Benign Recycling of Spent Batteries towards All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are one of the most significant energy storage devices applied in power supply facilities. However, a huge number of spent LIBs would bring harmful resource waste and environmental hazards. In this study, a benign hydrometallurgical method using phytic acid as precipitant is proposed to recover useful metallic Mn ions from spent LiMn₂O₄ batteries. Besides Mn-based cathodes, this recovery process is also applicable for other commercial batteries. More importantly, for the first time, the as-obtained manganous complex is employed as a nanofiller in a polyethylene oxide matrix to largely improve Li⁺ conductivity and transference number. As a result, when applied in all-solid-state lithium batteries, high capacity and outstanding cyclic stability are achieved with capacity retention of 86.4 % after 60 cycles at 0.1 C. The recovery of spent lithium batteries not only has benefits for the environment and resources, but also shows great potential application in all-solid-state lithium batteries, which opens up a costless and efficient circulation pathway for clean and reliable energy storage systems.     

基于一体化正极与电解质膜的高性能固态电池

Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are becoming the most popular energy storage systems in our society. However, frequently occurring accidents of electrical cars powered by LIBs have caused increased safety concern regarding LIBs. Solid-state lithium batteries (SSLBs) are believed to be the most promising next generation energy storage system due to their better in-built safety mechanisms than LIBs using flammable organic liquid electrolyte. However, constructing the ionic conducting path in SSLBs is challenging due to the slow ionic diffusion of Li ion in solid-state electrolyte, particularly in the case of solid-solid contact between the solid materials. In this paper, we demonstrate the construction of an integrated electrolyte and cathode for use in SSLBs. An integrated electrolyte and cathode membrane is obtained via simultaneous electrospinning and electrospraying of a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) electrolyte and a LiFePO₄ (LFP) cathode material respectively, for the cathode layer, followed by the electrospinning of PAN to prepare the electrolyte layer. The resultant integrated PAN-LFP membrane is flexible. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy measurement results show that the electrode and electrolyte are in close contact with each other. After the integrated PAN-LFP membrane is filled with a succinonitrile-bistrifluoromethanesulfonimide (SN-LiTFSI) salt mixture, it is paired with a lithium foil metal anode electrode, and the resultant solid-state Li|PAN-LFP cell exhibits limited polarization and outstanding interfacial stability during long term cycling. That is, the Li|PAN-LFP cell presents a specific capacity of 160.8 mAh∙g⁻¹ at 0.1C, and 81% of the initial capacity is maintained after 500 cycles at 0.2C. The solid-state Li|PAN-LFP cell also exhibits excellent resilience in destructive tests such as cell bending and cutting.     

Two π-Conjugated Covalent Organic Frameworks with Long-Term Cyclability at High Current Density for Lithium Ion Battery

Organic lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are considered as one of the next-generation green electrochemical energy storage (EES) devices. However, obtaining both high capacity and long-term cyclability is still the bottleneck of organic electrode materials for LIBs because of weak structural and chemical stability and low conductivity. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) show potential to overcome these problems owing to its good stability and high capacity. Herein, the synthesis and characterization of two π-conjugated COFs, derived from the Schiff-base reaction of 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidne (TM) respectively with 1,4-phthalaldehyde (PA) and 1,3,5-triformylbenzene (TB) by a mechanochemical process are presented. As anode materials for LIBs, the COFs exhibit favorable electrochemical performance with the highest reversible discharge capacities of up to 401.3 and 379.1 mAh g⁻¹ at a high current density (1 A g⁻¹), respectively, and excellent long-term cyclability with 74.8 and 72.7 % capacity retention after 2000 cycles compared to the initial discharge capacities.     

