Improving the alkali metal electrode/inorganic solid electrolyte contact via room-temperature ultrasound solid welding

AbstractThe combination of alkali metal electrodes and solid-state electrolytes is considered a promising strategy to develop high-energy rechargeable batteries. However, the practical applications of these two components are hindered by the large interfacial resistance and growth of detrimental alkali metal depositions (e.g., dendrites) during cycling originated by the unsatisfactory electrode/solid electrolyte contact. To tackle these issues, we propose a room temperature ultrasound solid welding strategy to improve the contact between Na metal and Na3Zr2Si2PO12 (NZSP) inorganic solid electrolyte. Symmetrical Na|NZSP | Na cells assembled via ultrasonic welding show stable Na plating/stripping behavior at a current density of 0.2 mA cm−2 and a higher critical current density (i.e., 0.6 mA cm−2) and lower interfacial impedance than the symmetric cells assembled without the ultrasonic welding strategy. The beneficial effect of the ultrasound welding is also demonstrated in Na|NZSP | Na3V2(PO4)3 full coin cell configuration where 900 cycles at 0.1 mA cm−2 with a capacity retention of almost 90% can be achieved at room temperature.

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Mastering the interface for advanced all-solid-state lithium rechargeable batteries

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1615912113 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 113 (47) ◽

pp. 13313-13317 ◽

Cited By ~ 138

Author(s):

Yutao Li ◽

Weidong Zhou ◽

Xi Chen ◽

Xujie Lü ◽

Zhiming Cui ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solid State ◽

Solid Electrolyte ◽

Solid Electrolyte Interphase ◽

Rechargeable Batteries ◽

Ion Conductivity ◽

Rhombohedral Structure ◽

Interfacial Resistance ◽

Lithium Anode ◽

Metal Anode ◽

Li Ion

A solid electrolyte with a high Li-ion conductivity and a small interfacial resistance against a Li metal anode is a key component in all-solid-state Li metal batteries, but there is no ceramic oxide electrolyte available for this application except the thin-film Li-P oxynitride electrolyte; ceramic electrolytes are either easily reduced by Li metal or penetrated by Li dendrites in a short time. Here, we introduce a solid electrolyte LiZr2(PO4)3 with rhombohedral structure at room temperature that has a bulk Li-ion conductivity σLi = 2 × 10−4 S⋅cm−1 at 25 °C, a high electrochemical stability up to 5.5 V versus Li+/Li, and a small interfacial resistance for Li+ transfer. It reacts with a metallic lithium anode to form a Li+-conducting passivation layer (solid-electrolyte interphase) containing Li3P and Li8ZrO6 that is wet by the lithium anode and also wets the LiZr2(PO4)3 electrolyte. An all-solid-state Li/LiFePO4 cell with a polymer catholyte shows good cyclability and a long cycle life.

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Framework Structures for Mg Battery Cathodes

Materials Science Forum ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.879.2150 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 879 ◽

pp. 2150-2152

Author(s):

Shunsuke Yagi ◽

Masaaki Fukuda ◽

Tetsu Ichitsubo ◽

Eiichiro Matsubara

Keyword(s):

Prussian Blue ◽

Room Temperature ◽

Active Material ◽

Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance ◽

High Energy ◽

Rechargeable Batteries ◽

High Energy Density ◽

Active Materials ◽

Large Space ◽

Extraction Behavior

Rechargeable Mg batteries have received intensive attention as affordable rechargeable batteries with high electromotive force, high energy density, and high safety. Mg possesses two valence electrons and has the lowest standard electrode potential (ca. -2.36 V vs. SHE) among the air-stable metals. There is another advantage that Mg metal can be used as an active material because Mg metal hardly forms dendrites. However, the slow diffusion of Mg ions in solid crystals prevents the realization of active materials for Mg rechargeable batteries at room temperature. Although some complex oxides have been reported to work as active materials at higher temperatures, Chevrel compounds are still the gold standards, which work at room temperature. However, the working voltage of the Mg battery using a Chevrel compound for the cathode is only ca. 1.2 V, which is far below that of Li-ion batteries (3-5 V). Nevertheless, Chevrel compounds have the significant advantage that a relatively large space exists in the crystal structure, which allows for fast Mg ion diffusion. In the present study, we investigated some materials with framework structures as cathodes for Mg batteries, which can alleviate the electrostatic constraint between Mg ions and cathode constituents. Specifically, we investigated the redox behavior of the thin films of Prussian blue and Prussian blue analogues in electrolytes containing an Mg salt using electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. In addition, we discuss the electrochemical insertion/extraction behavior of Mg ions and their solvation structures.

