skip to main content


Title: Ultrahigh capacity 2D anode materials for lithium/sodium-ion batteries: an entirely planar B 7 P 2 monolayer with suitable pore size and distribution
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are widely used energy storage devices, and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are promising alternatives to LIBs because sodium is of high abundance and low toxicity. However, a dominant obstacle for the advancement of LIBs and SIBs is the lack of high capacity anode materials, especially for SIBs. Here, we propose that three characteristics, namely appropriate pore size, suitable pore distribution, and an entirely planar topology, can help achieve ultrahigh capacity 2D anode materials. Under such guidelines, we constructed a B 7 P 2 monolayer, and investigated its potential as a LIB/SIB anode material by means of density functional theory (DFT) computations. Encouragingly, the B 7 P 2 monolayer possesses all the essential properties of a high-capacity LIB/SIB anode: its high stability ensures the experimental feasibility of synthesis, its metallicity does not change upon Li/Na adsorption and desorption, the Li/Na can well diffuse on the surface, and the open-circuit voltage is in a good range. Most importantly, the B 7 P 2 monolayer has a high storage capacity of 3117 mA h g −1 for both LIBs and SIBs, and this capacity value ranks among the highest for 2D SIB anode materials. This study offers us some good clues to design/discover other anode materials with ultrahigh capacities, and serves us another vivid example that (implicit and hidden) trends/rules in the literature can guide us in the design of functional materials more efficiently.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1849243
NSF-PAR ID:
10158849
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Volume:
8
Issue:
20
ISSN:
2050-7488
Page Range / eLocation ID:
10301 to 10309
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. Abstract

    NASICON‐type sodium vanadium phosphate (Na3V2(PO4)3, or NVP) cathode materials have great potential for fast charging and long cycling sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) similar to lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4, or LFP) cathode materials used in lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). However, the cycle life and energy density in the full cell using NVP materials need to be significantly improved. This paper investigates the degradation mechanisms of NVP‐based SIBs and identifies the Na loss from the cathode to the anode solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) reactions as the main cause of capacity degradation. A new Na‐rich NVP cathode (e.g., Na4V2(PO4)3, or Na4VP) is developed to address the Na loss problem. Conventional NVP can be easily transformed into the Na4VP by a facile and fast chemical solution treatment (30 s). Na‐free‐anode Na4VP and hard carbon‐Na4VP full cells are assembled to evaluate the electrochemical properties of the Na‐rich NVP cathode. The Na4VP cathode provides excess Na to compensate for the Na loss, resulting much longer cycle life in the full cells (>400 cycles) and a high specific energy and power density. Good low‐temperature performance is also observed.

     
    more » « less
  2. Abstract

    As the rapid growth of the lithium‐ion battery (LIB) market raises concerns about limited lithium resources, rechargeable sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) are attracting growing attention in the field of electrical energy storage due to the large abundance of sodium. Compared with the well‐developed commercial LIBs, all components of the SIB system, such as the electrode, electrolyte, binder, and separator, need further exploration before reaching a practical industrial application level. Drawing lessons from the LIB research, the SIB electrode materials are being extensively investigated, resulting in tremendous progress in recent years. In this article, the progress of the research on the development of electrode materials for SIBs is summarized. A variety of new electrode materials for SIBs, including transition‐metal oxides with a layered or tunnel structure, polyanionic compounds, and organic molecules, have been proposed and systematically investigated. Several promising materials with moderate energy density and ultra‐long cycling performance are demonstrated. Appropriate doping and/or surface treatment methodologies are developed to effectively promote the electrochemical properties. The challenges of and opportunities for exploiting satisfactory SIB electrode materials for practical applications are outlined.

     
    more » « less
  3. Abstract

    Lithium‐ion and sodium‐ion batteries (LIBs and SIBs) are crucial in our shift toward sustainable technologies. In this work, the potential of layered boride materials (MoAlB and Mo2AlB2) as novel, high‐performance electrode materials for LIBs and SIBs, is explored. It is discovered that Mo2AlB2shows a higher specific capacity than MoAlB when used as an electrode material for LIBs, with a specific capacity of 593 mAh g−1achieved after 500 cycles at 200 mA g−1. It is also found that surface redox reactions are responsible for Li storage in Mo2AlB2, instead of intercalation or conversion. Moreover, the sodium hydroxide treatment of MoAlB leads to a porous morphology and higher specific capacities exceeding that of pristine MoAlB. When tested in SIBs, Mo2AlB2exhibits a specific capacity of 150 mAh g−1at 20 mA g−1. These findings suggest that layered borides have potential as electrode materials for both LIBs and SIBs, and highlight the importance of surface redox reactions in Li storage mechanisms.

     
    more » « less
  4. null (Ed.)
    By means of density functional theory (DFT) computations, we explored the potential of carbon- and nitrogen-doped Mo 2 P (CMP and NMP) layered materials as the representative of transition metal phosphides (TMPs) for the development of lithium-ion battery (LIB) anode materials, paying special attention to the synergistic effects of the dopants. Both CMP and NMP have exceptional stabilities and excellent electronic conductivity, and a high theoretical maximum storage capacity of ∼ 486 mA h g −1 . Li-ion diffusion barriers on the two-dimensional (2D) CMP and NMP surfaces are extremely low (∼0.036 eV), and it is expected that on these 2D layers Li can diffuse 10 4 times faster than that on MoS 2 and graphene at room temperature, and both monolayers have relatively low average open-circuit voltage (0.38 and 0.4 eV). All these exceptional properties make CMP and NMP monolayers as promising candidates for high-performance LIB anode materials, which also demonstrates that simple doping is an effective strategy to enhance the performance of anode materials in rechargeable batteries. 
    more » « less
  5. Abstract

    Since their commercialization by Sony in 1991, graphite anodes in combination with various cathodes have enabled the widespread success of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs), providing over 10 billion rechargeable batteries to the global population. Next‐generation nonaqueous alkali metal‐ion batteries, namely sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) and potassium‐ion batteries (PIBs), are projected to utilize intercalation‐based carbon anodes as well, due to their favorable electrochemical properties. While traditionally graphite anodes have dominated the market share of LIBs, other carbon materials have been investigated, including graphene, carbon nanotubes, and disordered carbons. The relationship between carbon material properties, electrochemical performance, and charge storage mechanisms is clarified for these alkali metal‐ion batteries, elucidating possible strategies for obtaining enhanced cycling stability, specific capacity, rate capability, and safety aspects. As a key component in determining cell performance, the solid electrolyte interphase layer is described in detail, particularly for its dependence on the carbon anode. Finally, battery safety at extreme temperatures is discussed, where carbon anodes are susceptible to dendrite formation, accelerated aging, and eventual thermal runaway. As society pushes toward higher energy density LIBs, this review aims to provide guidance toward the development of sustainable next‐generation SIBs and PIBs.

     
    more » « less