Plasma-enabled synthesis and modification of advanced materials for electrochemical energy storage

Abstract

Plasma, consisting of electrons, ions, molecules, radicals, photons, and other excited species, has not only complex atomic and molecular processes but also versatile physical and chemical reactions with solid materials. This review discusses the contribution of plasma technologies development of electrochemical energy storage systems with emphasis on alkali-ion batteries (lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, and potassium-ion batteries), metal-based batteries (e.g. zinc metal batteries, lithium metal batteries, and sodium metal batteries), and supercapacitors. A brief overview of the fundamentals and technical effects of plasma technologies and details highlighting the utility of plasma technologies for the synthesis and modification of advanced materials (e.g. electrode materials, current collector, and separator) are provided. In this context, the plasma technologies that have been developed for the synthesis and modification of electrode materials with well-defined properties are described, and demonstrations of how these techniques facilitate the regulation of fundamental electrode materials properties as well as the development of new electrode materials are provided. Beyond the discussion of electrode materials, the progress on the current collector and separator are also presented. Finally, the future research directions, challenges, and opportunities of plasma technologies in electrochemical energy storage systems are discussed.