Vanadium Hexacyanoferrate Prussian Blue Analogs for Aqueous Proton Storage: Excellent Electrochemical Properties and Mechanism Insights

The significant attraction toward aqueous proton batteries (APBs) is attributable to their expedited kinetics, elevated safety profile, and economical feasibility. Nevertheless, their practical implement is significantly blocked by the unsatisfactory energy density due to the limited cathode materials. Herein, vanadium hexacyanoferrate Prussian blue analog (VOHCF) is introduced as a potentially favorable cathode material for APBs. The findings demonstrate that this VOHCF electrode exhibits a notable reversible capacity of 102.7 mAh g-1 and exceptional cycling stability, with 95.4% capacity retention over 10 000 cycles at 10 A g-1 . It is noteworthy that this is the detailed instance of VOHCF being proposed as a cathode for APBs. Combining the in situ characterization techniques and theoretical simulations, the origins of excellent proton storage performance are revealed as the multiple redox mechanisms with double active centers of ─C≡N group and V═O bond in VOHCF as well as the robust structure stability. A proton full cell with excellent performance is further achieved by coupling the VOHCF cathode and diquinoxalino[2,3-a:2',3'-c] phenazine (HATN) anode, demonstrating the great potential of VOHCF in practical applications. This work could provide fundamental understanding to the development of feasible cathode materials for proton storage device.

An Emerging Chemistry Revives Proton Batteries

Developing new energy techniques that simultaneously integrate the fast rate capabilities of supercapacitors and high capacities of batteries represents an ultimate goal in the field of electrochemical energy storage. A new possibility arises with an emerging battery chemistry that relies on proton-ions as the ion-charge-carrier and benefits from the fast transportation kinetics. Proton-based battery chemistry starts with the recent discoveries of materials for proton redox reactions and leads to a renaissance of proton batteries. In this article, the historical developments of proton batteries are outlined and key aspects of battery chemistry are reviewed. First, the fundamental knowledge of proton-ions and their transportation characteristics is introduced; second, Faradaic electrodes for proton storage are categorized and highlighted in detail; then, reported electrolytes and different designs of proton batteries are summarized; last, perspectives of developments for proton batteries are proposed. It is hoped that this review will provide guidance on the rational designs of proton batteries and benefit future developments.

Integrated Uniformly Microporous C4 N/Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Composite Toward Ultra-Stable and Ultralow-Temperature Proton Batteries

Benefiting from the proton's small size and ultrahigh mobility in water, aqueous proton batteries are regarded as an attractive candidate for high-power and ultralow-temperature energy storage devices. Herein, a new-type C₄ N polymer with uniform micropores and a large specific surface area is prepared by sulfuric acid-catalyzed ketone amine condensation reaction and employed as the electrode of proton batteries. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) are introduced to induce the in situ growth of C₄ N, and reaped significantly enhanced porosity and conductivity, and thus better both room- and low-temperature performance. When coupled with MnO₂ @Carbon fiber (MnO₂ @CF) cathode, MnO₂ @CF//C₄ N-50% MWCNT full battery shows unprecedented cycle stability with a capacity retention of 98% after 11 000 cycles at 10 A g^-1 and even 100% after 70 000 cycles at 20 A g^-1 . Additionally, a novel anti-freezing electrolyte (5 m H₂ SO₄  + 0.5 m MnSO₄ ) is developed and showed a high ionic conductivity of 123.2 mS cm^-1 at -70 °C. The resultant MnO₂ @CF//C₄ N-50% MWCNT battery delivers a specific capacity of 110.5 mAh g^-1 even at -70 °C at 1 A g^-1 , the highest in all reported proton batteries under the same conditions. This work is expected to offer a package solution for constructing high-performance ultralow-temperature aqueous proton batteries.

