Simultaneous Laser Reduction of Sn/Sb Salts and Graphene Formation as Innovative Anode Material for Li- and Na-Ion Batteries.

Laser-induced graphene in energy storage- batteries

Electrochemical performance of CuNCN for sodium ion batteries and comparison with ZnNCN and lithium ion batteries

We present results on the Forcespinning (FS) of MoS2/PAN and MoO2/PAN solution precursors for the mass production of MoS2/C and MoO2/C composite fibers for use as binder-free and freestanding anodes for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries. The binary composite microfiber electrodes were prepared using a scalable technique (FS) and subsequent thermal treatment. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images of the composite microfibers showed nanoparticles of the MoS2 and MoO2 active materials embedded in the surface of the fibers. The composite microfiber preparation process involved FS of the MoS2/PAN and MoO2/C solution precursors into microfibers and subsequent stabilization in air at 280oC and calcination at 700oC for MoO2/C and 810oC for MoS2/C under an inert atmosphere. The flexible composite microfibers were directly used as working electrode in lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries without a current collector, conducting additives, or binder. The MoS2/C and MoO2/C composite fiber electrodes delivered a good electrochemical performance and Coulombic efficiency when used for lithium-ion batteries. The MoS2/C electrodes delivered an initial discharge (insertion) capacity of 650 mAhg-1, with a corresponding charge capacity of 425 mAhg-1 at a current density of 100 mAg-1. In the subsequent cycles, the MoS2/C electrodes stabilize at about 50 cycles and maintain a stable specific capacity of about 245 mAhg-1, in the last 5 cycles there is slight recovery with a final specific capacity of 255 mAhg-1. The MoO2/C composite anode delivered a reversible capacity of 356 mAhg-1 at 100 mAg-1, stabilizing at 245 mAhg-1 after 100 cycles. The results presented in this work showed that the MoS2/C and MoO2/C composite fibers have good reversible capacity, good capacity retention and acceptable rate performance when used as anode materials for rechargeable lithium ion batteries.

Antimony oxychloride/graphene aerogel composite as anode material for sodium and lithium ion batteries

Numerous efforts have been devoted to developing high-performance graphene-based electrodes for application in advanced electrochemical energy storage systems (e.g., lithium ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium ion batteries (SIBs)), including modified graphene with various structures and types of heteroatom doping, as well as their related composite-/hybridized-electrode materials. Owing to their outstanding characteristics (large surface area, high electronic conductivity, high charge carrier mobility, great mechanical strength, and high theoretical capacity), graphene-based electrodes have been widely demonstrated to show improved and diverse properties for LIBs and SIBs in terms of high specific capacity, high rate capability, long cycling life, and flexible-battery structures. In this chapter, we briefly provide an overview of the significant progress achieved on graphene-based electrodes (including both cathodes and anodes) for application in LIBs and SIBs over the past decade. Moreover, despite the impressive improved electrochemical performance reported for LIBs and SIBs, emerging challenges and some perspectives on the use of graphene-based electrodes for future LIB and SIB applications are also presented in this chapter.

Emerging trends in sustainable battery chemistries

Status and challenges facing representative anode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries

In-situ laser-induced metal (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu)-doped graphene electrode for sensitive uric acid sensing in sweat.

Development of energy storage systems is a topic of broad societal and economic relevance, and lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are currently the most advanced electrochemical energy storage systems. However, concerns on the scarcity of lithium sources and consequently the expected price increase have driven the development of alternative energy storage systems beyond LIBs. In the search for sustainable and cost-effective technologies, sodium ion batteries (SIBs) and potassium ion batteries (PIBs) have attracted considerable attention. Here, a comprehensive review of ongoing studies on electrode materials for SIBs and PIBs is provided in comparison to those for LIBs, which include layered oxides, polyanion compounds and Prussian blue analogues for positive electrode materials, and carbon-based and alloy materials for negative electrode materials. The importance of the crystal structure for electrode materials is discussed with an emphasis placed on intrinsic and dynamic structural properties and electrochemistry associated with alkali metal ions. The key challenges for electrode materials as well as the interface/interphase between the electrolyte and electrode materials, and the corresponding strategies are also examined. The discussion and insights presented in this review can serve as a guide regarding where future investigations of SIBs and PIBs will be directed.

