Boosting Zinc Electrode Reversibility in Aqueous Electrolytes by Using Low‐Cost Antisolvents

Nickel hexacyanoferrate (NiHCFe) is an attractive cathode material in both aqueous and organic electrolytes due to a low-cost synthesis using earth-abundant precursors and also due to its open framework, Prussian blue-like crystal structure that enables ultra-long cycle life, high energy efficiency, and high power capability. Herein, we explored the effect of different alkali ions on the insertion electrochemistry of NiHCFe in aqueous and propylene carbonate-based electrolytes. The large channel diameter of the structure offers fast solid-state diffusion of Li+, Na+, and K+ ions in aqueous electrolytes. However, all alkali ions in organic electrolytes and Rb+ and Cs+ in aqueous electrolytes show a quasi-reversible electrochemical behavior that results in poor galvanostatic cycling performance. Kinetic regimes in aqueous electrolyte were also determined, highlighting the effect of the size of the alkali ion on the electrochemical properties.

Download Full-text

Zn Metal Anodes for Zn-Ion Batteries in Mild Aqueous Electrolytes: Challenges and Strategies

Nanomaterials ◽

10.3390/nano11102746 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 2746

Author(s):

Vo Pham Hoang Huy ◽

Luong Trung Hieu ◽

Jaehyun Hur

Keyword(s):

Coulombic Efficiency ◽

Low Cost ◽

Lithium Ion ◽

Uniform Electric Field ◽

Side Reactions ◽

Aqueous Electrolytes ◽

Design Strategies ◽

Practical Applications ◽

High Theoretical Capacity ◽

Metal Anodes

Over the past few years, rechargeable aqueous Zn-ion batteries have garnered significant interest as potential alternatives for lithium-ion batteries because of their low cost, high theoretical capacity, low redox potential, and environmentally friendliness. However, several constraints associated with Zn metal anodes, such as the growth of Zn dendrites, occurrence of side reactions, and hydrogen evolution during repeated stripping/plating processes result in poor cycling life and low Coulombic efficiency, which severely impede further advancements in this technology. Despite recent efforts and impressive breakthroughs, the origin of these fundamental obstacles remains unclear and no successful strategy that can address these issues has been developed yet to realize the practical applications of rechargeable aqueous Zn-ion batteries. In this review, we have discussed various issues associated with the use of Zn metal anodes in mildly acidic aqueous electrolytes. Various strategies, including the shielding of the Zn surface, regulating the Zn deposition behavior, creating a uniform electric field, and controlling the surface energy of Zn metal anodes to repress the growth of Zn dendrites and the occurrence of side reactions, proposed to overcome the limitations of Zn metal anodes have also been discussed. Finally, the future perspectives of Zn anodes and possible design strategies for developing highly stable Zn anodes in mildly acidic aqueous environments have been discussed.

Download Full-text

Mobilities of iodide anions in aqueous solutions for applications in natural dye-sensitized solar cells

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics ◽

10.1039/c8cp01155a ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 20 (18) ◽

pp. 13038-13046 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Giuseppe Cassone ◽

Giuseppe Calogero ◽

Jiri Sponer ◽

Franz Saija

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Aqueous Solutions ◽

Computational Study ◽

Low Cost ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Environmentally Friendly ◽

Aqueous Electrolytes ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Conduction Properties

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) composed of aqueous electrolytes represent an environmentally friendly, low-cost, and concrete alternative to standard DSSCs and typical solar cells. A joint experimental/computational study revealed the microscopic details behind the conduction properties of iodide anions in aqueous dye-sensitized solar cells.

Download Full-text

High Voltage Redox-Meditated Flow Batteries with Prussian Blue Solid Booster

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14227498 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (22) ◽

pp. 7498

Author(s):

John Ostrander ◽

Reza Younesi ◽

Ronnie Mogensen

Keyword(s):

Prussian Blue ◽

High Voltage ◽

Sodium Iodide ◽

Low Cost ◽

Redox Mediator ◽

Aqueous Electrolytes ◽

Capacity Fading ◽

Average Potential ◽

Flow Batteries ◽

In Cells

This work presents Prussian blue solid boosters for use in high voltage redox-mediated flow batteries (RMFB) based on non-aqueous electrolytes. The system consisted of sodium iodide as a redox mediator in an acetonitrile catholyte containing solid Prussian blue powder. The combination enabled the solid booster utilization in the proposed systems to reach as high as 66 mAh g−1 for hydrated Prussian blue and 110 mAh g−1 for anhydrous rhombohedral Prussian blue in cells with an average potential of about 3 V (vs. Na+/Na). Though the boosted system suffers from capacity fading, it opens up possibilities to develop non-aqueous RMFB with low-cost materials.

Download Full-text

Electrode–Electrolyte Interactions in an Aqueous Aluminum–Carbon Rechargeable Battery System

Nanomaterials ◽

10.3390/nano11123235 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 3235

Author(s):

Jasmin Smajic ◽

Amira Alazmi ◽

Nimer Wehbe ◽

Pedro M. F. J. Costa

Keyword(s):

Aqueous Electrolyte ◽

Low Cost ◽

Electrochemical Energy Storage ◽

Rechargeable Battery ◽

Aqueous Electrolytes ◽

Energy Storage Devices ◽

Battery System ◽

Storage Devices ◽

Reduced Graphene ◽

Aqueous Aluminum

Being environmentally friendly, safe and easy to handle, aqueous electrolytes are of particular interest for next-generation electrochemical energy storage devices. When coupled with an abundant, recyclable and low-cost electrode material such as aluminum, the promise of a green and economically sustainable battery system has extraordinary appeal. In this work, we study the interaction of an aqueous electrolyte with an aluminum plate anode and various graphitic cathodes. Upon establishing the boundary conditions for optimal electrolyte performance, we find that a mesoporous reduced graphene oxide powder constitutes a better cathode material option than graphite flakes.

