scholarly journals Tuning wettability of molten lithium via a chemical strategy for lithium metal anodes

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu-Hua Wang ◽  
Junpei Yue ◽  
Wei Dong ◽  
Tong-Tong Zuo ◽  
Jin-Yi Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alkali Metals ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Rechargeable Batteries ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Lithium Metal ◽  
General Chemical ◽  
Molten Lithium ◽  
Chemical Strategy

Abstract Metallic lithium affords the highest theoretical capacity and lowest electrochemical potential and is viewed as a leading contender as an anode for high-energy-density rechargeable batteries. However, the poor wettability of molten lithium does not allow it to spread across the surface of lithiophobic substrates, hindering the production and application of this anode. Here we report a general chemical strategy to overcome this dilemma by reacting molten lithium with functional organic coatings or elemental additives. The Gibbs formation energy and newly formed chemical bonds are found to be the governing factor for the wetting behavior. As a result of the improved wettability, a series of ultrathin lithium of 10–20 μm thick is obtained together with impressive electrochemical performance in lithium metal batteries. These findings provide an overall guide for tuning the wettability of molten lithium and offer an affordable strategy for the large-scale production of ultrathin lithium, and could be further extended to other alkali metals, such as sodium and potassium.

scholarly journals Lithium Metal Anode for High-Power and High-Capacity Rechargeable Batteries

2021 ◽  
Vol 03 (02) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Nobuyuki Imanishi ◽  
◽  
Daisuke Mori ◽  
Sou Taminato ◽  
Yasuo Takeda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Current Density ◽  
High Current Density ◽  
Specific Capacity ◽  
High Capacity ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Rechargeable Batteries ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Current Status ◽  
High Current ◽  
Lithium Metal

Because lithium metal exhibits high specific capacity and low potential, it is the best candidate for fabricating anodes for batteries. Rechargeable batteries fabricated using lithium anode exhibit high capacity and high potential cathode; these can be potentially used to fabricate high energy density batteries (>500 Wh kg–1) that can be used for the development of next-generation electric vehicles. However, the formation and growth of lithium dendrites and the low coulombic efficiency recorded during lithium plating and stripping under conditions of high current density hinder the use of lithium metal as the anodic material for the development of practical rechargeable batteries. In this short review, we outline the current status and prospects of lithium anodes for fabricating batteries in the presence of non-aqueous liquid, polymer, and solid electrolytes operated under conditions of high current density.

Super-conductive plastic crystal-based materials as the interface layers for solid-state lithium metal batteries

2021 ◽  
pp. 2141003
Author(s):  
Jie Wu ◽  
Jingxiong Gao ◽  
Luri Bao ◽  
Yongming Wu ◽  
Lei Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solid State ◽  
Solid Electrolytes ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Side Reactions ◽  
Plastic Crystal ◽  
Lithium Metal ◽  
Lithium Metal Batteries ◽  
Interface Layers

Safe solid-state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs) with high energy density are in great demand for electrical vehicles and large-scale energy storage systems. The interfacial challenges including large interface resistance and untoward reactions have an enormous impact on the rate performance and cycle stability of SSLMBs. Hence, in this work, plastic crystal-based materials are proposed as the interface layers to reduce the interfacial impedance and prevent side reactions between solid electrolytes and Li anode. The plastic crystal-based materials can enable in-situ solidification between solid electrolytes and Li anode and show high ion conductivity of up to [Formula: see text]10[Formula: see text] S ⋅ cm[Formula: see text], high Li ion transference number, and good chemical and electrochemical stability against Li metal, indicating they are suitable to be used as the interface layers for SSLMBs.

scholarly journals Design rules for liquid crystalline electrolytes for enabling dendrite-free lithium metal batteries

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (43) ◽  
pp. 26672-26680
Author(s):  
Zeeshan Ahmad ◽  
Zijian Hong ◽  
Venkatasubramanian Viswanathan
Keyword(s):  
Density Functional ◽  
Liquid Crystalline ◽  
Morphological Evolution ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Rechargeable Batteries ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Lithium Metal ◽  
Metal Anode ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Lithium Metal Batteries

