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Song Z, Wang X, Feng W, Armand M, Zhou Z, Zhang H. Designer Anions for Better Rechargeable Lithium Batteries and Beyond. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2310245. [PMID: 38839065 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202310245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Non-aqueous electrolytes, generally consisting of metal salts and solvating media, are indispensable elements for building rechargeable batteries. As the major sources of ionic charges, the intrinsic characters of salt anions are of particular importance in determining the fundamental properties of bulk electrolyte, as well as the features of the resulting electrode-electrolyte interphases/interfaces. To cope with the increasing demand for better rechargeable batteries requested by emerging application domains, the structural design and modifications of salt anions are highly desired. Here, salt anions for lithium and other monovalent (e.g., sodium and potassium) and multivalent (e.g., magnesium, calcium, zinc, and aluminum) rechargeable batteries are outlined. Fundamental considerations on the design of salt anions are provided, particularly involving specific requirements imposed by different cell chemistries. Historical evolution and possible synthetic methodologies for metal salts with representative salt anions are reviewed. Recent advances in tailoring the anionic structures for rechargeable batteries are scrutinized, and due attention is paid to the paradigm shift from liquid to solid electrolytes, from intercalation to conversion/alloying-type electrodes, from lithium to other kinds of rechargeable batteries. The remaining challenges and key research directions in the development of robust salt anions are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyu Song
- Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Xingxing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Wenfang Feng
- Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Michel Armand
- Centre for Cooperative Research on Alternative Energies (CIC energiGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Alava Technology Park, Albert Einstein 48, Vitoria-Gasteiz, 01510, Spain
| | - Zhibin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Heng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Ministry of Education), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, 430074, China
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Sanz Matias A, Roncoroni F, Sundararaman S, Prendergast D. Ca-dimers, solvent layering, and dominant electrochemically active species in Ca(BH 4) 2 in THF. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1397. [PMID: 38360965 PMCID: PMC11258298 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45672-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Divalent ions (Mg, Ca, and Zn) are being considered as competitive, safe, and earth-abundant alternatives to Li-ion electrochemistry, but present challenges for stable cycling due to undesirable interfacial phenomena. We explore the formation of electroactive species in the electrolyte Ca(BH4)2∣THF using molecular dynamics coupled with a continuum model of bulk and interfacial speciation. Free-energy analysis and unsupervised learning indicate a majority population of neutral Ca dimers and monomers with diverse molecular conformations and an order of magnitude lower concentration of the primary electroactive charged species - the monocation, CaBH[Formula: see text] - produced via disproportionation of neutral complexes. Dense layering of THF molecules within ~1 nm of the electrode surface strongly modulates local electrolyte species populations. A dramatic increase in monocation population in this interfacial zone is induced at negative bias. We see no evidence for electrochemical activity of fully-solvated Ca2+. The consequences for performance are discussed in light of this molecular-scale insight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sanz Matias
- Joint Center for Energy Storage Research, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Fabrice Roncoroni
- Joint Center for Energy Storage Research, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Siddharth Sundararaman
- Joint Center for Energy Storage Research, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - David Prendergast
- Joint Center for Energy Storage Research, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
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3
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Batzinger K, Liepinya D, Smeu M. A computational study of electron transport in dynamic tetrahydrofuran and ethylene carbonate solvents on a Ca metal anode. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:5218-5225. [PMID: 38261375 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp04113a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Calcium-ion batteries offer many advantages to the current lithium-ion technology in terms of cost, sourcing materials, and potential for higher energy density. However, calcium-ion batteries suffer from lack of a stable electrolyte due to reduction from the anode. Building off of our recent work investigating the stability of two representative electrolyte solvents, tetrahydrofuran (THF) and ethylene carbonate (EC), we now use ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) and the non-equilibrium Green's function technique in conjunction with density functional theory (NEGF-DFT) to investigate charge transport as the solvent molecules dynamically interact with the anode surface. THF maintained a relatively consistent conductance throughout the trajectory, although some jumps in the conductance were attributed to THF molecular rearrangement. EC exhibited a large amount of molecular decomposition, and a corresponding decrease in conductance of several orders of magnitude was noted. Through this analysis, we show that molecular decomposition and early-stage solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation plays a major role in the robustness of charge transport as the system evolves in time and with temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Batzinger
- Department of Physics, Binghamton University-SUNY, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA.
| | - Diana Liepinya
- Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Manuel Smeu
- Department of Physics, Binghamton University-SUNY, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA.
