Advancements in metalloid anodes (Si/Ge/B) for air batteries

Abstract

Metal-air batteries (MABs) have emerged as a promising contender in the quest for alternative energy storage technologies, rivalling the widespread utilization of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Their comparable theoretical energy density to gasoline, reaching ∼12,000 Wh/kg, has sparked great interest. However, the practical implementation of MABs has been hindered by limitations associated with metal anodes, including volume expansion and unwanted side reactions. Surprisingly, the exploration of metalloid-air batteries (MLAB) remains largely unexplored. This comprehensive review aims to shed light on the potential of MLABs as a novel alternative battery technology. This technology employs metalloids in their elemental form or as compounds/alloys. Elemental metalloids, such as Silicon and Germanium, when used as anodes in combination with alkaline or Ionic liquid electrolytes, have showcased remarkable performance, surpassing their metallic counterparts in energy density, corrosiveness, and discharge time, among other critical factors. Moreover, this review delves into the discussion of Borides and Silicides, compounds of elemental Boron and Silicon, respectively, as anode materials for air batteries. Furthermore, diverse metalloid composites and computational studies exploring innovative configurations have also been examined and discussed, paving the way for future advancements in MLABs.