Dendrite-free electrodeposition of lithium metal is necessary for the adoption of high energy-density rechargeable lithium metal batteries. Here, we demonstrate a mechanism of using a liquid crystalline electrolyte to suppress dendrite growth with a lithium metal anode. A nematic liquid crystalline electrolyte modifies the kinetics of electrodeposition by introducing additional overpotential due to its bulk-distortion and anchoring free energy. By extending the phase-field model, we simulate the morphological evolution of the metal anode and explore the role of bulk-distortion and anchoring strengths on the electrodeposition process. We find that adsorption energy of liquid crystalline molecules on a lithium surface can be a good descriptor for the anchoring energy and obtain it using first-principles density functional theory calculations. Unlike other extrinsic mechanisms, we find that liquid crystals with high anchoring strengths can ensure smooth electrodeposition of lithium metal, thus paving the way for practical applications in rechargeable batteries based on metal anodes.

Organic solvent-assisted free-standing Li2MnO3·LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 on 3D graphene as a high energy density cathode

2015 ◽  
Vol 51 (91) ◽  
pp. 16381-16384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuelong Xin ◽  
Liya Qi ◽  
Yiwei Zhang ◽  
Zicheng Zuo ◽  
Henghui Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Organic Solvent ◽  
Freeze Drying ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Free Standing ◽  
3D Graphene ◽  
Active Particles

A novel organic solvent-assisted freeze-drying pathway, which can effectively protect and uniformly distribute active particles, is developed to fabricate a free-standing Li2MnO3·LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 (LR)/rGO electrode on a large scale.

High energy density aqueous zinc–benzoquinone batteries enabled by carbon cloth with multiple anchoring effects

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiqiang Luo ◽  
Silin Zheng ◽  
Shuo Zhao ◽  
Xin Jiao ◽  
Zongshuai Gong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Energy Density ◽  
Porous Carbon ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Carbon Cloth ◽  
Anchoring Effects ◽  
High Theoretical Capacity ◽  
Energy Storage Applications

Benzoquinone with high theoretical capacity is anchored on N-plasma engraved porous carbon as a desirable cathode for rechargeable aqueous Zn-ion batteries. Such batteries display tremendous potential in large-scale energy storage applications.

scholarly journals Nitrogen-enriched graphene framework from a large-scale magnesiothermic conversion of CO2 with synergistic kinetics for high-power lithium-ion capacitors

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Li ◽  
Xiong Zhang ◽  
Kai Wang ◽  
Xianzhong Sun ◽  
Yanan Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
High Power ◽  
Power Output ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Electrode Materials ◽  
Lithium Ion ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Chemical Doping ◽  
Lithium Ion Capacitor

AbstractLithium-ion capacitors are envisaged as promising energy-storage devices to simultaneously achieve a large energy density and high-power output at quick charge and discharge rates. However, the mismatched kinetics between capacitive cathodes and faradaic anodes still hinder their practical application for high-power purposes. To tackle this problem, the electron and ion transport of both electrodes should be substantially improved by targeted structural design and controllable chemical doping. Herein, nitrogen-enriched graphene frameworks are prepared via a large-scale and ultrafast magnesiothermic combustion synthesis using CO2 and melamine as precursors, which exhibit a crosslinked porous structure, abundant functional groups and high electrical conductivity (10524 S m−1). The material essentially delivers upgraded kinetics due to enhanced ion diffusion and electron transport. Excellent capacities of 1361 mA h g−1 and 827 mA h g−1 can be achieved at current densities of 0.1 A g−1 and 3 A g−1, respectively, demonstrating its outstanding lithium storage performance at both low and high rates. Moreover, the lithium-ion capacitor based on these nitrogen-enriched graphene frameworks displays a high energy density of 151 Wh kg−1, and still retains 86 Wh kg−1 even at an ultrahigh power output of 49 kW kg−1. This study reveals an effective pathway to achieve synergistic kinetics in carbon electrode materials for achieving high-power lithium-ion capacitors.

scholarly journals From natural to artificial photosynthesis

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (81) ◽  
pp. 20120984 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Barber ◽  
Phong D. Tran
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Nuclear Fusion ◽  
Fusion Energy ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Chemical Bonds ◽  
Natural Photosynthesis

