Vertically assembled nanosheet networks for high-density thick battery electrodes

A fast-charging/discharging and long-term stable artificial electrode enabled by space charge storage mechanism

Lithium-ion batteries with fast-charging/discharging properties are urgently needed for the mass adoption of electric vehicles. Here, we show that fast charging/discharging, long-term stable and high energy charge-storage properties can be realized in an artificial electrode made from a mixed electronic/ionic conductor material (Fe/LixM, where M = O, F, S, N) enabled by a space charge principle. Particularly, the Fe/Li2O electrode is able to be charged/discharged to 126 mAh g-1 in 6 s at a high current density of up to 50 A g-1, and it also shows stable cycling performance for 30,000 cycles at a current density of 10 A g-1, with a mass-loading of ~2.5 mg cm-2 of the electrode materials. This study demonstrates the critical role of the space charge storage mechanism in advancing electrochemical energy storage and provides an unconventional perspective for designing high-performance anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

Efficient Ion Percolating Network for High-Performance All-Solid-State Cathodes

All-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) face critical challenges of low cathode loading and poor rate performances, which handicaps their energy/power densities. The widely-accepted aim of high ionic conductivity and low interfacial resistance seems insufficient to overcome these challenges. Here, it is revealed that an efficient ion percolating network in the cathode exerts a more critical influence on the electrochemical performance of ASSLBs. By constructing vertical alignment of Li0.35La0.55TiO3 nanowires (LLTO NWs) in solid-state cathode through magnetic manipulation, the ionic conductivity of the cathode increases twice compared with the cathode consisted of randomly distributed LLTO NWs. The all-solid-state LiFePO4/Li cells using poly(ethylene oxide) as the electrolyte is able to deliver high capacities of 151 mAh g-1 (2 C) and 100 mAh g-1 (5 C) at 60 °C, and a room-temperature capacity of 108 mAh g-1 can be achieved at a charging rate of 2 C. Furthermore, the cell can reach a high areal capacity of 3 mAh cm-2 even with a practical LFP loading of 20 mg cm-2. The universality of this strategy is also presented showing the demonstration in LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cathodes. This work offers new pathways for designing ASSLBs with improved energy/power densities.

Fast-Charging, Binder-Free Lithium Battery Cathodes Enabled via Multidimensional Conductive Networks

To meet the growing demands in both energy and power densities of lithium ion batteries, electrode structures must be capable of facile electron and ion transport while minimizing the content of electrochemically inactive components. Herein, binder-free LiFePO4 (LFP) cathodes are fabricated with a multidimensional conductive architecture that allows for fast-charging capability, reaching a specific capacity of 94 mAh g-1 at 4 C. Such multidimensional networks consist of active material particles wrapped by 1D single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and bound together using 2D MXene (Ti3C2Tx) nanosheets. The CNTs form a porous coating layer and improve local electron transport across the LFP surface, while the Ti3C2Tx nanosheets provide simultaneously high electrode integrity and conductive pathways through the bulk of the electrode. This work highlights the ability of multidimensional conductive fillers to realize simultaneously superior electrochemical and mechanical properties, providing useful insights into future fast-charging electrode designs for scalable electrochemical systems.

High-Sulfur Loading and Single Ion-Selective Membranes for High-Energy and Durable Decoupled Aqueous Batteries

The decoupled battery design is promising for breaking the energy density limit of traditional aqueous batteries. However, the complex battery configuration and low-selective separator membranes restrict their energy output and service time. Herein, a zinc-sulfur decoupled aqueous battery is achieved by designing a high-mass loading sulfur electrode and single ion-selective membrane (ISM). A vertically assembled nanosheet network constructed with the assistance of a magnetic field enables facile electron and ion conduction in thick sulfur electrodes, which is conducive to boosting the cell-level energy output. For the tailored ISM, the Na ions anchored on its skeleton effectively prevent the crossover of OH- or Cu2+ , facilitating the transport of Na+ and ensuring structural and mechanical stability. Consequently, the Zn-S aqueous battery achieves a reversible energy density of 3988 Wh kgs -1 (by sulfur mass), stable operation over 300 cycles, and an energy density of 53.2 mWh cm-2 . The sulfur-based decoupled system may be of immediate benefit toward safe, reliable, and affordable static energy storage.