Molecular Crowding Electrolytes for Stable Proton Batteries

Proton electrochemistry is promising for developing post-lithium energy storage devices with high capacity and rate capability. However, some electrode materials are vulnerable because of the co-intercalation of free water molecules in traditional acid electrolytes, resulting in rapid capacity fading. Here, the authors report a molecular crowding electrolyte with the usage of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as a crowding agent, achieving fast and stable electrochemical proton storage and expanded working potential window (3.2 V). Spectroscopic characterisations reveal the formation of hydrogen bonds between water and PEG molecules, which is beneficial for confining the activity of water molecules. Molecular dynamics simulations confirm a significant decrease of free water fraction in the molecular crowding electrolyte. Dynamic structural evolution of the MoO₃ anode is studied by in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD), revealing a reversible multi-step naked proton (de)intercalation mechanism. Surficial adsorption of PEG molecules on MoO₃ anode works in synergy to alleviate the destructive effect of concurrent water desolvation, thereby achieving enhanced cycling stability. This strategy offers possibilities of practical applications of proton electrochemistry thanks to the low-cost and eco-friendly nature of PEG additives.

Acid-in-Clay Electrolyte for Wide-Temperature-Range and Long-Cycle Proton Batteries

Proton conduction underlies many important electrochemical technologies. A family of new proton electrolytes is reported: acid-in-clay electrolyte (AiCE) prepared by integrating fast proton carriers in a natural phyllosilicate clay network, which can be made into thin-film (tens of micrometers) fluid-impervious membranes. The chosen example systems (sepiolite-phosphoric acid) rank top among the solid proton conductors in terms of proton conductivities (15 mS cm^-1 at 25 °C, 0.023 mS cm^-1 at -82 °C), electrochemical stability window (3.35 V), and reduced chemical reactivity. A proton battery is assembled using AiCE as the solid electrolyte membrane. Benefitting from the wider electrochemical stability window, reduced corrosivity, and excellent ionic selectivity of AiCE, the two main problems (gassing and cyclability) of proton batteries are successfully solved. This work draws attention to the element cross-over problem in proton batteries and the generic "acid-in-clay" solid electrolyte approach with superfast proton transport, outstanding selectivity, and improved stability for room- to cryogenic-temperature protonic applications.

Hydrogen-Bond Disrupting Electrolytes for Fast and Stable Proton Batteries

Rechargeable aqueous proton batteries are promising competitors for the next generation of energy storage systems with the fast diffusion kinetics and wide availability of protons. However, poor cycling stability is a big challenge for proton batteries due to the attachment of water molecules to the electrode surface in acid electrolytes. Here, a hydrogen-bond disrupting electrolyte strategy to boost proton battery stability via simultaneously tuning the hydronium ion solvation sheath in the electrolyte and the electrode interface is reported. By mixing cryoprotectants such as glycerol with acids, hydrogen bonds involving water molecules are disrupted leading to a modified hydronium ion solvation sheaths and minimized water activity. Concomitantly, glycerol absorbs on the electrode surface and acts to protect the electrode surface from water. Fast and stable proton storage with high rate capability and long cycle life is thus achieved, even at temperatures as low as -50 °C. This electrolyte strategy may be universal and is likely to pave the way toward highly stable aqueous energy storage systems.

"Water-in-Sugar" Electrolytes Enable Ultrafast and Stable Electrochemical Naked Proton Storage

Proton is an ideal charge carrier for rechargeable batteries due to its small ionic radius, ultrafast diffusion kinetics and wide availability. However, in commonly used acid electrolytes, the co-interaction of polarized water and proton (namely hydronium) with electrode materials often causes electrode structural distortions. The hydronium adsorption on electrode surfaces also facilitates hydrogen evolution as an unwanted side reaction. Here, a "water-in-sugar" electrolyte with high concentration of glucose dissolved in acid to enable the naked proton intercalation, as well as an extended 3.9 V working potential window, is shown. A glucose-derived organic thin film is formed on electrode surface upon cycling. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal the significant decrease of free water in bulk electrolytes, while density functional theory calculations indicate that glucose preferentially binds to the electrode surface which can inhibit water adsorption. The scarcity of free water and the protective organic film work in synergy to suppress water interactions with the electrode surface, which enables the naked proton (de)intercalation. The "water-in-sugar" electrolyte significantly enhances a MoO₃ electrode for stable cycling over 100 000 times. This facile electrolyte approach opens new avenues to aqueous electrochemistry and energy storage devices.