Pre-lithiation design and lithium ion intercalation plateaus utilization of mesocarbon microbeads anode for lithium-ion capacitors

Solution-Based Deep Prelithiation for Lithium-Ion Capacitors with High Energy Density

Lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) exhibit superior power density and cyclability compared to lithium-ion batteries. However, the low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) of amorphous carbon anodes (e.g., hard carbon (HC) and soft carbon (SC)) limits the energy density of LICs by underutilizing cathode capacity. Here, a solution-based deep prelithiation strategy for carbon anodes is applied using a contact-ion pair dominant solution, offering high energy density based on a systematic electrode balancing based on the cathode capacity increased beyond the original theoretical limit. Increasing the anode ICE to 150% over 100%, the activated carbon (AC) capacity is doubled by activating Li+ cation storage, which unleashes rocking-chair LIC operation alongside the dual-ion-storage mechanism. The increased AC capacity results in an energy density of 106.6 Wh kg-1 AC+SC, equivalent to 281% of that of LICs without prelithiation. Moreover, this process lowers the cathode-anode mass ratio, reducing the cell thickness by 67% without compromising the cell capacity. This solution-based deep chemical prelithiation promises high-energy LICs based on transition metal-free, earth-abundant active materials to meet the practical demands of power-intensive applications.

Impact of Full Prelithiation of Si-Based Anodes on the Rate and Cycle Performance of Li-Ion Capacitors

The impact of full prelithiation on the rate and cycle performance of a Si-based Li-ion capacitor (LIC) was investigated. Full prelithiation of the anode was achieved by assembling a half cell with a 2 µm-sized Si anode (0 V vs. Li/Li+) and Li metal. A three-electrode full cell (100% prelithiation) was assembled using an activated carbon (AC) cathode with a high specific surface area (3041 m2/g), fully prelithiated Si anode, and Li metal reference electrode. A three-electrode full cell (87% prelithiation) using a Si anode prelithiated with 87% Li ions was also assembled. Both cells displayed similar energy density levels at a lower power density (200 Wh/kg at ≤100 W/kg; based on the total mass of AC and Si). However, at a higher power density (1 kW/kg), the 100% prelithiation cell maintained a high energy density (180 Wh/kg), whereas that of the 87% prelithiation cell was significantly reduced (80 Wh/kg). During charge/discharge cycling at ~1 kW/kg, the energy density retention of the 100% prelithiation cell was higher than that of the 87% prelithiation cell. The larger irreversibility of the Si anode during the initial Li-ion uptake/release cycles confirmed that the simple full prelithiation process is essential for Si-based LIC cells.

Lithium-Ion Capacitors: A Review of Design and Active Materials

Lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) have gained significant attention in recent years for their increased energy density without altering their power density. LICs achieve higher capacitance than traditional supercapacitors due to their hybrid battery electrode and subsequent higher voltage. This is due to the asymmetric action of LICs, which serves as an enhancer of traditional supercapacitors. This culminates in the potential for pollution-free, long-lasting, and efficient energy-storing that is required to realise a renewable energy future. This review article offers an analysis of recent progress in the production of LIC electrode active materials, requirements and performance. In-situ hybridisation and ex-situ recombination of composite materials comprising a wide variety of active constituents is also addressed. The possible challenges and opportunities for future research based on LICs in energy applications are also discussed.

Electrode Materials, Electrolytes, and Challenges in Nonaqueous Lithium-Ion Capacitors

Among the various energy-storage systems, lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) are receiving intensive attention due to their high energy density, high power density, long lifetime, and good stability. As a hybrid of lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors, LICs are composed of a battery-type electrode and a capacitor-type electrode and can potentially combine the advantages of the high energy density of batteries and the large power density of capacitors. Here, the working principle of LICs is discussed, and the recent advances in LIC electrode materials, particularly activated carbon and lithium titanate, as well as in electrolyte development are reviewed. The charge-storage mechanisms for intercalative pseudocapacitive behavior, battery behavior, and conventional pseudocapacitive behavior are classified and compared. Finally, the prospects and challenges associated with LICs are discussed. The overall aim is to provide deep insights into the LIC field for continuing research and development of second-generation energy-storage technologies.

High Performance Lithium-Ion Hybrid Capacitors Employing Fe3O4-Graphene Composite Anode and Activated Carbon Cathode

Lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) are considered as promising energy storage devices to realize excellent electrochemical performance, with high energy-power output. In this work, we employed a simple method to synthesize a composite electrode material consisting of Fe₃O₄ nanocrystallites mechanically anchored among the layers of three-dimensional arrays of graphene (Fe₃O₄-G), which exhibits several advantages compared with other traditional electrode materials, such as high Li storage capacity (820 mAh g^-1 at 0.1 A g^-1), high electrical conductivity, and improved electrochemical stability. Furthermore, on the basis of the appropriated charge balance between cathode and anode, we successfully fabricated Fe₃O₄-G//activated carbon (AC) soft-packaging LICs with a high energy density of 120.0 Wh kg^-1, an outstanding power density of 45.4 kW kg^-1 (achieved at 60.5 Wh kg^-1), and an excellent capacity retention of up to 94.1% after 1000 cycles and 81.4% after 10 000 cycles. The energy density of the Fe₃O₄-G//AC hybrid device is comparable with Ni-metal hydride batteries, and its capacitive power capability and cycle life is on par with supercapacitors (SCs). Therefore, this lithium-ion hybrid capacitor is expected to bridge the gap between Li-ion battery and SCs and gain bright prospects in next-generation energy storage fields.