High-energy aqueous rechargeable batteries based on WSe2 nano-flower cathode

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - “Rocking-chair” zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are potential commercial energy storage devices because of their high energy density and safety....     

一种无粘结剂的柔性正极材料用于可充电的钠空气电池

随着全球环保意识的加强,开发具有环保可持续且高能量密度的能源逐渐成为人们关注的焦点.近年来,金属-空气电池凭借其高的能量密度作为能源存储器件已经引起了人们的广泛关注.最重要的是,此类电池的反应物为空气中的氧气,并不需要辅助设备对其储存,使得无论在质量和体积方面均优于其他二次电池.尤其锂空气电池凭借其高的理论比容量11140 Wh/kg,比现有锂离子电池高出1–2个数量级,且有质量轻便等优势,成为近几年的研究热点.然而,考虑到金属锂资源的短缺和金属钠与其具有相似的物理化学性质,因此呼吁用金属钠取代金属锂,钠-空气电池作为未来的储能器件引起了广大研究者的兴趣.但是,钠空气电池目前的实际应用仍存在很多问题：充放电过程中产生过高的过电位,循环寿命低,电解液不稳定,粘结剂的不稳定性,空气正极的结构以及外界操作环境条件等.解决这些问题的一种重要途径就是寻找合适的催化剂和设计合理的电极结构.催化剂的加入既可以增强其氧还原(ORR)及氧析出(OER)活性又可以通过调控电极的结构,为氧气、电子和离子的运输提供更多的通道,从而加速 ORR和 OER进程.基于粘结剂的不稳定性,需设计一体化的正极材料.由于碳纤维布作为柔性集流体具有高的机械强度和电化学稳定性好的优点,因此本文使用水热处理和热处理两步法在碳纤维布上原位生长 Co3O4纳米线(Co3O4 NWs),制备柔性、无粘结剂的一体化正极材料(COCT)用于钠空气电池.本实验以硝酸钴为主盐,尿素为矿化剂,氟化铵为络合剂,通过120°C热处理5 h在碳纤维布上生长 Co3O4 NWs的前驱体,然后经过400°C热处理2 h得到一体化柔性电极材料并用于钠空气电池,该材料表现出优异的电化学性能：充放电过程产生较低的过电位;高的放电比容量4687 mAh/g,碳纤维布作为正极放电容量是1113.7 mAh/g;能稳定循环62圈(碳纤维布作为正极循环16圈).这些优异的性能可归功于 Co3O4 NWs高的催化性能和多孔性效应：(1)由于 Co3O4 NWs紧密地附着在碳纤维布表面,形成了快速的电子传导通道,因而具有优异的电子传导性;(2) Co3O4 NWs之间的空隙以及多孔结构增加了反应的活性面积和活性位点,这种结构有利于氧气和离子的运输以及电解液的扩散,从而加速 ORR和 OER进程;(3) COCT电极结构能为放电产物和反应物提供更多的存储位置,从而提高了放电容量和倍率性能.结果证实,钠空气电池的放电产物是过氧化钠和超氧化钠的混合物.加入催化剂后,放电产物的形貌发生了变化：当碳纤维布作为正极材料时,放电产物的形貌是片状的; COCT电极作为正极材料时,放电产物沿着 Co3O4 NWs生长.这种柔性一体化正极材料的应用,为柔性钠空气电池器件的发展起到了巨大的推动作用.     

Dual-mode sulfur-based cathode materials for rechargeable Li-S batteries

A novel dual-mode sulfur-based cathode material is prepared for the first time, in which sulfur is embedded in both the pyrolyzed PAN nanoparticles (pPAN) and mildly reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (mGO). The pPAN-S/mGO-S composite demonstrates outstanding electrochemical performances in the rechargeable Li-S batteries.     

Zn-Co electrocatalysts in lithium-O2 batteries: temperature and rotating cathode effects on the electrodeposition

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - In this study, we developed Zn-Co catalyst by electrodeposition process in nickel foam and steel mesh electrodes for application as a cathode in Li-O2...     

Halogen: a high-capacity cathode for rechargeable alkaline batteries

Here we report a new high capacity battery system referred to as RAH batteries, which is based upon a high energy cathode-halogen (such as Br2 or Cl2) and metal hydride anode.     

Enhancing LiNiO2 cathode materials by concentration-gradient yttrium modification for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries

Lithium nickel oxide (LiNiO2) cathode materials are featured with high capacity and low cost for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries but suffer from severe inter...     