Scalable Fast-Charging Aligned Battery Electrodes Enabled by Bidirectional Freeze-Casting

Over the past few years, lithium-ion batteries have been extensively adopted in electric transportation. Meanwhile, the energy density of lithium-ion battery packs has been significantly improved, thanks to the development of materials science and packing technology. Despite recent progress in electric vehicle cruise ranges, the increase in battery charging rates remains a pivotal problem in electrodes with commercial-level mass loadings. Herein, we develop a scalable strategy that incorporates bidirectional freeze-casting into the conventional tape-casting method to fabricate energy-dense, fast-charging battery electrodes with aligned structures. The vertically lamellar architectures in bidirectional freeze-cast electrodes can be roll-to-roll calendered, forming the tilted yet aligned channels. These channels enable directional pathways for efficient lithium-ion transport in electrolyte-filled pores and thus realize fast-charging capabilities. In this work, we not only provide a simple yet controllable approach for building the aligned electrode architectures for fast charging but also highlight the significance of scalability in electrode fabrication considerations.

Densified vertically lamellar electrode architectures for compact energy storage

As one of the most compact electrochemical energy storage systems, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are playing an indispensable role in the process of vehicle electrification to accelerate the shift to sustainable mobility. Making battery electrodes thicker is a promising strategy for improving the energy density of LIBs which is essential for applications with weight or volume constraints, such as electric-powered transportation; however, their power densities are often significantly restricted due to elongated and tortuous charge traveling distances. Here, we propose an effective methodology that couples bidirectional freeze-casting and compression-induced densification to create densified vertically lamellar electrode architectures for compact energy storage. The vertically lamellar architectures not only overcome the critical thickness limit for conventional electrodes but also facilitate and redistribute the lithium-ion flux enabling both high rate capability and stable cyclability. Furthermore, this proposed methodology is universal as demonstrated in various electrochemical active material systems. This study offers a facile approach that realizes simultaneous high energy and high power in high-loading battery electrodes and provides useful rationales in designing electrode architectures for scalable energy storage systems.

Less is more: a perspective on thinning lithium metal towards high-energy-density rechargeable lithium batteries

Lithium (Li) metal, owing to its high specific capacity and low redox potential as a Li⁺ ion source in rechargeable lithium batteries, shows impressive prospects for electrochemical energy storage. However, engineering Li metal into thin foils has historically remained difficult, owing to its stickiness and fragility upon mechanical rolling. Consequently, using thick Li in battery systems betrays the original target for achieving higher energy density, results in material waste, and creates illusions on evaluating modification strategies for taming the highly reactive Li metal anode. Being apprehensive of this, in the tutorial review, we illustrate the argument of applying thin Li (<50 μm, preferably ≤30 μm) to achieve more realistic and advanced battery systems. A brief overview of Li is sketched first to help understand its role in batteries. Then, the reasons for pursuing thin Li are critically analyzed. Next, seminal technologies enabling the fabrication of thin Li are summarized and compared, which calls for the participation of experts from mechanical engineering, metallurgy, electrochemistry, and other fields. Subsequently, the possible applications of thin Li in batteries are presented. With the deployment of thin Li, there are new challenges and opportunities to encounter and an outlook is afforded thereof. Holy-grail Li metal anodes, combined with the subtraction operation in thickness and compatible modification strategies, would bring about a truly great leap forward in electrochemical energy storage.

Amino-Acid-Substituted Perylene Diimide as the Organic Cathode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

One of the most effective cost reduction and green engineering projects is to introduce organic compounds to electrode materials instead of expensive inorganic-based materials. In this work, derivatives of perylene diimide substituted with amino acids (PDI_AAs) showed the characteristics of redox-active organic compounds and were, therefore, used as cathode materials of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Among the as-synthesized PDI_AAs, the L-alanine-substituted PDI (PDI_A) showed the most improved cycling performances of 86 mAhg^-1 over 150 cycles with retention of 95% at 50 mAg^-1. Furthermore, at a high current density of 500 mAg^-1, PDI_A exhibited a long-term cycling performance of 47 mAhg^-1 (retention to 98%) over 5000 cycles. In addition, ex situ attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR) analysis of electrodes at various charging states showed the mechanism of the charge-discharge process of PDI_A.