NASICON结构正极材料用于钠离子电池的研究进展

随着二次电池技术的迅速发展,锂离子电池(LIBs)已经成为了当今社会一种重要的储能装置。然而,地壳中锂资源有限、含锂化合物价格昂贵,因此科研工作者正在积极寻找LIBs的替代品。钠离子电池(SIBs)具有与LIBs相似的工作原理,且钠元素在地球上储量更丰富更均匀、价格更低廉,使得SIBs成为了最有希望替代LIBs的新型二次电池体系之一。不过,钠离子半径较大、充放电过程中电极材料的不可逆性更明显等缺点,明显地增加了开发高性能SIBs的难度。因此,寻找具有优异性能的电极材料,成为了当前SIBs研究的难点和重点。钠超离子导体(NASICON)结构材料是一类具有超快钠离子传导能力的化合物,在脱/嵌钠过程中具有离子传导率高、结构稳定等优点,表现出明显的应用潜力。本文将在介绍NASICON材料晶体结构的基础上,重点从过渡金属种类与个数,以及阴离子调控的角度,总结其研究进展,并分析了该类材料面临的主要问题和挑战。     

层状钛硅酸盐化合物作为锂离子电池负极储能材料

锂离子二次电池是手提设备的重要电力来源。近年来,人们为了寻找更新颖更好的锂离子电极材料,开始研究晶形离子交换材料,这种材料具有开放孔道,能够让离子在多孔框架里自由的进出。一种具有层状结构的钛硅酸盐Na-JDF-L1(Na₄Ti₂Si₈O₂₂·4H₂O)经过离子交换后被用作锂离子负极材料。它在循环200次后放电容量保持在364 mAh·g^-1,并且库伦效率约为100%。通过将TiO₂引入Li(Na)-JDF-L1中,有效的提高了材料的首次库伦效率和倍率放电性能。     

层状钛硅酸盐化合物作为锂离子电池负极储能材料

锂离子二次电池是手提设备的重要电力来源。近年来, 人们为了寻找更新颖更好的锂离子电极材料, 开始研究晶形离子交换材料, 这种材料具有开放孔道, 能够让离子在多孔框架里自由的进出。一种具有层状结构的钛硅酸盐Na-JDF-L1(Na₄Ti₂Si₈O₂₂·4H₂O)经过离子交换后被用作锂离子负极材料。它在循环200次后放电容量保持在364 mAh·g^-1, 并且库伦效率约为100%。通过将TiO₂引入Li(Na)-JDF-L1中, 有效的提高了材料的首次库伦效率和倍率放电性能。     

Regulation of Cathode‐Electrolyte Interphase via Electrolyte Additives in Lithium Ion Batteries

As the power supply of the prosperous new energy products, advanced lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are widely applied to portable energy equipment and large‐scale energy storage systems. To broaden the applicable range, considerable endeavours have been devoted towards improving the energy and power density of LIBs. However, the side reaction caused by the close contact between the electrode (particularly the cathode) and the electrolyte leads to capacity decay and structural degradation, which is a tricky problem to be solved. In order to overcome this obstacle, the researchers focused their attention on electrolyte additives. By adding additives to the electrolyte, the construction of a stable cathode‐electrolyte interphase (CEI) between the cathode and the electrolyte has been proven to competently elevate the overall electrochemical performance of LIBs. However, how to choose electrolyte additives that match different cathode systems ideally to achieve stable CEI layer construction and high‐performance LIBs is still in the stage of repeated experiments and exploration. This article specifically introduces the working mechanism of diverse electrolyte additives for forming a stable CEI layer and summarizes the latest research progress in the application of electrolyte additives for LIBs with diverse cathode materials. Finally, we tentatively set forth recommendations on the screening and customization of ideal additives required for the construction of robust CEI layer in LIBs. We believe this minireview will have a certain reference value for the design and construction of stable CEI layer to realize desirable performance of LIBs.     

Compact Coupled Graphene and Porous Polyaryltriazine‐Derived Frameworks as High Performance Cathodes for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

It is highly desirable to develop electroactive organic materials and their derivatives as green alternatives of cathodes for sustainable and cost‐effective lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) in energy storage fields. Herein, compact two‐dimensional coupled graphene and porous polyaryltriazine‐derived frameworks with tailormade pore structures are fabricated by using various molecular building blocks under ionothermal conditions. The porous nanosheets display nanoscale thickness, high specific surface area, and strong coupling of electroactive polyaryltriazine‐derived frameworks with graphene. All these features make it possible to efficiently depress the dissolution of redox moieties in electrolytes and to boost the electrical conductivity of whole electrode. When employed as a cathode in LIBs, the two‐dimensional porous nanosheets exhibit outstanding cycle stability of 395 mAh g^?1 at 5 A g^?1 for more than 5100 cycles and excellent rate capability of 135 mAh g^?1 at a high current density of 15 A g^?1.     

