Crosslinked Chitosan Binder for Sustainable Aqueous Batteries

The increased percentage of renewable power sources involved in energy production highlights the importance of developing systems for stationary energy storage that satisfy the requirements of safety and low costs. Na ion batteries can be suitable candidates, specifically if their components are economic and safe. This study focuses on the development of aqueous processes and binders to prepare electrodes for sodium ion cells operating in aqueous solutions. We demonstrated the feasibility of a chitosan-based binder to produce freestanding electrodes for Na ion cells, without the use of organic solvents and current collectors in electrode processing. To our knowledge, it is the first time that water-processed, freestanding electrodes are used in aqueous Na ion cells, which could also be extended to other types of aqueous batteries. This is a real breakthrough in terms of sustainability, taking into account low risks for health and environment and low costs.

Towards autonomous high-throughput multiscale modelling of battery interfaces

Understanding of interfaces in rechargeable batteries is crucial because they bridge electrodes, electrolytes, and current collectors. Current challenges that need to be overcome are reviewed, followed by future directions to reach this goal.

Inkjet Printed Ultra-Thin Conformal Zinc-Silver Battery

Flexible printed electronics and photonics technologies are in demand because they are cost-effective and quickly reconfigurable. Zinc-silver battery can help towards development of body conformal wearable electronics. The study evaluate planar sec-ondary Ag2O-Zn battery fabricated using the inkjet printing technology. Polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) is used as polymer substrate and carbon nanotubes material is used as current collectors. The demonstrated battery achieves an capacity of 4 mAh with active electrode area of 14 cm2 and thickness of 0.2 mm.

The effect of air flow on an aerodynamic device for a pantograph

Objective: To evaluate the infl uence of the parameters of current collectors of high-speed and very high-speed trains on the value of aerodynamic resistance. To study the effect of airfl ow on a pantograph aerodynamic device using SolidWorks software. Methods: A comparison of the obtained values of aerodynamic air resistance with those that were produced earlier is carried out. Results: By means of aerodynamic device, it is possible to reduce the speed of the air fl ow effecting the pantograph, to reduce the values of aerodynamic resistance and energy consumption, to extend the service life of current collectors. Practical importance: The proposed design can improve the current collection, which will reduce the load on the overhead line and the pantograph slide, and reduce the energy consumption of electric rolling stock.

The Electrochemical Performance of δ-MnO2 Cathode Material for Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries: The Role of Current Collector

Electrochemical properties of δ-MnO2-based cathode materials were studied in dependence on current collector used for electrode casting (stainless steel mesh, carbon paper and titanium foil) by galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements and cyclic voltammetry. It was shown that δ-MnO2-based electrodes cast on carbon paper demonstrate the most stable electrochemical performance in comparison with two other current collectors. This can be explained by corrosion of steel and passivation of titanium in mild aqueous electrolytes. Detailed study of carbon paper as current collector shows that pressing of electrodes leads to decreasing the porosity and fast capacity fading.