Composites of Layered M(HPO4)2 (M = Zr, Sn, and Ti) with Reduced Graphene Oxide as Anode Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries

Fluorine-Terminated Self-Assembled Monolayers Grafted Graphite Anode Inducing a LiF-Dominated SEI Inorganic Layer for Fast-Charging Lithium-Ion Batteries

The electrochemical kinetic processes of Li+ ions, including the desolvation of the Li+ ions from the electrolyte to the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), the transportation of desolvated Li+ ions across the SEI, and the charge transfer at the interface between the SEI and graphite, determine the rate performance and cycling stability of the graphitic anode in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In this work, fluorine-terminated self-assembled monolayers were grafted on the surface of spherical graphite particles to regulate the chemical composition and structure of SEI formed on the graphite surface in the presence of conventional ester electrolytes. The comprehensive characterization and first-principles calculation results illustrate that a uniform LiF-dominated SEI film can be generated on the as-functionalized graphite anode due to the carbon-fluorine bonds' cleavage of fluorine-terminated self-assembled monolayers. The LiF-dominated SEI film is particularly beneficial for desolvated lithium-ion transport across the SEI, affording LiCoO2//graphite full cells with substantially enhanced fast-charging capability and cycle stability. This strategy should be potentially useful for modifying other anode materials to regulate the interfacial chemistry between the anode and electrolyte in lithium-ion batteries.

Na0.76V6O15/Activated Carbon Hybrid Cathode for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Capacitors

Lithium-ion hybrid capacitors (LICs) are regarded as one of the most promising next generation energy storage devices. Commercial activated carbon materials with low cost and excellent cycling stability are widely used as cathode materials for LICs, however, their low energy density remains a significant challenge for the practical applications of LICs. Herein, Na_0.76V₆O₁₅ nanobelts (NaVO) were prepared and combined with commercial activated carbon YP50D to form hybrid cathode materials. Credit to the synergism of its capacitive effect and diffusion-controlled faradaic effect, NaVO/C hybrid cathode displays both superior cyclability and enhanced capacity. LICs were assembled with the as-prepared NaVO/C hybrid cathode and artificial graphite anode which was pre-lithiated. Furthermore, 10-NaVO/C//AG LIC delivers a high energy density of 118.9 Wh kg⁻¹ at a power density of 220.6 W kg⁻¹ and retains 43.7 Wh kg⁻¹ even at a high power density of 21,793.0 W kg⁻¹. The LIC can also maintain long-term cycling stability with capacitance retention of approximately 70% after 5000 cycles at 1 A g⁻¹. Accordingly, hybrid cathodes composed of commercial activated carbon and a small amount of high energy battery-type materials are expected to be a candidate for low-cost advanced LICs with both high energy density and power density.

Hydrated vanadium pentoxide/reduced graphene oxide composite cathode material for high-rate lithium ion batteries

As well-known, hydrated vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅·nH₂O) has a larger layer spacing than orthogonal V₂O₅, which could offer more active sites to accommodate lithium ions, ensuring a high specific capacity. However, the exploration of V₂O₅·nH₂O cathode is limited by its inherently low conductivity and slow electrochemical kinetics, leading to a significant decrease in capability. Herein, we prepared V₂O₅·nH₂O/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite with low rGO content (8 wt%) via a simple yet effective dual electrostatic assembly strategy. When used as the cathode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), V₂O₅·nH₂O/rGO manifests a high reversible capacity of 268 mAh g^-1 at 100 mA g^-1 and especially an excellent rate capability (196 mAh g^-1 at 1000 mA g^-1 and 129 mA h g^-1 at 2000 mA g^-1), surpassing those of the V₂O₅/carbon composites reported in the literatures. Notably, the remarkable performance should be referable to the synergetic effects between one-dimensional V₂O₅·nH₂O nanobelts and two-dimensional rGO nanosheets, which provide a short transport pathway and enhanced electrical conductivity. This strategy opens a new opportunity for designing high-performance cathode material with excellent rate performance for advanced LIBs.