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Tort R, Bagger A, Westhead O, Kondo Y, Khobnya A, Winiwarter A, Davies BJV, Walsh A, Katayama Y, Yamada Y, Ryan MP, Titirici MM, Stephens IEL. Searching for the Rules of Electrochemical Nitrogen Fixation. ACS Catal 2023; 13:14513-14522. [PMID: 38026818 PMCID: PMC10660346 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.3c03951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Li-mediated ammonia synthesis is, thus far, the only electrochemical method for heterogeneous decentralized ammonia production. The unique selectivity of the solid electrode provides an alternative to one of the largest heterogeneous thermal catalytic processes. However, it is burdened with intrinsic energy losses, operating at a Li plating potential. In this work, we survey the periodic table to understand the fundamental features that make Li stand out. Through density functional theory calculations and experimentation on chemistries analogous to lithium (e.g., Na, Mg, Ca), we find that lithium is unique in several ways. It combines a stable nitride that readily decomposes to ammonia with an ideal solid electrolyte interphase, balancing reagents at the reactive interface. We propose descriptors based on simulated formation and binding energies of key intermediates and further on hard and soft acids and bases (HSAB principle) to generalize such features. The survey will help the community toward electrochemical systems beyond Li for nitrogen fixation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Tort
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College
London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Alexander Bagger
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College
London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
- Department
of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby 2800, Denmark
| | - Olivia Westhead
- Department
of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Yasuyuki Kondo
- Osaka
University, SANKEN (The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research),
Mihogaoka, Osaka, Ibaraki 567-0047, Japan
| | - Artem Khobnya
- Department
of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Anna Winiwarter
- Department
of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | | | - Aron Walsh
- Department
of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Yu Katayama
- Osaka
University, SANKEN (The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research),
Mihogaoka, Osaka, Ibaraki 567-0047, Japan
| | - Yuki Yamada
- Osaka
University, SANKEN (The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research),
Mihogaoka, Osaka, Ibaraki 567-0047, Japan
| | - Mary P. Ryan
- Department
of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
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Yang F, Feng X, Zhuo Z, Vallez L, Liu YS, McClary SA, Hahn NT, Glans PA, Zavadil KR, Guo J. Ca2+ Solvation and Electrochemical Solid/Electrolyte Interphase Formation Toward the Multivalent-Ion Batteries. ARABIAN JOURNAL FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s13369-022-07597-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Martins S, Ma Z, Solans-Monfort X, Sodupe M, Rodriguez-Santiago L, Menéndez E, Pellicer E, Sort J. Enhancing magneto-ionic effects in cobalt oxide films by electrolyte engineering. NANOSCALE HORIZONS 2022; 8:118-126. [PMID: 36437747 DOI: 10.1039/d2nh00340f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Electric-field-driven ion motion to tailor magnetic properties of materials (magneto-ionics) offers much promise in the pursuit of voltage-controlled magnetism for highly energy-efficient spintronic devices. Electrolyte gating is a relevant means to create intense electric fields at the interface between magneto-ionic materials and electrolytes through the so-called electric double layer (EDL). Here, improved magneto-ionic performance is achieved in electrolyte-gated cobalt oxide thin films with the addition of inorganic salts (potassium iodide, potassium chloride, and calcium tetrafluoroborate) to anhydrous propylene carbonate (PC) electrolyte. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of the EDL structure show that K+ is preferentially located on the cobalt oxide surface and KI (when compared to KCl) favors the accumulation of positive charge close to the surface. It is demonstrated that room temperature magneto-ionics in cobalt oxide thin films is dramatically enhanced in KI-containing PC electrolyte at an optimum concentration, leading to 11-fold increase of generated magnetization and 35-fold increase of magneto-ionic rate compared to bare PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Martins
- Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
| | - Zheng Ma
- Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
| | - Xavier Solans-Monfort
- Departament de Química, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Mariona Sodupe
- Departament de Química, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Luis Rodriguez-Santiago
- Departament de Química, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Enric Menéndez
- Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
| | - Eva Pellicer
- Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
| | - Jordi Sort
- Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Pg. Lluís Companys 23, E-08010 Barcelona, Spain
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Melemed AM, Skiba DA, Gallant BM. Toggling Calcium Plating Activity and Reversibility through Modulation of Ca 2+ Speciation in Borohydride-based Electrolytes. THE JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY. C, NANOMATERIALS AND INTERFACES 2022; 126:892-902. [PMID: 35096216 PMCID: PMC8792997 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.1c09400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Learning how to tailor Ca2+ speciation and electroactivity is of central importance to engineer next-generation battery electrolytes. Using an exemplar dual-salt electrolyte, Ca(BH4)2 + Ca(TFSI)2 in THF, this work examines how to modulate a critical parameter proposed to govern electroactivity, the BH4 -/Ca2+ ratio. Introduction of a more-dissociating source of Ca2+ via Ca(TFSI)2 drives re-speciation of strongly ion-paired Ca(BH4)2, confirmed by ionic conductivity, Raman spectroscopy, and reaction microcalorimetry measurements, generating larger populations of charged species and enhancing plating currents. Ca plating is possible when [Ca(TFSI)2] < [Ca(BH4)2] and thus BH4 -/Ca2+ >1, but a dramatic shut-down of plating activity occurs when [Ca(TFSI)2] > [Ca(BH4)2] (BH4 -/Ca2+ <1), directly evidencing the significance of coordination-shell chemistry on plating activity. Ca(BH4)2 + TBABH4 in THF, which enables enrichment of BH4 - concentrations compared to Ca2+, is also examined; ionic conductivity and plating currents also increase compared to Ca(BH4)2/THF, with the latter related in part to a decrease in solution resistance. These findings delineate future directions to modulate Ca2+ coordination towards achieving both high plating activity and reversibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron M. Melemed
