Recent advances in conjugated polymer energy storage

This review covers recent advances in conjugated polymers and their application in energy storage. Conjugated polymers are promising cost-effective, lightweight, and flexible electrode materials. The operating principles of conjugated polymers are presented within the framework of their potential for energy storage. Special focus is given to polyaniline electrodes. Recent advances are reviewed including new methods of synthesis, nanostructuring, and assembly. Also, covered are applications that take full advantage of the mechanical properties of conjugated polymers and future applications of these novel materials. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2013     

A redox‐active polythiophene‐modified separator for safety control of lithium‐ion batteries

A potential‐sensitive separator is prepared simply by incorporating a redox‐active poly(3‐butylthiophene) (P3BT) into the micropores of a commercial porous polyolefin film and tested for overcharge protection of LiFePO₄/Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ lithium‐ion batteries. The experimental results demonstrate that owing to the reversible p‐doping and dedoping of the redox‐active P3BT polymer embedded in the separator with the changes of the cathode potential from an overcharge state to a normal operating state, this type of separator can reversibly switch between electronically insulating state and conductive state to maintain the charge voltage of LiFePO₄/Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ cells at a safety value of ≤2.4 V, and thus protecting the cell from voltage runaway. As this type of the separators works reversibly and has no negative impact on the battery performances, it can be used as an internal and self‐protecting mechanism for commercial lithium‐ion batteries and other rechargeable batteries. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013 , 51, 1487–1493     

One‐Step Solvothermal Synthesis of Single‐Crystalline TiOF2 Nanotubes with High Lithium‐Ion Battery Performance

Single‐crystalline TiOF₂ nanotubes were prepared by a one‐step solvothermal method. The nanotubes are rectangular in shape with a length of 2–3 μm, width of 200–300 nm, and wall thickness of 40–60 nm. The formation of TiOF₂ nanotubes is directly driven by the interaction between TiF₄ and oleic acid in octadecane to form the 1D nanorods, and this is followed by a mass diffusion process to form the hollow structures. The synthesis approach can be extended to grow TiOF₂ nanoparticles and nanorods. Compared with TiO₂, which is the more commonly considered anode material in lithium‐ion batteries, TiOF₂ has the advantages of a lower Li‐intercalation voltage (e.g., to help increase the total voltage of the battery cell) and higher specific capacities. The TiOF₂ nanotubes showed good Li‐storage properties with high specific capacities, stable cyclabilities, and good rate capabilities.     

Mesoporous Nickel Oxide Nanowires: Hydrothermal Synthesis,Characterisation and Applications for Lithium‐Ion Batteries and Supercapacitors with Superior Performance

Mesoporous nickel oxide nanowires were synthesized by a hydrothermal reaction and subsequent annealing at 400 °C. The porous one‐dimensional nanostructures were analysed by field‐emission SEM, high‐resolution TEM and N₂ adsorption/desorption isotherm measurements. When applied as the anode material in lithium‐ion batteries, the as‐prepared mesoporous nickel oxide nanowires demonstrated outstanding electrochemical performance with high lithium storage capacity, satisfactory cyclability and an excellent rate capacity. They also exhibited a high specific capacitance of 348 F g^?1 as electrodes in supercapacitors.     

Poly(2,5‐dimercapto‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole) as a Cathode for Rechargeable Lithium Batteries with Dramatically Improved Performance

Organosulfur compounds with multiple thiol groups are promising for high gravimetric energy density electrochemical energy storage. We have synthesized a poly(2,5‐dimercapto‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole) (PDMcT)/poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) composite cathode for lithium‐ion batteries with a new method and investigated its electrochemical behavior by charge/discharge cycles and cyclic voltammetry (CV) in an ether‐based electrolyte. Based on a comparison of the electrochemical performance with a carbonate‐based electrolyte, we found a much higher discharge capacity, but also a very attractive cycling performance of PDMcT by using a tetra(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether (TEGDME)‐based electrolyte. The first discharge capacity of the as‐synthesized PDMcT/PEDOT composite approached 210 mAh g^?1 in the TEGDME‐based electrolyte. CV results clearly show that the redox reactions of PDMcT are highly reversible in this TEGDME‐based electrolyte. The reversible capacity remained around 120 mAh g^?1 after 20 charge/discharge cycles. With improved cycling performance and very low cost, PDMcT could become a very promising cathode material when combined with a TEGDME‐based electrolyte. The poor capacity in the carbonate‐based electrolyte is a consequence of the irreversible reaction of the DMcT monomer and dimer with the solvent, emphasizing the importance of electrolyte chemistry when studying molecular‐based battery materials.     

