Polyvinylpyrrolidone assisted sol–gel route LiCo1/3Mn1/3Ni1/3PO4 composite cathode for aqueous rechargeable battery

Review on the Polymeric and Chelate Gel Precursor for Li-Ion Battery Cathode Material Synthesis

The rapid design of advanced materials depends on synthesis parameters and design. A wide range of materials can be synthesized using precursor reactions based on chelated gel and organic polymeric gel pathways. The desire to develop high-performance lithium-ion rechargeable batteries has motivated decades of research on the synthesis of battery active material particles with precise control of composition, phase-purity, and morphology. Among the most common methods reported in the literature to prepare precursors for lithium-ion battery active materials, sol-gel is characterized by simplicity, homogeneous mixing, and tuning of the particle shape. The chelate gel and organic polymeric gel precursor-based sol-gel method is efficient to promote desirable reaction conditions. Both precursor routes are commonly used to synthesize lithium-ion battery cathode active materials from raw materials such as inorganic salts in aqueous solutions or organic solvents. The purpose of this review is to discuss synthesis procedure and summarize the progress that has been made in producing crystalline particles of tunable and complex morphologies by sol-gel synthesis that can be used as active materials for lithium-ion batteries.

Scalable Precursor-Assisted Synthesis of a High Voltage LiNiyCo1-yPO4 Cathode for Li-Ion Batteries

A solid-solution cathode of LiCoPO4-LiNiPO4 was investigated as a potential candidate for use with the Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) anode in Li-ion batteries. A pre-synthesized nickel-cobalt hydroxide precursor is mixed with lithium and phosphate sources by wet ball milling, which results in the final product, LiNiyCo1-yPO4 (LNCP) by subsequent heat treatment. Crystal structure and morphology of the product were analyzed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Its XRD patterns show that LNCP is primarily a single-phase compound and has olivine-type XRD patterns similar to its parent compounds, LiCoPO4 and LiNiPO4. Synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analysis, however, indicates that Ni doping in LiCoPO4 is unfavorable because Ni2+ is not actively involved in the electrochemical reaction. Consequently, it reduces the charge storage capability of the LNCP cathode. Additionally, ex situ XRD analysis of cycled electrodes confirms the formation of the electrochemically inactive rock salt-type NiO phase. The discharge capacity of the LNCP cathode is entirely associated with the Co3+/Co2+ redox couple. The electrochemical evaluation demonstrated that the LNCP cathode paired with the LTO anode produced a 3.12 V battery with an energy density of 184 Wh kg-1 based on the cathode mass.

Material Design and Energy Storage Mechanism of Mn-Based Cathodes for Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

Mn-based cathodes have been widely explored for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs), by virtue of their high theoretical capacity and low cost. However, Mn-based cathodes suffer from poor rate capability and cycling performance. Researchers have presented various approaches to address these issues. Therefore, these endeavors scattered in various directions (e. g., designing electrode structures, defect engineering and optimizing electrolytes) are necessary to be connected through a systematic review. Hence, we comprehensively overview Mn-based cathode materials for ZIBs from the aspects of phase compositions, electrochemical behaviors and energy storage mechanisms, and try to build internal relations between these factors. Modification strategies of Mn-based cathodes are then introduced. Furthermore, this review also provides some new perspectives on future efforts toward high-energy and long-life Mn-based cathodes for ZIBs.

Recent Progress in "Water-in-Salt" Electrolytes Toward Non-lithium Based Rechargeable Batteries

Aqueous non-lithium based rechargeable batteries are emerging as promising energy storage devices thanks to their attractive rate capacities, long-cycle life, high safety, low cost, environmental-friendliness, and easy assembly conditions. However, the aqueous electrolytes with high ionic conductivity are always restricted by their intrinsically narrow electrochemical window. Encouragingly, the highly concentrated “water-in-salt” (WIS) electrolytes can efficiently expand the stable operation window, which brings up a series of aqueous high-voltage rechargeable batteries. In the mini review, we summarize the latest progress and contributions of various aqueous electrolytes for non-lithium (Na⁺, K⁺, Zn²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Al³⁺) based rechargeable batteries, and give a brief exploration of the operating mechanisms of WIS electrolytes in expanding electrochemically stable windows. Challenges and prospects are also proposed for WIS electrolytes toward aqueous non-lithium rechargeable metal ion batteries.

An Overview and Future Perspectives of Rechargeable Zinc Batteries

Aqueous rechargeable zinc-based batteries have sparked a lot of enthusiasm in the energy storage field recently due to their inherent safety, low cost, and environmental friendliness. Although remarkable progress has been made in the exploration of performance so far, there are still many challenges such as low working voltage and dissolution of electrode materials at the material and system level. Herein, the central tenet is to establish a systematic summary for the construction and mechanism of different aqueous zinc-based batteries. Details for three major zinc-based battery systems, including alkaline rechargeable Zn-based batteries (ARZBs), aqueous Zn ion batteries (AZIBs), and dual-ion hybrid Zn batteries (DHZBs) are given. First, the electrode materials and energy storage mechanism of the three types of zinc-based batteries are discussed to provide universal guidance for these batteries. Then, the electrode behavior of zinc anodes and strategies to deal with problems such as dendrite and passivation are recommended. Finally, some challenge-oriented solutions are provided to facilitate the next development of zinc-based batteries. Combining the characteristics of zinc-based batteries with good use of concepts and ideas from other disciplines will surely pave the way for its commercialization.