Design of pyrite/carbon nanospheres as high-capacity cathode for lithium-ion batteries

Transition metal sulfides are emerging as promising electrode materials for energy storage and conversion. In this work, hierarchical FeS_2/C nanospheres are synthesized through a controllable solvothermal method followed by the annealing process. Spherical FeS_2 core is homogeneously coated by thin carbon shell. The hierarchical nanostructure and carbon coating can enhance electron transfer and accommodate the stress originated from the volume change as well as suppress the shuttle effect of polysulfide. Consequently, as the cathode material of lithium ion batteries(LIBs), the FeS_2/C nanospheres exhibit high reversible capacity of 676 m Ahg~(-1) and excellent cycling life with the capacity retention of 97.1% after100 cycles. In addition, even at the high current density of 1.8 C, a reversible capacity of 437 m Ahg~(-1) is obtained for the FeS_2/C nanospheres, demonstrating its great prospect for practical applications in highperformance LIBs.     

Multiple Active Sites: Lithium Storage Mechanism of Cu‐TCNQ as an Anode Material for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Recently, carboxylate metal‐organic framework (MOF) materials were reported to perform well as anode materials for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs); however, the presumed lithium storage mechanism of MOFs is controversial. To gain insight into the mechanism of MOFs as anode materials for LIBs, a self‐supported Cu‐TCNQ (TCNQ: 7,7,8,8‐tetracyanoquinodimethane) film was fabricated via an in situ redox routine, and directly used as electrode for LIBs. The first discharge and charge specific capacities of the self‐supported Cu‐TCNQ electrode are 373.4 and 219.4 mAh g^?1, respectively. After 500 cycles, the reversible specific capacity of Cu‐TCNQ reaches 280.9 mAh g^?1 at a current density of 100 mA g^?1. Mutually validated data reveal that the high capacity is ascribed to the multiple‐electron redox conversion of both metal ions and ligands, as well as the reversible insertion and desertion of Li⁺ ions into the benzene rings of ligands. This work raises the expectation for MOFs as electrode materials of LIBs by utilizing multiple active sites and provides new clues for designing improved electrode materials for LIBs.     

水系锌离子电池用钒基正极材料的研究进展

水系锌离子电池(aqueous zinc-ion batteries,AZIBs)具有高安全性、低生产成本、锌资源丰富和环境友好等优点,被认为是未来大规模储能系统中极具发展前景的储能装置。目前,AZIBs的研究关键之一在于开发具有稳定结构和高容量的锌离子可脱嵌正极材料。钒基化合物用作AZIBs正极时,表现出可逆容量高和结构丰富可变等特点,受到了广泛的关注和研究。然而,钒基化合物的储锌机理较复杂,不同材料通常表现出各异的电化学性能和储能机理。在本综述中,我们全面地阐述了钒基化合物的储能机制,并探讨了钒基材料在水系锌离子电池中的应用和发展近况,以及它们的性能优化策略。在此基础上,也进一步地展望了水系锌离子电池及其钒基正极材料的发展方向。     

Biomass Inspired Nitrogen Doped Porous Carbon Anode with High Performance for Lithium Ion Batteries

Ginkgo leave, a naturally abundant resource, has been successfully employed as the raw material to prepare nitrogen doped porous carbon (NDPC) materials. The preparation of the porous carbon does not involve assistance of any activation or template technique. The as‐obtained NDPC shows favorable features for electrochemical energy storage, which can not only provide multiple sites for the storage and insertion of Li ions, but also facilitate rapid mass transport of electrons and Li ions. As a result, the NDPC when evaluated as an anode material for lithium ion batteries delivers high reversible capacity (505 mAh·g^?1 at 0.1 C), excellent rate capability (190 mAh·g^?1 at 10 C). These favorable properties suggest that the NDPC can be a promising anode material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs).     