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Dhyllan A. Skiba
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Betar M. Gallant
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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Young J, Smeu M. Preventing Electrolyte Decomposition on a Ca Metal Electrode Interface Using an Artificial Solid‐Electrolyte Interphase. ADVANCED THEORY AND SIMULATIONS 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/adts.202100018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Young
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering New Jersey Institute of Technology 138 Warren Street Newark NJ 07105 USA
| | - Manuel Smeu
- Department of Physics Binghamton University ‐ SUNY 4400 Vestal Parkway East Binghamton NY 13902 USA
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9
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Wang H, Ryu J, Shao Y, Murugesan V, Persson K, Zavadil K, Mueller KT, Liu J. Advancing Electrolyte Solution Chemistry and Interfacial Electrochemistry of Divalent Metal Batteries. ChemElectroChem 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/celc.202100484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Energy & Environment Directorate Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland Washington 99352 United States
- Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR) Lemont Illinois 60439 United States
| | - Jaegeon Ryu
- Energy & Environment Directorate Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland Washington 99352 United States
- Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR) Lemont Illinois 60439 United States
| | - Yuyan Shao
- Energy & Environment Directorate Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland Washington 99352 United States
- Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR) Lemont Illinois 60439 United States
| | - Vijayakumar Murugesan
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland Washington 99352 United States
- Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR) Lemont Illinois 60439 United States
| | - Kristin Persson
- Energy Technologies Area Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley, California 94720 United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering University of California, Berkeley Berkeley California 94720 United States
- Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR) Lemont Illinois 60439 United States
| | - Kevin Zavadil
- Material, Physical, and Chemical Sciences Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque New Mexico 87185 United States
- Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR) Lemont Illinois 60439 United States
| | - Karl T. Mueller
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland Washington 99352 United States
- Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR) Lemont Illinois 60439 United States
| | - Jun Liu
- Energy & Environment Directorate Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland Washington 99352 United States
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Monocarborane cluster as a stable fluorine-free calcium battery electrolyte. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7563. [PMID: 33824357 PMCID: PMC8024376 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86938-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
High-energy-density and low-cost calcium (Ca) batteries have been proposed as ‘beyond-Li-ion’ electrochemical energy storage devices. However, they have seen limited progress due to challenges associated with developing electrolytes showing reductive/oxidative stabilities and high ionic conductivities. This paper describes a calcium monocarborane cluster salt in a mixed solvent as a Ca-battery electrolyte with high anodic stability (up to 4 V vs. Ca2+/Ca), high ionic conductivity (4 mS cm−1), and high Coulombic efficiency for Ca plating/stripping at room temperature. The developed electrolyte is a promising candidate for use in room-temperature rechargeable Ca batteries.
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Melemed AM, Gallant BM. Electrochemical Signatures of Interface-Dominated Behavior in the Testing of Calcium Foil Anodes. JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY 2020; 167:140543. [PMID: 35095110 PMCID: PMC8793006 DOI: 10.1149/1945-7111/abc725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Fundamental research and practical assembly of rechargeable calcium (Ca) batteries will benefit from an ability to use Ca foil anodes. Given that Ca electrochemistry is considered a surface-film-controlled process, understanding the interface's role is paramount. This study examines electrochemical signatures of several Ca interfaces in a benchmark electrolyte, Ca(BH4)2/tetrahydrofuran (THF). Preparation methodologies of Ca foils are presented, along with Ca plating/stripping through either pre-existing, native calcium hydride (CaH2), or pre-formed calcium fluoride (CaF2) interfaces. In contrast to earlier work examining Ca foil in other electrolytes, Ca foils are accessible for reversible electrochemistry in Ca(BH4)2/THF. However, the first cyclic voltammetry (CV) cycle reflects persistent, history-dependent behavior from prior handling, which manifests as characteristic interface-derived features. This behavior diminishes as Ca is cycled, though formation of a native interface can return the CV to interface-dominated behavior. CaF2 modification enhances such interface-dominance; however, continued cycling suppresses such features, collectively indicating the dynamic nature of certain Ca interfaces. Cell configuration is also found to significantly influence electrochemistry. With appropriate preparation of Ca foils, the signature of interface-dominated behavior is still present during the first cycle in coin cells, but higher current density compared to three-electrode cells along with moderate cycle life are readily achievable.
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