Download Full-text

Ampoule method fabricated sulfur vacancy-rich N-doped ZnS electrodes for ammonia production in alkaline media

Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy ◽

10.1007/s40243-021-00193-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Da-Ming Feng ◽

Ying Sun ◽

Zhong-Yong Yuan ◽

Yang Fu ◽

Baohua Jia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Active Sites ◽

High Performance ◽

Low Cost ◽

Metal Sulfide ◽

Catalytic Performance ◽

Reduction Reaction ◽

Alkaline Media ◽

Superior Performance ◽

Zinc Electrode ◽

Faradaic Efficiency

AbstractThe electrochemical production of green and low-cost ammonia requests the development of high-performance electrocatalysts. In this work, the ampoule method was applied to modulate the surface of the zinc electrode by implanting defects and low-valent active sites. The N-doped ZnS electrocatalyst was thus generated by sulfurization with thiourea and applied for electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (ENRR). Given the rich sulfur vacancies and abundant Zn-N active sites on the surface, excellent catalytic activity and selectivity were obtained, with an NH3 yield rate of 2.42 × 10–10 mol s−1 cm−2 and a Faradaic efficiency of 7.92% at − 0.6 V vs. RHE in 0.1 M KOH solution. Moreover, the as-synthesized zinc electrode exhibits high stability after five recycling tests and a 24 h potentiostatic test. The comparison with Zn foil, non-doping ZnS/Zn and recent metal sulfide electrocatalysts further demonstrated advanced catalytic performance of N@ZnS/Zn for ENRR. By simple synthesis, S vacancies, and N-doping defects, this promising electrocatalyst would represent a good addition to the arena of transition-metal-based catalysts with superior performance in ENRR. Graphic abstract

Download Full-text

The Effect of Additives on the Performance and Failure Mechanisms of the Rechargeable, Low-Cost, Alkaline Zinc Electrode

ECS Meeting Abstracts ◽

10.1149/ma2020-0261042mtgabs ◽

2020 ◽

Vol MA2020-02 (6) ◽

pp. 1042-1042

Author(s):

Michael Joseph D'Ambrose ◽

Damon Turney ◽

Gautam Ganapati Yadav ◽

Michael Nyce ◽

Robert J. Messinger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Low Cost ◽

Failure Mechanisms ◽

Zinc Electrode ◽

Effect Of Additives

Download Full-text

Decomposition of the metastable beta titanium alloy Ti-15-3

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100075117 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 41 ◽

pp. 264-265

Author(s):

Y. L. Chen ◽

S. Fujlshiro

Keyword(s):

Low Cost ◽

High Strength ◽

Alpha Phase ◽

Thick Sheet ◽

Omega Phase ◽

Beta Titanium Alloy ◽

Beta Titanium ◽

Beta Matrix ◽

Metastable Beta ◽

Very High

Metastable beta titanium alloys have been known to have numerous advantages such as cold formability, high strength, good fracture resistance, deep hardenability, and cost effectiveness. Very high strength is obtainable by precipitation of the hexagonal alpha phase in a bcc beta matrix in these alloys. Precipitation hardening in the metastable beta alloys may also result from the formation of transition phases such as omega phase. Ti-15-3 (Ti-15V- 3Cr-3Al-3Sn) has been developed recently by TIMET and USAF for low cost sheet metal applications. The purpose of the present study was to examine the aging characteristics in this alloy.The composition of the as-received material is: 14.7 V, 3.14 Cr, 3.05 Al, 2.26 Sn, and 0.145 Fe. The beta transus temperature as determined by optical metallographic method was about 770°C. Specimen coupons were prepared from a mill-annealed 1.2 mm thick sheet, and solution treated at 827°C for 2 hr in argon, then water quenched. Aging was also done in argon at temperatures ranging from 316 to 616°C for various times.

Download Full-text

Chromic Acid Etching of Polyethylene

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100070801 ◽

1973 ◽

Vol 31 ◽

pp. 72-73

Author(s):

J. D. Muzzy ◽

R. D. Hester ◽

J. L. Hubbard

Keyword(s):

Chromic Acid ◽

Low Cost ◽

Acid Etching ◽

Crystalline Morphology ◽

Bulk Specimen ◽

Morphological Studies ◽

Perfect Form ◽

Molecular Length ◽

Lamellar Texture ◽

Cost Studies

Polyethylene is one of the most important plastics produced today because of its good physical properties, ease of fabrication and low cost. Studies to improve the properties of polyethylene are leading to an understanding of its crystalline morphology. Polyethylene crystallized by evaporation from dilute solutions consists of thin crystals called lamellae. The polyethylene molecules are parallel to the thickness of the lamellae and are folded since the thickness of the lamellae is much less than the molecular length. This lamellar texture persists in less perfect form in polyethylene crystallized from the melt.Morphological studies of melt crystallized polyethylene have been limited due to the difficulty of isolating the microstructure from the bulk specimen without destroying or deforming it.

Download Full-text