2D Sandwich-Like α-Zirconium Phosphate/Polypyrrole: Moderate Catalytic Activity and True Sulfur Confinement for High-Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Although lithium-sulfur batteries are promising environmentally friendly and low-cost energy storage devices with high energy densities, many obstacles such as poor conductivity, volume expansion and the "shuttle effect" still limit their large-scale commercialization. In this work, a 2D sandwich-like α-ZrP/polypyrrole (α-ZrP/PPy) material with a nanosheet structure was designed as a sulfur host. The material can provide unique ion transfer channels for the rapid transfer of Li⁺ ions and catalytically promote the conversion of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs). Moreover, the α-ZrP nanosheets provides a true covalent anchor for sulfur species, whereas the PPy builds a physical barrier and forms a conductive network for accelerating the electron transport and promoting the electrochemical performance. In addition, the moderate catalytic activity and true sulfur confinement effect of α-ZrP were confirmed by experiments and theoretical calculations. The α-ZrP/PPy@S cathode exhibits a highly reversible capacity of 727.2 mAh g^-1 even at a high current density of 5 C, offering a novel cathode material for high performance Li-S batteries.

Hierarchical TiO2-x nanoarchitectures on Ti foils as binder-free anodes for hybrid Li-ion capacitors

Hybrid Li-ion capacitor (LIC) draws more attention as novel energy storage device owing to its high power density and high energy density. Designing three-dimensional electrode materials is beneficial for improving electrochemical performance of LICs. Herein, an improved hydrothermal method combined with an ion-exchange reaction is used to manufacture oxygen vacancies (OVs)-doping TiO₂ (TiO_2-x) nanowires/nanosheets (NWS) on Ti-foil. Then TiCl₄ treatment is performed to form TiO_2-x NWS/nanocrystallines (NWSC). These-obtained hierarchical nanoarchitectures assumes enrich electro-active sites and contact areas, which can improve electron transference and structural stability. The TiO_2-x NWSC is used as binder-free anode for Li-ion battery and achieves high specific capacity (300 mAh g^-1 at 0.1 A g^-1), excellent rate capability (102 mAh g^-1 at 5 A g^-1) and long cycle stability (44% after 1000 cycles at 1 A g^-1). LICs assembled with a TiO_2-x NWSC anode and an activated carbon cathode have an energy density of 44.2 W h kg^-1 at the power density of 150 W kg^-1. Therefore, the TiO_2-x NWSC is a potential candidate for high energy and high power electrochemical energy storage devices.

Bouquet-Like Mn2SnO4 Nanocomposite Engineered with Graphene Sheets as an Advanced Lithium-Ion Battery Anode

Volume expansion is a major challenge associated with tin oxide (SnO _x), which causes poor cyclability in lithium-ion battery anode. Bare tin dioxide (SnO₂), tin dioxide with graphene sheets (SnO₂@GS), and bouquet-like nanocomposite structure (Mn₂SnO₄@GS) are prepared via hydrothermal method followed by annealing. The obtained composite material presents a bouquet structure containing manganese and tin oxide nanoparticle network with graphene sheets. Benefiting from this porous nanostructure, in which graphene sheets provide high electronic pathways to enhance the electronic conductivity, uniformly distributed particles offer accelerated kinetic reaction with lithium ion and reduced volume deviation in the tin dioxide (SnO₂) particle during charge-discharge testing. As a consequence, ternary composite Mn₂SnO₄@GS showed a high rate performance and outstanding cyclability of anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The electrode achieved a specific capacity of about 1070 mA h g^-1 at a current density of 400 mA g^-1 after 200 cycles; meanwhile, the electrode still delivered a specific capacity of about 455 mA h g^-1 at a high current density of 2500 mA g^-1. Ternary Mn₂SnO₄@GS material could facilitate fabrication of unique structure and conductive network as advanced lithium-ion battery.