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Modification of Lithium Metal Anode and Solid-State Electrolyte Interface with a Gel Electrolyte

10.1149/osf.io/7m95s ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Lawrence Renna ◽

Francois-Guillame Blanc ◽

Vincent Giordani

Keyword(s):

Solid State ◽

Room Temperature ◽

Gel Polymer Electrolyte ◽

High Energy ◽

Gel Electrolyte ◽

High Energy Density ◽

Interfacial Resistance ◽

Metal Anode ◽

Solid State Electrolytes ◽

Metal Anodes

Solid-state electrolytes are continually being explored for Li-ion batteries due to their enhanced safety and their enabling of high energy density active materials, particularly Li metal anodes. However, the interface between solid-state electrolytes and Li metal anodes are prone to high impedance due to poor contact, limiting their applicability. Introducing a thin gel polymer electrolyte interlayer to conformally coat solid electrolytes can improve the interfacial contact of Li metal anode and thus reduce the interfacial resistance. Here we used a plasticized poly(ethylene oxide)-based electrolyte with high concentrations of bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonamide lithium (LiTFSI) that show 100% amorphous character. These electrolytes show Li+ conductivity as high as σ = 2.9×10-4 S/cm at room temperature. We discovered by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) with off-gas analysis in conjunction with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy that the electrolyte films had absorbed N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) vapors to form a gel electrolyte. We incorporated the gel electrolyte as an interfacial modification layer between LLZO and Li metal electrodes and found a 58 times reduction in the area specific resistance (ASR) at room temperature.

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Ultrafast rechargeable room-temperature solid-state sodium ion battery based on graphene-based liquid alloy

10.21203/rs.3.rs-223685/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

QianQian Zhao ◽

Haoqing Tian ◽

Shan Liu ◽

Ling Wang ◽

Lei Dai

Keyword(s):

Solid State ◽

Liquid Alloy ◽

Current Density ◽

Room Temperature ◽

Point Contact ◽

Rate Capability ◽

High Energy ◽

Sodium Ion ◽

High Energy Density ◽

Sodium Ion Batteries

Abstract Solid state sodium ion batteries have attracted great attentions due to its high safety and high energy density. However, the poor wettability between sodium and solid electrolytes (point-contact) seriously limits its application at room temperature. Here, we use a graphene-based Na-K alloy instead of pure sodium as anode to improve the wettability, which allows the batteries to be operated with ultrahigh rate capability at room temperature. The reduced interfacial resistance and accelerated charge transfer kinetics between alloy anode and NASICON electrolyte (face-contact) made the batteries stable cycle more than 220 hours with a small voltage hysteresis at a high current density of 25 mA cm-2 at room temperature, even increased the current density to 65 mA cm-2, the batteries can still operate well. These results proved that the feasibility of using liquid alloy in room-temperature solid-state sodium ion batteries. This work will pave the way for the development of high-rate, dendrite-free and long-life solid-state sodium ion batteries.

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Functional membrane separators for next-generation high-energy rechargeable batteries

National Science Review ◽

10.1093/nsr/nwx037 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (6) ◽

pp. 917-933 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Yuede Pan ◽

Shulei Chou ◽

Hua Kun Liu ◽

Shi Xue Dou

Keyword(s):

Room Temperature ◽

Final Section ◽

High Energy ◽

Liquid Electrolyte ◽

Rechargeable Batteries ◽

Next Generation ◽

Selective Permeability ◽

Alternative Approach ◽

Functional Membrane ◽

Specific Species

Abstract The membrane separator is a key component in a liquid-electrolyte battery for electrically separating the cathode and the anode, meanwhile ensuring ionic transport between them. Besides these basic requirements, endowing the separator with specific beneficial functions is now being paid great attention because it provides an important alternative approach for the development of batteries, particularly next-generation high-energy rechargeable batteries. Herein, functional separators are overviewed based on four key criteria of next-generation high-energy rechargeable batteries: stable, safe, smart and sustainable (4S). That is, the applied membrane materials and the corresponding functioning mechanisms of the 4S separators are reviewed. Functional separators with selective permeability have been applied to retard unwanted migration of the specific species (e.g. polysulfide anions in Li-S batteries) from one electrode to the other in order to achieve stable cycling operation. The covered battery types are Li-S, room-temperature Na-S, Li-organic, organic redox-flow (RF) and Li-air batteries. Safe, smart and sustainable separators are then described in sequence following the first criterion of stable cycling. In the final section, key challenges and potential opportunities in the development of 4S separators are discussed.

