Recent progress on electrolyte functional additives for protection of nickel-rich layered oxide cathode materials

In advantages of their high capacity and high operating voltage,the nickel(Ni)-rich layered transition metal oxide cathode materials(LiNi_xCo_yMn_zO₂(NCMxyz,x+y+z=1,x≥0.5)and LiNi_0.8Co_0.15Al_0.05O₂(NCA))have been arousing great interests to improve the energy density of LIBs.However,these Nirich cathodes always suffer from rapid capacity degradation induced by unstable cathode-electrolyte interphase(CEI)layer and destruction of bulk crystal structure.Therefore,varied electrode/electrolyte interface engineering strategies(such as electrolyte formulation,material coating or doping)have been developed for Ni-rich cathodes protection.Among them,developing electrolyte functional additives has been proven to be a simple,effective,and economic method to improve the cycling stability of Nirich cathodes.This is achieved by removing unfavorable species(such as HF,H₂O)or constructing a stable and protective CEI layer against unfavorable reactive species(such as HF,H₂O).Herein,this review mainly introduces the varied classes of electrolyte functional additives and their working mechanism for interfacial engineering of Ni-rich cathodes.Especially,key favorable species for stabilizing CEI layer are summarized.More importantly,we put forward perspectives for screening and customizing ideal functional additives for high performance Ni-rich cathodes based LIBs.     

Exfoliated graphite nanosheets/carbon nanotubes hybrid materials for superior performance supercapacitors

Nanostructured hybrid material of exfoliated graphite nanosheets and carbon nanotubes (GNSNT) served as supercapacitor electrode materials was presented. The nanostructured hybrid was prepared by a facile chemical reduction method. The hybrid material was characterized by X-ray diffraction technique, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge cycling, and four-point probe conductivity measurement to represent a well-defined nanostructure possessing a vast number of active sites and delivering the ingredients for a fast effective charge separation network. Our results clearly demonstrated that the hybrid possess a superior performance. A specific capacitance value 266 F/g was obtained for GNSNT hybrid electrode at a current density of 0.1 A/g, while it was only 185 F/g for exfoliated graphite nanosheets (GNS). At a higher current density of 2 A/g, the GNSNT electrode still keeps a specific capacitance of 220 F/g, which is more than double that of GNS. This synergistic effect of the nanostructured hybrid material offers an effective network for charge separation and therefore renders a significantly enhanced specific capacitance and rate capability.     

A highly pi-stacked organic semiconductor for field-effect transistors based on linearly condensed pentathienoacene

We present the synthesis and characterization of a fused-ring compound, dithieno[2,3-d:2',3'-d']thieno[3,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene (pentathienoacene, PTA). In contrast to pentacene, PTA has a larger band gap than most semiconductors used in organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) and therefore is expected to be stable in air. The large pi-conjugated and planar molecular structure of PTA would also form higher molecular orders that are conductive for carrier transport. X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy experiments on its films show that the molecules stack in layers with their long axis upright from the surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy suggests that there are no chemical bonds at the PTA/Au interface. OFETs based on the PTA have been constructed, and their performances as p-type semiconductors are also presented. A high mobility of 0.045 cm(2)/V s and an on/off ratio of 10(3) for a PTA OFET have been achieved, demonstrating the potential of PTA for application in future organic electronics.     

聚环氧乙烷聚合物电解质基高电压固态锂金属电池的研究进展

采用液态碳酸酯电解质的锂离子电池在遭遇极端工况时, 极易发生泄露、燃烧、甚至爆炸等重大安全事故. 相对比, 聚环氧乙烷(PEO)固态聚合物电解质可以显著提升锂电池的安全性, 并且其优异的可塑性使其可以被制成特定形状进而满足特殊领域的差异化需求; 更为重要的是: PEO固态聚合物电解质与锂金属负极兼容性好. 然而, PEO固态聚合物电解质电化学氧化窗口低, 难以匹配高电压正极材料(≥4 V), 极大限制了其在高电压、高能量密度固态聚合物锂金属电池中的进一步应用. 近期经过国内外科研工作者在PEO固态聚合物电解质结构设计、PEO端羟基改性、含硼锂盐引入、功能型粘结剂设计开发以及正极界面层构筑等方面所做出的不懈努力, PEO固态聚合物电解质基高电压固态锂金属电池取得了系列化重大科研进展. 基于此, 本综述主要从以下八个方面: (1)高电压正极片表面修饰超薄聚合物层、(2)高电压正极颗粒包覆、(3)对碳黑颗粒进行包覆、(4)使用富含羧基的粘结剂、(5)不对称固态聚合物电解质结构设计、(6)正极界面原位形成耐高电压界面层、(7)醚氧官能团(-OCH₃)封端PEO, 提升其本征耐高电压性能、(8)含硼锂盐做添加剂, 详细综述了采用PEO固态聚合物电解质构建的高电压固态锂金属电池所取得的最新研究进展以及相应的高电压固态锂金属电池界面稳定作用机制. 最后还对未来PEO固态聚合物电解质在高电压固态锂金属电池方面所存在的巨大挑战和发展趋势进行了详细展望和总结阐述.