One-step hydrothermal synthesis of LiMn2O4 cathode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries

LiMn₂O₄ cathode materials with high discharge capacity and good cyclic stability were prepared by a simple one-step hydrothermal treatment of KMnO₄, aniline and LiOH solutions at 120–180 °C for 24 h. The aniline/KMnO₄ molar ratio (R) and hydrothermal temperature exhibited an obvious influence on the component and phase structures of the resulting product. The precursor KMnO₄ was firstly reduced to birnessite when R was less than 0.2:1 at 120–150 °C. Pure-phased LiMn₂O₄ was formed when R was 0.2:1, and the LiMn₂O₄ was further reduced to Mn₃O₄ when R was kept in the range of 0.2–0.3 at 120–150 °C. Moreover, LiMn₂O₄ was fabricated when R was 0.15:1 at 180 °C. Octahedron-like LiMn₂O₄ about 300 nm was prepared at 120 °C, and particle size decreased with an increase in hydrothermal temperature. Especially, LiMn₂O₄ synthesized at 150 °C exhibited the best electrochemical performance with the highest initial discharge capacity of 127.4 mAh g⁻¹ and cycling capacity of 106.1 mAh g⁻¹ after 100 cycles. The high discharge capacity and cycling stability of the as-prepared LiMn₂O₄ cathode for rechargeable lithium batteries were ascribed to the appropriate particle size and larger cell volume.     

A novel anode material of antimony nitride for rechargeable lithium batteries

Antimony nitride thin film has been successfully fabricated by magnetron sputtering method and its electrochemistry with lithium was investigated for the first time. The reversible discharge capacity of Sb₃N/Li cells cycled between 0.3 V and 3.0 V was found above 600 mAh/g. By using transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction measurements, the conversion reaction of Sb₃N into Li₃Sb and Li₃N was revealed during the lithium electrochemical reaction of Sb₃N thin film electrode. The high reversible capacity and the good cycleability made Sb₃N one of promising anode materials for future rechargeable lithium batteries.     

Electrochemical performance of sulfur composite cathode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries

The structure and characteristic of carbon materials have a direct influence on the electrochemical performance of sulfur-carbon composite electrode materials for lithium-sulfur battery.In this paper,sulfur composite has been synthesized by heating a mixture of elemental sulfur and activated carbon,which is characterized as high specific surface area and microporous structure.The composite,contained 70%sulfur,as cathode in a lithium cell based on organic liquid electrolyte was tested at room temperature....     

A Fe-rich sodium iron orthophosphate as cathode material for rechargeable batteries

Phosphate compounds have been intensively investigated as cathode materials for sodium ion batteries. Here we report the synthesis and electrochemical performance of a novel iron-rich sodium iron orthophosphate. This new compound was synthesized by a conventional solid state reaction method, and was found to be electrochemically active, delivering a reversible capacity of 85 mAhg^− 1 at an average voltage of c.a. 3.0 V vs. Na/Na⁺. Besides, the desodiated phase can be (de)intercalated by lithium ions when assembled into a lithium cell. Our discovery will open up the scope of phosphate family and reveal the importance of off-stoichiometric compounds as cathode materials.     

Crosslinked polyacrylonitrile precursor for S@pPAN composite cathode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries

S@pPAN has become promising cathode materials in rechargeable batteries due to its high compressed density,low E/S ratio,no polysulfide dissolution,no self-discharge,and stable cycling.However,it is a big challenge to enhance its sulfur content which determines its practical specific capacity.Herein,we prepare crosslinked PAN as precursor,leading to effective enhancement of sulfur content up to 55 wt%and a reversible specific capacity of 838 mAh g _composites^-1 at 0.2C.Because of the microporous structure and high specific area,crosslinked PAN provides more space to accommodate sulfur molecule and improve the interfacial reaction of S@pPAN as well.This work provides a promising direction to design S@pPAN for lithium sulfur batteries with high energy density.     