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Composite lithium electrode with mesoscale skeleton via simple mechanical deformation

Science Advances ◽

10.1126/sciadv.aau5655 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. eaau5655 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Zheng Liang ◽

Kai Yan ◽

Guangmin Zhou ◽

Allen Pei ◽

Jie Zhao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Current Density ◽

High Performance ◽

Composite Electrode ◽

Metal Electrode ◽

Mechanical Deformation ◽

High Energy ◽

High Energy Density ◽

Lithium Metal ◽

Energy Storage Devices ◽

Ion Conducting

Lithium metal–based batteries are attractive energy storage devices because of high energy density. However, uncontrolled dendrite growth and virtually infinite volume change, which cause performance fading and safety concerns, have limited their applications. Here, we demonstrate that a composite lithium metal electrode with an ion-conducting mesoscale skeleton can improve electrochemical performance by locally reducing the current density. In addition, the potential for short-circuiting is largely alleviated due to side deposition of mossy lithium on the three-dimensional electroactive surface of the composite electrode. Moreover, the electrode volume only slightly changes with the support of a rigid and stable scaffold. Therefore, this mesoscale composite electrode can cycle stably for 200 cycles with low polarization under a high areal current density up to 5 mA/cm2. Most attractively, the proposed fabrication process, which only involves simple mechanical deformation, is scalable and cost effective, providing a new strategy for developing high performance and long lifespan lithium anodes.

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Supercritical CO2 Synthesis of Freestanding Se1-xSx Foamy Cathodes for High-Performance Li-Se1-xSx Battery

Frontiers in Chemistry ◽

10.3389/fchem.2021.738977 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Chengwei Lu ◽

Ruyi Fang ◽

Kun Wang ◽

Zhen Xiao ◽

G. Gnana kumar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Performance ◽

Specific Capacity ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Rate Capability ◽

Carbon Matrix ◽

High Energy ◽

Rechargeable Batteries ◽

High Energy Density ◽

Rechargeable Lithium Batteries ◽

Practical Applications

Selenium-sulfur solid solutions (Se1-xSx) are considered to be a new class of promising cathodic materials for high-performance rechargeable lithium batteries owing to their superior electric conductivity than S and higher theoretical specific capacity than Se. In this work, high-performance Li-Se1-xSx batteries employed freestanding cathodes by encapsulating Se1-xSx in a N-doped carbon framework with three-dimensional (3D) interconnected porous structure (NC@SWCNTs) are proposed. Se1-xSx is uniformly dispersed in 3D porous carbon matrix with the assistance of supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) technique. Impressively, NC@SWCNTs host not only provides spatial confinement for Se1-xSx and efficient physical/chemical adsorption of intermediates, but also offers a highly conductive framework to facilitate ion/electron transport. More importantly, the Se/S ratio of Se1-xSx plays an important role on the electrochemical performance of Li- Se1-xSx batteries. Benefiting from the rationally designed structure and chemical composition, NC@[email protected] cathode exhibits excellent cyclic stability (632 mA h g−1 at 200 cycle at 0.2 A g−1) and superior rate capability (415 mA h g−1 at 2.0 A g−1) in carbonate-based electrolyte. This novel NC@[email protected] cathode not only introduces a new strategy to design high-performance cathodes, but also provides a new approach to fabricate freestanding cathodes towards practical applications of high-energy-density rechargeable batteries.

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

Journal of Energy and Power Technology ◽

10.21926/jept.2102019 ◽

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.

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Operating Characteristics of a Small Cryogenic Stirling Engine With a Displacer

ASME 2011 Power Conference, Volume 2 ◽

10.1115/power2011-55379 ◽

2011 ◽

Author(s):

Toshio Otaka ◽

Masaru Ito

Keyword(s):

Low Temperature ◽

Heat Source ◽

Heat Sink ◽

Room Temperature ◽

Electrical Energy ◽

High Energy ◽

Operating Characteristics ◽

Practical Applications ◽

Heat Engines ◽

Temperature Ranges

The green house effect by carbon dioxide issue would make better recognizing the importance of efficient use of energy in terms of high energy conservation measures. Accordingly, attention is drawn to the Stirling cycle machine, which is a perfect Freon free and efficient machine. Most Stirling engines operate in temperature ranges in which the temperature difference between the heat source and heat sink is between 100 K and 700 K, with the room temperature being at the lower end of the operating temperature range. However, information available on engines that utilize the room temperature as the heat source and the ultra-low temperature of liquid nitrogen as the heat sink is scarce. Engines that operate within such temperature ranges are called cryogenic heat engines. If their practical applications are realized, energy that has hitherto been wasted during the use of ultra-low-temperature media can be recovered in the form of electrical energy. We have designed and developed a 500 W class Stirling machine as a cryogenic engine. This paper presents some operating characteristics.

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