Strategies of Removing Residual Lithium Compounds on the Surface of Ni‐Rich Cathode Materials†

Ni‐rich cathode materials have become one of the most promising cathode materials for advanced high‐energy Li‐ion batteries (LIBs) owing to their high specific capacity. However, Ni‐rich cathode materials are sensitive to the trace H₂O and CO₂ in the air, and tend to react with them to generate LiOH and Li₂CO₃ at the particle surface region (named residual lithium compounds, labeled as RLCs). The RLCs will deteriorate the comprehensive performances of Ni‐rich cathode materials and make trouble in the subsequent manufacturing process of electrode, including causing low initial coulombic efficiency and poor storage property, bringing about potential safety hazards, and gelatinizing the electrode slurry. Therefore, it is of considerable significance to remove the RLCs. Researchers have done a lot of work on the corresponding field, such as exploring the formation mechanism and elimination methods. This paper investigates the origin of the surface residual lithium compounds on Ni‐rich cathode materials, analyzes their adverse effects on the performance and the subsequent electrode production process, and summarizes various kinds of feasible methods for removing the RLCs. Finally, we propose a new research direction of eliminating the lithium residuals after comparing and summing up the above. We hope this work can provide a reference for alleviating the adverse effects of residual lithium compounds for Ni‐rich cathode materials’ industrial production.     

Cost‐Effective Biomass Carbon/Calix[4]Quinone Composites for Lithium Ion Batteries

Searching for new cheap encapsulating materials to decrease the solubility of organic small molecules as the cathode materials in electrolytes and improve the performance of organic lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) is very important and highly desirable. In this research, we found that a novel cheap biomass carbon (named as PPL), prepared by pyrolyzing calyxes of Physalis Peruviana L, can efficiently encapsulate calix[4]quinone to form composites, which can be used as cathodes in LIBs. The initial discharge capacity of the as‐fabricated battery was 437 mAh g^?1 and could maintain 228 mAh g^?1 after 100 cycles. Even at 1 C, the discharge capacity was still 217 mAh g^?1.     

Copper-cobalt-nickel oxide nanowire arrays on copper foams as self-standing anode materials for lithium ion batteries

Numerous scientists are in the pursuit of energy storage materials with high energy and high power density by assembly of electrochemically active materials into conductive scaffolds, owing to the emerging need for next-generation energy storage devices. In this architectures, the active materials bonded to the conductive scaffold can provide a robust and free-standing structure, which is crucial to the fabrication of materials with high gravimetric capacity. Thus, hierarchical copper-cobalt-nickel ternary oxide (CuCoNi-oxide) nanowire arrays grown from copper foam were successfully fabricated as free-standing anode materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). CuCoNi-oxide nanowire arrays could provide more active sites owing to the hyperbranched structure, leading to a better specific capacity of 1191 mAh/g, cycle performance of 73% retention in comparison to CuO nanowire structure, which exhibited a specific capacity of 1029 mAh/g and capacity retention of 43%, respectively.     

Superior performance for lithium-ion battery with organic cathode and ionic liquid electrolyte

Organic small structure quinones go with ionic liquids electrolytes would exhibit ultrastable electrochemical properties.In this study,calix[6]quinone(C6Q) cathode was matched with ionic liquid electrolyte Li[TFSI]/[PY13][TFSI](bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide lithium salt/N-methyl-N-pro pylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide) to assemble lithium-ion batteries(LIBs).The electrochemical performance of LIBs was systematically studied.The capacity retention rates of C6Q through 1000 cycles at current densities of 0.2 C and 0.5 C were 70% and 72%,respectively.At 5 C, the capacity was maintained at 190 mAh g^-1 after 1000 cycles,and 155 mAh g^-1 even after 10,000 cycles,comparable to inorganic materials.This work would give a big push to the practical process of organic electrode materials in energy storage.     