Reactions in the rechargeable lithium-O2 battery with alkyl carbonate electrolytes

The nonaqueous rechargeable lithium-O(2) battery containing an alkyl carbonate electrolyte discharges by formation of C(3)H(6)(OCO(2)Li)(2), Li(2)CO(3), HCO(2)Li, CH(3)CO(2)Li, CO(2), and H(2)O at the cathode, due to electrolyte decomposition. Charging involves oxidation of C(3)H(6)(OCO(2)Li)(2), Li(2)CO(3), HCO(2)Li, CH(3)CO(2)Li accompanied by CO(2) and H(2)O evolution. Mechanisms are proposed for the reactions on discharge and charge. The different pathways for discharge and charge are consistent with the widely observed voltage gap in Li-O(2) cells. Oxidation of C(3)H(6)(OCO(2)Li)(2) involves terminal carbonate groups leaving behind the OC(3)H(6)O moiety that reacts to form a thick gel on the Li anode. Li(2)CO(3), HCO(2)Li, CH(3)CO(2)Li, and C(3)H(6)(OCO(2)Li)(2) accumulate in the cathode on cycling correlating with capacity fading and cell failure. The latter is compounded by continuous consumption of the electrolyte on each discharge.     

A polythiophene derivative bearing TEMPO as a cathode material for rechargeable batteries

A polythiophene derivative bearing TEMPO radical was synthesized by oxidative chemical polymerization of its monomer. The polymer had a high spin density (2.05 × 10²¹ spins/g of polymer). CV studies of the polymer showed that the electrochemical redox reaction of the TEMPO radicals were completely reversible. We demonstrated, for the first time, construction and charge/discharge characteristics of an organic radical battery utilizing a TEMPO bearing polythiophene based cathode material. The battery had an initial specific discharge capacity of 79 A h/kg (87% of the theoretical capacity) and an average output voltage of 3.6 V. The specific energy capacity initially discharged was 268 W h/kg.     

A sodium vanadium three-fluorophosphate cathode for rechargeable batteries synthesized by carbothermal reduction

Na₃V₂(PO₄)₂F₃, which could be used as cathode in Na-ion or Li-ion rechargeable batteries, was synthesized by carbothermal reduction (CTR) method at 700 °C with coralline structure by SEM analysis. The Na₃V₂(PO₄)₂F₃ cathode in Li-ion battery displayed an appreciable capacity of 188 mAh/g with a discharge plateau at 3.7 V under close-to-equilibrium galvanostatic conditions illuminating the feasible extraction of three Na ions per unit, and 130 mAh/g with retention of 96.8% after 37 cycles at 0.1 C. The NASICON-type structure could produce a large diffusion coefficient due to the three-dimensional framework, but cause a low conductivity and OCV around 3 V. The cathode could reach 188 mAh/g at 0.1 C, with a more 20 mAh/g at 3.7 V after washing by distilled water.     

Bismuth chloride@mesocellular carbon foam nanocomposite cathode materials for rechargeable chloride ion batteries

Chloride ion batteries(CIB) are considered to be one of the most promising energy storage devices. As cathode materials for CIBs, metal chlorides have many advantages, such as high theoretical energy density, abundant elemental resources and ideal discharge voltage plateau. However, the dissolution and huge volume change of metal chlorides during cycling lead to considerable short lifespan, which limits their potential application for CIBs. Herein, the bismuth chloride nanocrystal is confined in...     

Oxide-based cathode materials for rechargeable zinc ion batteries:Progresses and challenges

With the increasing demands for electrical energy storage technologies,rechargeable zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) have been rapidly developed in recent years owing ...     

Soft mechanochemical synthesis: Preparation of cathode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries

To prepare intercalation lithium — transition metal oxide cathode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries, the reactions in the mixtures of the correspondent hydroxides in highly energetic planetary activators, so called ‘soft mechanochemical synthesis’ were studied. The method can be used for direct preparation of final products in a high dispersed and disordered state, as well as for obtaining high reactive precursors yielding final products by the subsequent brief heating at considerably lower temperatures as compared to conventional ceramic method. The as prepared products were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, TG, IRS, XPS, ⁷Li NMR, EPR, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, electron microscopy, BET, and electrochemical measurements. The peculiarities of crystal structure, electronic state of transition metal ions and cycling behaviour of materials are discussed. The method as proposed is concluded to be economically effective and ecologically clean.     

Charge storage mechanisms of cathode materials in rechargeable aluminum batteries

Science China Chemistry - Rechargeable aluminum batteries (RABs) have attracted great interest as one of the most promising candidates for large-scale energy storage because of their high...     

Hybrids of LiMn2O4 nanoparticles anchored on carbon nanotubes/graphene sheets as long-cycle-life cathode material for rechargeable hybrid aqueous batteries

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - A hybrid LiMn2O4-graphene-carbon nanotubes (LMO-GN-CNT) material is synthesized successfully by a facile hydrothermal method. The 15-nm-nanosized LiMn2O4...