Polyanthraquinone as a Reliable Organic Electrode for Stable and Fast Lithium Storage

In spite of recent progress, there is still a lack of reliable organic electrodes for Li storage with high comprehensive performance, especially in terms of long‐term cycling stability. Herein, we report an ideal polymer electrode based on anthraquinone, namely, polyanthraquinone (PAQ), or specifically, poly(1,4‐anthraquinone) (P14AQ) and poly(1,5‐anthraquinone) (P15AQ). As a lithium‐storage cathode, P14AQ showed exceptional performance, including reversible capacity almost equal to the theoretical value (260 mA h g^?1; >257 mA h g^?1 for AQ), a very small voltage gap between the charge and discharge curves (2.18–2.14=0.04 V), stable cycling performance (99.4 % capacity retention after 1000 cycles), and fast‐discharge/charge ability (release of 69 % of the low‐rate capacity or 64 % of the energy in just 2 min). Exploration of the structure–performance relationship between P14AQ and related materials also provided us with deeper understanding for the design of organic electrodes.     

A Strategy for Configuration of an Integrated Flexible Sulfur Cathode for High‐Performance Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Lithium–sulfur batteries are regarded as promising candidates for energy storage devices owing to their high theoretical energy density. The practical application is hindered, however, by low sulfur utilization and unsatisfactory capacity retention. Herein, we present a strategy for configuration of the sulfur cathode, which is composed of an integrated carbon/sulfur/carbon sandwich structure on polypropylene separator that is produced using the simple doctor‐blade technique. The integrated electrode exhibits excellent flexibility and high mechanical strength. The upper and bottom carbon layers of the sandwich‐structured electrode not only work as double current collectors, which effectively improve the conductivity of the electrode, but also serve as good barriers to suppress the diffusion of the polysulfide and buffer the volume expansion of the active materials, leading to suppression of the shuttle effect and low self‐discharge behavior.     

硫/多孔碳纳米管复合材料的制备及电化学性能

为了解决单质硫导电性差、充放电过程中体积膨胀、中间产物多硫化物的穿梭效应等问题,将硫负载于一种高比表面积的多孔碳纳米管（PCNTs）,制备了S/PCNT复合材料,研究了其电化学性能。相比于S/CNT,S/PCNT的电化学性能有明显提升,这可归因于S/PCNT中的嵌入结构,为硫在充放电过程中的体积膨胀提供了缓冲空间,避免了硫与电解液的直接接触,进而有效限制多硫化物的溶解,从而缓解多硫化物的穿梭效应,使硫正极具有更好的循环稳定性。     

Layered Oxide Cathodes Promoted by Crystal Regulation Strategies for Potassium-Ion Batteries

Layered oxide cathodes have demonstrated great potential for potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) on account of high reversible capacity, appropriate diffusion paths, and low cost. However, their electrochemical performance in PIBs is generally worse than that in lithium-ion batteries due to large structural changes and deformations during charging and discharging. To improve their potassium storage performance, a series of strategies have been developed in recent studies. In this review, we summarize the latest advancements in layered oxide cathodes for PIBs through different crystal regulation strategies, including transition metal layer doping, potassium content optimization, oxygen partial substitution, functional morphology construction and air stability improvement. Meanwhile, the relationship between the electrochemical properties and structural evolution of these modified cathodes is also investigated. In addition, the challenges and prospects of these layered oxide cathodes in PIBs are analyzed in detail, providing constructive insights for future applications of PIBs.     

多孔微纳结构富锂正极材料0.6Li_2MnO_3·0.4LiNi_(0.5)Mn_(0.5)O_2的制备及其电化学性能

采用碳酸盐共沉淀与燃烧法相结合的方法制备得到了多孔微纳球形结构的富锂正极材料0.6Li_2MnO_3·0.4LiNi_(0.5)Mn_(0.5)O_2。借助X射线衍射(XRD)分析、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、扫描电镜(SEM)、透射电镜(TEM)、N2吸附-脱附和恒电流充放电测试研究了其晶体结构、微观形貌和电化学性能。结果表明该方法制备出的材料是由一次颗粒径约300 nm的小颗粒组成的多孔微纳球形结构,比表面积为13 m2·g~(-1),具有完善的α-NaFeO_2层状结构(空间群为R3m)。电化学性能测试结果证实该材料具有优异的高容量、高循环稳定性和高倍率性能。在2.0~4.8 V,电流密度为0.1C、0.2C、0.5C、1C、3C、5C和10C时的放电比容量分别为:266、254、235、205、186、149和107 m Ah·g~(-1);在0.5C下循环100次后,放电比容量仍为217 m Ah·g~(-1)(容量保持率为94%)。     

Synthesis,structure and electrochemical performance of cobaltite‐based composite cathodes for IT‐SOFC

The development of novel and high‐performance cathodes is a critical issue to be addressed in order to reduce Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) operation temperature to the 600‐800 °C range or less. The performance of CeO₂‐based composite cathodes is very attractive to such operational temperatures. In this work, La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O₃ (LSCF) and Ce_0.8Sm_0.2O_1.9 (SDC) powders were synthesized by different synthesis methods and mechanically mixed to prepare LSCF‐SDC composite cathodes. Screen‐printed LSCF‐SDC/CGO/LSCF‐SDC symmetrical cells were sintered at 1150 °C for 4 h and characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in static air. X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were employed to characterize the powders. Area specific resistance values of 0.72 and 2.77 Ω cm² at 800 °C were found for composite cathodes containing SDC powder synthesized by modified Pechini and microwave‐assisted combustion methods, respectively. Furthermore, the activation energy of the composite cathode containing SDC derived from modified Pechini method is 1.18 eV, i.e., much lower than 1.73 eV, value determined for LSCF with SDC from microwave‐combustion method.