An official website of the United States government
Abstract Developing promising solid‐state Li batteries with capabilities of high current densities have been a major challenge partly due to large interfacial resistance across the electrode/electrolyte interfaces. This work represents an integrated network of self‐standing polymer electrolyte and active electrode materials with in situ UV cross‐linking. This method provides a uniform morphology of composite polymer electrolyte with low thickness of 20–40 μm. This modification leads to promising cycling results with 85% specific capacity retention in Li||LiFePO4cell over 100 cycles at high current densities of 170 mA g−1(~25 μA cm−2, 1 C).By applying this method, the interfacial resistance decreases as high as seven folds compared to noncross‐linked interfaces. The following work introduce a facile and cost‐effective method in developing fast‐charging self‐standing polymer batteries with enhanced electrochemical properties. image
more »
« less
Effect of charging protocol and carbon electrode selection in Na–O2 batteries
Abstract Nonaqueous sodium- and lithium-oxygen batteries are of interest because of their high theoretical specific energies relative to state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries. However, several challenges limit rechargeability, including instability of the carbon electrode and electrolyte with reactive oxygen species formed during cycling. This work investigates strategies to improve the cycling efficiency of the Na–O2system and minimize irreversible degradation of electrolyte and electrode materials. We show that charging cells with a constant current/constant voltage (CCCV) protocol is a promising technique made possible by the slight solubility of sodium superoxide in nonaqueous electrolytes. In addition, the type of carbon electrode has a significant impact on cell performance and efficacy of the cycling protocol. Graphitic carbon electrodes coupled with CCCV charging demonstrate higher reversibility, more efficient oxygen evolution, and less outgassing than conventional cells using a porous carbon paper electrode and only a constant current charge. Graphical abstract
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 1653430
- PAR ID:
- 10378298
- Publisher / Repository:
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Materials Research
- Volume:
- 37
- Issue:
- 19
- ISSN:
- 0884-2914
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- p. 3227-3236
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
Abstract Nonaqueous sodium-based batteries are ideal candidates for the next generation of electrochemical energy storage devices. However, despite the promising performance at ambient temperature, their low-temperature (e.g., < 0 °C) operation is detrimentally affected by the increase in the electrolyte resistance and solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) instability. Here, to circumvent these issues, we propose specific electrolyte formulations comprising linear and cyclic ether-based solvents and sodium trifluoromethanesulfonate salt that are thermally stable down to −150 °C and enable the formation of a stable SEI at low temperatures. When tested in the Na||Na coin cell configuration, the low-temperature electrolytes enable long-term cycling down to −80 °C. Via ex situ physicochemical (e.g., X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy) electrode measurements and density functional theory calculations, we investigate the mechanisms responsible for efficient low-temperature electrochemical performance. We also report the assembly and testing between −20 °C and −60 °C of full Na||Na 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 coin cells. The cell tested at −40 °C shows an initial discharge capacity of 68 mAh g −1 with a capacity retention of approximately 94% after 100 cycles at 22 mA g −1 .more » « less
-
Abstract Solid‐state lithium metal batteries with garnet‐type electrolyte provide several advantages over conventional lithium‐ion batteries, especially for safety and energy density. However, a few grand challenges such as the propagation of Li dendrites, poor interfacial contact between the solid electrolyte and the electrodes, and formation of lithium carbonate during ambient exposure over the solid‐state electrolyte prevent the viability of such batteries. Herein, an ultrathin sub‐nanometer porous carbon nanomembrane (CNM) is employed on the surface of solid‐state electrolyte (SSE) that increases the adhesion of SSE with electrodes, prevents lithium carbonate formation over the surface, regulates the flow of Li‐ions, and blocks any electronic leakage. The sub‐nanometer scale pores in CNM allow rapid permeation of Li‐ions across the electrode–electrolyte interface without the presence of any liquid medium. Additionally, CNM suppresses the propagation of Li dendrites by over sevenfold up to a current density of 0.7 mA cm−2and enables the cycling of all‐solid‐state batteries at low stack pressure of 2 MPa using LiFePO4cathode and Li metal anode. The CNM provides chemical stability to the solid electrolyte for over 4 weeks of ambient exposure with less than a 4% increase in surface impurities.more » « less
-
Sodium ion batteries are an emerging candidate to replace lithium ion batteries in large-scale electrical energy storage systems due to the abundance and widespread distribution of sodium. Despite the growing interest, the development of high-performance sodium cathode materials remains a challenge. In particular, polyanionic compounds are considered as a strong cathode candidate owing to their better cycling stability, a flatter voltage profile, and stronger thermal stability compared to other cathode materials. Here, we report the rational design of a biomimetic bone-inspired polyanionic Na3V2(PO4)3-reduced graphene oxide composite (BI-NVP) cathode that achieves ultrahigh rate charging and ultralong cycling life in a sodium ion battery. At a charging rate of 1 C, BI-NVP delivers 97% of its theoretical capacity and is able to retain a voltage plateau even at the ultra-high rate of 200 C. It also shows long cycling life with capacity retention of 91% after 10 000 cycles at 50 C. The sodium ion battery cells with a BI-NVP cathode and Na metal anode were able to deliver a maximum specific energy of 350 W h kg−1 and maximum specific power of 154 kW kg−1. In situ and postmortem analyses of cycled BI-NVP (including by Raman and XRD spectra) HRTEM, and STEM-EELS, indicate highly reversible dilation–contraction, negligible electrode pulverization, and a stable NVP-reduced graphene oxide layer interface. The results presented here provide a rational and biomimetic material design for the electrode architecture for ultrahigh power and ultralong cyclability of the sodium ion battery full cells when paired with a sodium metal anode.more » « less
-
Abstract Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries are promising alternatives to lithium‐ion batteries due to their cost‐effectiveness and improved safety. However, several challenges, including corrosion, dendrites, and water decomposition at the Zn anode, hinder their performance. Herein, an approach is proposed, that deviates from the conventional design by adding water into a propylene carbonate‐based organic electrolyte to prepare a non‐flammable “water‐in‐organic” electrolyte. The chaotropic salt Zn(ClO4)2exploits the Hofmeister effect to promote the miscibility of immiscible liquid phases. Interactions between propylene carbonate and water restrict water activity and mitigate unfavorable reactions. This electrolyte facilitates preferential Zn (002) deposition and the formation of solid electrolyte interphase. Consequently, the “water‐in‐organic” electrolyte achieves a 99.5% Coulombic efficiency at 1 mA cm−2over 1000 cycles in Zn/Cu cells, and constant cycling over 1000 h in Zn/Zn symmetric cells. A Na0.33V2O5/Zn battery exhibits impressive cycling stability with a capacity of 175 mAh g−1for 800 cycles at 2 A g−1. Additionally, this electrolyte enables sustainable cycling across a wide temperature range from −20 to 50 °C. The design of a “water‐in‐organic” electrolyte employing a chaotropic salt presents a potential strategy for high‐performance electrolytes in zinc‐ion batteries with a large stability window and a wide temperature range.more » « less