锂离子电池硼酸盐电极材料的研究进展

硼酸盐作为新一代锂离子电池电极材料,其具有摩尔质量小、资源丰富、环境友好和理论比容量高等优点.本文对LiFeBO3、LiMnBO3和LiCoBO3等硼酸盐正极材料以及Fe3BO6、FeBO3、Cr3BO6、Co2B2O5、Cu3B2O6和VBO3等硼酸盐负极材料的结构、制备方法、电化学性能的研究现状进行了综述,并对存在的主要问题提出了改进方法.     

碳酸盐共沉淀法制备Li[Li0.2Co0.13Ni0.13Mn0.54]O2中加料方式对产物性能的影响

采用碳酸钠和碳酸氢铵作为沉淀剂和络合剂,在水溶液中共沉淀Mn2+、Ni2+和Co2+以获得混合过渡金属元素的碳酸盐沉淀前驱体Mn0.675Ni0.1625Co0.1625CO3。并进一步合成高容量锂离子电池正极材料Li[Li0.2Co0.13Ni0.13Mn0.54]O2。考察了3种不同加料方式对共沉淀前驱体的结构、形貌和元素比例的影响,以及对最终产物的结构、形貌和电化学性能的影响。     

NaxMyFe（CN）6（M=Fe,Co,Ni）:一类新颖的钠离子电池正极材料

应用化学沉淀法合成了3种普鲁士蓝类化合物NaxMyFe(CN)6(M=Fe,Co,Ni),并研究了以此类化合物作钠离子电池正极材料的可行性.XRD和SEM分析表明,合成的3种目标产物均具有典型的立方晶型结构,粒子尺寸为20～50 nm.循环伏安扫描和恒电流充放电测试表明,这类化合物均能实现可逆的钠离子嵌入-脱嵌反应,但不同的金属表现出不同的电化学性质.如M为Fe或Co,材料中的Fe(CN)64+和Fe2+/Co2+离子这两个电化学活性中心都能参与氧化还原反应,NaFeFe(CN)6和Na2CoFe(CN)6的首周可逆容量分别为113和120mAh.g-1,且循环性能比较稳定.由于这类结构中Ni离子不能参与氧化还原反应,Na2NiFe(CN)6的可逆容量仅为64 mAh.g-1,但循环性能非常优异.本工作的初步结果证明了普鲁士蓝类化合物具有良好的钠离子脱嵌能力,有望成为一类价格低廉、环境友好的钠离子电池正极材料.     

在充放电循环过程中Ni/MH电池正负极的结构和性能变化

本文对在连续进行充放电循环过程中Ni/MH电池的放电容量、中值电压与循环周期的关系以及电池正负极结构和性能的变化进行了研究。结果表明：电池在循环过程中正极活性物质基本构型未变化，而负极储氢合金表面逐渐生成了La(OH)₃、Al(OH)₃、LiMnO₂，正负极活性物质随循环次数的增加不断发生粉化，这些都是导致Ni/MH电池放电性能下降的主要因素。     

Li adsorption on a Fullerene–Single wall carbon nanotube hybrid system: Density functional theory approach

In this study, we investigate Li adsorption mechanisms on the C₆₀-SWCNT hybrid system using density functional theory. It is found that the Li adsorption energy of the C₆₀-SWCNT hybrid system is increased in comparison to that of the pure SWCNT. The Li adsorption energy ranges from −1.917 eV to −2.642 eV for the single-Li adsorbed system and from −2.351 eV to −2.636 eV for the double-Li adsorbed system. It is also found that the adsorption energy becomes similar at most positions throughout the structure. In addition, the Li adsorption energy of 31-Li system is calculated to be −1.863 eV, which is significantly lower than the Li–Li binding energy (−1.030 eV). These results infer that Li atoms will be adsorbed on the space 1) between C₆₀ and C₆₀; 2) between SWCNT and C₆₀; 3) the rest of the space (e.g. between SWCNTs), rather than form Li clusters. As more Li atoms are adsorbed onto the C₆₀-SWCNT hybrid system due to such improved Li adsorption capability, the metallic character of the system is enhanced, which is confirmed via the band structure and electronic density of states.