Effect of Different Composition on Voltage Attenuation of Li-Rich Cathode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Li-rich layered oxide cathode materials have become one of the most promising cathode materials for high specific energy lithium-ion batteries owning to its high theoretical specific capacity, low cost, high operating voltage and environmental friendliness. Yet they suffer from severe capacity and voltage attenuation during prolong cycling, which blocks their commercial application. To clarify these causes, we synthesize Li_1.5Mn_0.55Ni_0.4Co_0.05O_2.5 (Li_1.2Mn_0.44Ni_0.32Co_0.04O₂) with high-nickel-content cathode material by a solid-sate complexation method, and it manifests a lot slower capacity and voltage attenuation during prolong cycling compared to Li_1.5Mn_0.66Ni_0.17Co_0.17O_2.5 (Li_1.2Mn_0.54Ni_0.13Co_0.13O₂) and Li_1.5Mn_0.65Ni_0.25Co_0.1O_2.5 (Li_1.2Mn_0.52Ni_0.2Co_0.08O₂) cathode materials. The capacity retention at 1 C after 100 cycles reaches to 87.5% and the voltage attenuation after 100 cycles is only 0.460 V. Combining X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), it indicates that increasing the nickel content not only stabilizes the structure but also alleviates the attenuation of capacity and voltage. Therefore, it provides a new idea for designing of Li-rich layered oxide cathode materials that suppress voltage and capacity attenuation.

Ag-Functionalized CuWO4/WO3 nanocomposites for solar water splitting

A new plasmonic Ag-functionalized CuWO₄/WO₃ hetero-structured photoanode was successfully prepared via a PVP-assisted sol–gel (PSG) route and electrophoretic deposition which reveals 4 times enhanced photocurrent density compared with pristine WO₃.

Luminescence Properties of Co-doped Eu3+, Bi3+ Lu2O3/Polyvinylpyrrolidone Films

The effect of the polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP, MW = 130,000) molar content, PVP/Lu = 1, 2.5, 4 and 5; on the photoluminescent and structural properties of sol-gel derived Lu2O3:Eu3+, Bi3+ has been analyzed. Thin hybrid films were deposited by means of the dip-coating technique on silica quartz substrates. Films deposited at 700 °C presented a cubic structure, with non-preferential orientation, even with the presence of PVP. The photoluminescence (PL) spectrum and Comission Internationale de l’Éclairage (CIE) chromaticity diagram of films revealed a reddish Eu3+ emission at 612 nm (5D0 →7F2) with an excitation at 320 nm of the Bi ions (6s2→6s6p), showing a highly-effective energy transfer process form Bi3+ to Eu3+ luminescent centers. On the other hand, the color temperature of the samples is strongly dependent on the PVP content, as a consequence of the observed difference on the branching ratios of 5D0 →7FJ transitions of europium ions. Lifetime studies present two different behaviors for the thin films: A non-exponential nature for the lower PVP contents, and a simple exponential nature for the highest PVP one, showing that the PVP tends to promote a better dissolution of segregates and, therefore, increases the lifetime of the Eu3+ emission.

Dendrite Suppression Membranes for Rechargeable Zinc Batteries

Aqueous batteries with zinc metal anodes are promising alternatives to Li-ion batteries for grid storage because of their abundance and benefits in cost, safety, and nontoxicity. However, short cyclability due to zinc dendrite growth remains a major obstacle. Here, we report a cross-linked polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based cation exchange membrane that is low cost and mechanically robust. Li₂S₃ reacts with PAN, simultaneously leading to cross-linking and formation of sulfur-containing functional groups. Hydrolysis of the membrane results in the formation of a membrane that achieves preferred cation transport and homogeneous ionic flux distribution. The separator is thin (30 μm-thick), almost 9 times stronger than hydrated Nafion, and made of low-cost materials. The membrane separator enables exceptionally long cyclability (>350 cycles) of Zn/Zn symmetric cells with low polarization and effective dendrite suppression. Our work demonstrates that the design of new separators is a fruitful pathway to enhancing the cyclability of aqueous batteries.

Cryptomelane-Type KMn8O16 as Potential Cathode Material - for Aqueous Zinc Ion Battery

Aqueous battery has been gained much more interest for large-scale energy storage fields due to its excellent safety, high power density and low cost. Cryptomelane-type KMn₈O₁₆ confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) was successfully synthesized by a modified hydrothermal method, followed by annealed at 400°C for 3 h. The morphology and microstructure of as-prepared KMn₈O₁₆ investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with the energy spectrum analysis (EDS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrate that one-dimensional nano rods with the length of about 500 nm constitute the microspheres with the diameter about 0.5~2 μm. The cyclic voltammetry measurement displays that the abundant intercalation of zinc ions on the cathode takes place during the initial discharge process, indicating that cryptomelane-type KMn₈O₁₆ can be used as the potential cathode material for aqueous zinc ion batteries. The electrode shows a good cycling performance with a reversible capacity of up to 77.0 mAh/g even after 100 cycles and a small self-discharge phenomenon.