酰亚胺基锂电池有机聚合物负极材料的制备及电化学性能研究

设计合成了一系列聚酰亚胺基的共轭骨架材料用于锂电池负极.首先,选用具有不同共轭体系的二酐分子用作共聚物构建单元,随后通过亚胺化反应与三聚氰胺共缩聚.最后,通过进一步热处理提高材料的交联程度和稳定性.将该材料用于锂离子电池负极表现出稳定的电化学性能.聚合物的倍率性能测试结果表明:在150 mA·g~(-1)的电流密度下,循环150次后,放电比容量达到471 mAh·g~(-1)以上,在2 A·g~(-1)的较大电流密度下,放电比容量达122.1 mAh·g~(-1),当电流密度返回至100 mA·g~(-1)时,其放电比容量又上升至532.3 mAh·g~(-1)左右,材料具有较好的倍率性能,聚合物材料在充放电过程中,避免了有机小分子材料在与锂离子结合后,易溶于电解液造成的容量损失.同时,共聚物骨架的共轭结构单元和极性基团,可在保证材料的导电性的同时增加材料结合锂离子的能力,因此表现出了优异的倍率性能.     

Hierarchical Surface Atomic Structure of a Manganese‐Based Spinel Cathode for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

The increasing use of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) in high‐power applications requires improvement of their high‐temperature electrochemical performance, including their cyclability and rate capability. Spinel lithium manganese oxide (LiMn₂O₄) is a promising cathode material because of its high stability and abundance. However, it exhibits poor cycling performance at high temperatures owing to Mn dissolution. Herein we show that when stoichiometric lithium manganese oxide is coated with highly doped spinels, the resulting epitaxial coating has a hierarchical atomic structure consisting of cubic‐spinel, tetragonal‐spinel, and layered structures, and no interfacial phase is formed. In a practical application of the coating to doped spinel, the material retained 90 % of its capacity after 800 cycles at 60 °C. Thus, the formation of an epitaxial coating with a hierarchical atomic structure could enhance the electrochemical performance of LIB cathode materials while preventing large losses in capacity.     

A Biodegradable Polydopamine‐Derived Electrode Material for High‐Capacity and Long‐Life Lithium‐Ion and Sodium‐Ion Batteries

Polydopamine (PDA), which is biodegradable and is derived from naturally occurring products, can be employed as an electrode material, wherein controllable partial oxidization plays a key role in balancing the proportion of redox‐active carbonyl groups and the structural stability and conductivity. Unexpectedly, the optimized PDA derivative endows lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) or sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) with superior electrochemical performances, including high capacities (1818 mAh g^?1 for LIBs and 500 mAh g^?1 for SIBs) and good stable cyclabilities (93 % capacity retention after 580 cycles for LIBs; 100 % capacity retention after 1024 cycles for SIBs), which are much better than those of their counterparts with conventional binders.     

Highly Crystalline Mesoporous Phosphotungstic Acid: A High‐Performance Electrode Material for Energy‐Storage Applications

Heteropoly acids (HPAs) are unique materials with interesting properties, including high acidity and proton conductivity. However, their low specific surface area and high solubility in polar solvents make them unattractive for catalytic or energy applications. This obstacle can be overcome by creating nanoporosity within the HPA. We synthesized mesoporous phosphotungstic acid (mPTA) with a spherical morphology through the self‐assembly of phosphotungstic acid (PTA) with a polymeric surfactant as stabilized by KCl and hydrothermal treatment. The mPTA nanostructures had a surface area of 93 m² g^?1 and a pore size of 4 nm. Their high thermal stability (ca. 450 °C) and lack of solubility in ethylene carbonate/diethyl carbonate (EC/DEC) electrolyte are beneficial for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). Optimized mPTA showed a reversible capacity of 872 mAh g^?1 at 0.1 A g^?1 even after 100 cycles for LIBs, as attributed to a super‐reduced state of HPA and the storage of Li ions within the mesochannels of mPTA.