Demand for energy is projected to increase at least twofold by mid-century relative to the present global consumption because of predicted population and economic growth. This demand could be met, in principle, from fossil energy resources, particularly coal. However, the cumulative nature of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions demands that stabilizing the atmospheric CO 2 levels to just twice their pre-anthropogenic values by mid-century will be extremely challenging, requiring invention, development and deployment of schemes for carbon-neutral energy production on a scale commensurate with, or larger than, the entire present-day energy supply from all sources combined. Among renewable and exploitable energy resources, nuclear fusion energy or solar energy are by far the largest. However, in both cases, technological breakthroughs are required with nuclear fusion being very difficult, if not impossible on the scale required. On the other hand, 1 h of sunlight falling on our planet is equivalent to all the energy consumed by humans in an entire year. If solar energy is to be a major primary energy source, then it must be stored and despatched on demand to the end user. An especially attractive approach is to store solar energy in the form of chemical bonds as occurs in natural photosynthesis. However, a technology is needed which has a year-round average conversion efficiency significantly higher than currently available by natural photosynthesis so as to reduce land-area requirements and to be independent of food production. Therefore, the scientific challenge is to construct an ‘artificial leaf’ able to efficiently capture and convert solar energy and then store it in the form of chemical bonds of a high-energy density fuel such as hydrogen while at the same time producing oxygen from water. Realistically, the efficiency target for such a technology must be 10 per cent or better. Here, we review the molecular details of the energy capturing reactions of natural photosynthesis, particularly the water-splitting reaction of photosystem II and the hydrogen-generating reaction of hydrogenases. We then follow on to describe how these two reactions are being mimicked in physico-chemical-based catalytic or electrocatalytic systems with the challenge of creating a large-scale robust and efficient artificial leaf technology.

scholarly journals Stable Lithium-Carbon Composite Enabled by Dual-Salt Additives

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Zheng ◽  
Feng Guo ◽  
Tuo Kang ◽  
Yingzhu Fan ◽  
Wei Gu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coulombic Efficiency ◽  
Solid Electrolyte Interphase ◽  
Rate Capability ◽  
Negative Electrode ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Carbon Composite ◽  
High Reactivity ◽  
Cycling Stability ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Lithium Metal

AbstractLithium metal is regarded as the ultimate negative electrode material for secondary batteries due to its high energy density. However, it suffers from poor cycling stability because of its high reactivity with liquid electrolytes. Therefore, continuous efforts have been put into improving the cycling Coulombic efficiency (CE) to extend the lifespan of the lithium metal negative electrode. Herein, we report that using dual-salt additives of LiPF6 and LiNO3 in an ether solvent-based electrolyte can significantly improve the cycling stability and rate capability of a Li-carbon (Li-CNT) composite. As a result, an average cycling CE as high as 99.30% was obtained for the Li-CNT at a current density of 2.5 mA cm–2 and an negative electrode to positive electrode capacity (N/P) ratio of 2. The cycling stability and rate capability enhancement of the Li-CNT negative electrode could be attributed to the formation of a better solid electrolyte interphase layer that contains both inorganic components and organic polyether. The former component mainly originates from the decomposition of the LiNO3 additive, while the latter comes from the LiPF6-induced ring-opening polymerization of the ether solvent. This novel surface chemistry significantly improves the CE of Li negative electrode, revealing its importance for the practical application of lithium metal batteries.

Slow surface diffusion on Cu substrates in Li metal batteries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingeborg Treu Røe ◽  
Sondre K. Schnell
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structure ◽  
Energy Density ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Lithium Metal ◽  
Metal Anode ◽  
Lithium Metal Batteries ◽  
Lithium Metal Anode ◽  
Slow Surface ◽  
Cu Substrates

Dendrite growth on the lithium metal anode still obstructs a widespread commercialization of high energy density lithium metal batteries. In this work, we investigate how the crystal structure of the...

Recent Advancements of Functional Gel Polymer Electrolytes for Rechargeable Lithium Metal Batteries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sha Fu ◽  
Lan-Lan Zuo ◽  
Peng-Sheng Zhou ◽  
Xue-Jiao Liu ◽  
Qiang Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Polymer Electrolytes ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Gel Polymer Electrolytes ◽  
Lithium Metal ◽  
Lithium Metal Batteries ◽  
Metallic Lithium ◽  
Electrochemical Storage ◽  
Storage Technologies

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) as the next generation promising high energy density alternatives among electrochemical storage technologies have received worldwide attention. However, the incompatibility between metallic lithium and traditional liquid...

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