partition coefficient) values less than 1 were selected as model substances. Sodium octanoate served as carrier and was added to the sample solution at pH 7 to form hydrophobic ion-pair complexes with the analytes. The ion-pair complexes were extracted into octanol as liquid membrane immobilised in the pores of the hollow fibre. Further extraction into an aqueous acceptor phase inside the lumen of the hollow fibre was facilitated by counter transport of protons from the acceptor solution to the sample solution. Protons from the acceptor solution released the analytes at the liquid membrane-acceptor interface and neutralized the carrier. The acceptor phase was analysed by capillary electrophoresis. The studies show that high extraction recoveries of ionic hydrophilic drugs can be obtained at a sample-acceptor volume ratio of 10. Linear calibration graphs and clean electropherograms indicate that carrier-mediated transport is a promising technique in microextraction of polar drugs from biological matrices.     

Ionic liquid ion sources: characterization of externally wetted emitters

The feasibility of electrostatically extracting and accelerating ions from room temperature ionic liquids in a high vacuum environment is investigated using externally wetted emitters similar to those manufactured for liquid metal ion sources, made out of tungsten wire and electrochemically treated to produce a sharp tip and to increase surface wettability. The ionic liquid EMI-BF4 is used as a prototypical example. The temperature dependence on emission current suggests that liquid flow over the metallic surface is limited by viscosity. Time-of-flight spectrometry indicates that the beam is composed of EMI+ and (EMI-BF4)EMI+ ions in the positive polarity and BF4- and (EMI-BF4)BF4- ions in the negative polarity, and that these ions are emitted with energies very close to their applied potentials. Angular distribution measurements in positive and negative polarities show that ions travel near the propagation axis, diverging by not more than 18 degrees from the centerline. Thanks to the extraordinary variety of ionic liquids it should be possible to generate a correspondingly large number of bipolar nonmetallic ion beams each with unique properties and applicability in fields as diverse as ion lithography, analytical equipment and space propulsion.     

A Fast Na-Ion Conduction Polymer Electrolyte via Triangular Synergy Strategy for Quasi-Solid-State Batteries

Polymer electrolytes provide a visible pathway for the construction of high-safety quasi-solid-state batteries due to their high interface compatibility and processability. Nevertheless, sluggish ion transfer at room temperature seriously limits their applications. Herein, a triangular synergy strategy is proposed to accelerate Na-ion conduction via the cooperation of polymer-salt, ionic liquid, and electron-rich additive. Especially, PVDF-HFP and NaTFSI salt acted as the framework to stably accommodate all the ingredients. An ionic liquid (Emim⁺-FSI⁻) softened the polymer chains through a weakening molecule force and offered additional liquid pathways for ion transport. Physicochemical characterizations and theoretical calculations demonstrated that electron-rich Nerolin with π-cation interaction facilitated the dissociation of NaTFSI and effectively restrained the competitive migration of large cations from EmimFSI, thus lowering the energy barrier for ion transport. The strategy resulted in a thin F-rich interphase dominated by NaTFSI salt's decomposition, enabling rapid Na⁺ transmission across the interface. These combined effects resulted in a polymer electrolyte with high ionic conductivity (1.37×10⁻³ S cm⁻¹) and t_Na+ (0.79) at 25 °C. The assembled cells delivered reliable rate capability and stability (200 cycles, 99.2 %, 0.5 C) with a good safety performance.     

石榴石型固态电解质/铝锂合金界面构筑及电化学性能

本文通过在锂负极中熔入少量铝制备了一种含Al-Li合金（Al₄Li₉）的新型复合锂负极,可有效改善Garnet/金属锂界面润湿性,从而显著降低了界面阻抗. XRD研究结果表明这一复合锂负极由Al₄Li₉合金和金属锂两相复合而成. SEM研究表明,复合锂负极可以有效改善金属锂与Garnet电解质的界面接触,形成更为紧密的接触界面. 电化学测试表明,复合锂负极显著降低了金属锂与Garnet电解质的界面阻抗,界面阻抗由锂/Garnet电解质界面的740.6 Ω·cm ²降低到复合锂负极/Garnet电解质界面的75.0 Ω·cm ². 使用复合锂负极制备的对称电池在50 μA·cm ^-2和100 μA·cm ^-2电流密度锂沉积-溶出过程中表现出较低的极化和良好的循环稳定性,在50 μA·cm ^-2电流密度下,可以稳定循环超过400小时.