Origin of anomalous high-rate Na-ion electrochemistry in layered bismuth telluride anodes

Hydrazine-reduced graphite oxide and graphene oxide were synthesized to compare their performances as anode materials in lithium-ion batteries and sodium-ion batteries. Reduced graphite oxide inherits the layer structure of graphite, with an average spacing between neighboring layers (d-spacing) of 0.374 nm; this exceeds the d-spacing of graphite (0.335 nm). The larger d-spacing provides wider channels for transporting lithium ions and sodium ions in the material. We showed that reduced graphite oxide as an anode in lithium-ion batteries can reach a specific capacity of 917 mA h g-1, which is about three times of 372 mA h g-1, the value expected for the LiC6 structures on the electrode. This increase is consistent with the wider d-spacing, which enhances lithium intercalation and de-intercalation on the electrodes. The electrochemical performance of the lithium-ion batteries and sodium-ion batteries with reduced graphite oxide anodes show a noticeable improvement compared to those with reduced graphene oxide anodes. This improvement indicates that reduced graphite oxide, with larger interlayer spacing, has fewer defects and is thus more stable. In summary, we found that reduced graphite oxide may be a more favorable form of graphene for the fabrication of electrodes for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries and other energy storage devices.

Laser-induced graphite-graphene matrix with pre-lithiation for high-performance lithium-ion battery

Alloying-type antimony (Sb) with high theoretical capacity is a promising anode candidate for both lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Given the larger radius of Na+ (1.02 Å) than Li+ (0.76 Å), it was generally believed that the Sb anode would experience even worse capacity degradation in SIBs due to more substantial volumetric variations during cycling when compared to LIBs. However, the Sb anode in SIBs unexpectedly exhibited both better electrochemical and structural stability than in LIBs, and the mechanistic reasons that underlie this performance discrepancy remain undiscovered. Here, using substantial in situ transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman techniques complemented by theoretical simulations, we explicitly reveal that compared to the lithiation/delithiation process, sodiation/desodiation process of Sb anode displays a previously unexplored two-stage alloying/dealloying mechanism with polycrystalline and amorphous phases as the intermediates featuring improved resilience to mechanical damage, contributing to superior cycling stability in SIBs. Additionally, the better mechanical properties and weaker atomic interaction of Na-Sb alloys than Li-Sb alloys favor enabling mitigated mechanical stress, accounting for enhanced structural stability as unveiled by theoretical simulations. Our finding delineates the mechanistic origins of enhanced cycling stability of Sb anode in SIBs with potential implications for other large-volume-change electrode materials.

Alloying‐type antimony (Sb) with high theoretical capacity is a promising anode candidate for both lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). Given the larger radius of Na+ (1.02 Å) than Li+ (0.76 Å), it was generally believed that the Sb anode would experience even worse capacity degradation in SIBs due to more substantial volumetric variations during cycling when compared to LIBs. However, the Sb anode in SIBs unexpectedly exhibited both better electrochemical and structural stability than in LIBs, and the mechanistic reasons that underlie this performance discrepancy remain undiscovered. Here, using substantial in situ transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and Raman techniques complemented by theoretical simulations, we explicitly reveal that compared to the lithiation/delithiation process, sodiation/desodiation process of Sb anode displays a previously unexplored two‐stage alloying/dealloying mechanism with polycrystalline and amorphous phases as the intermediates featuring improved resilience to mechanical damage, contributing to superior cycling stability in SIBs. Additionally, the better mechanical properties and weaker atomic interaction of Na−Sb alloys than Li−Sb alloys favor enabling mitigated mechanical stress, accounting for enhanced structural stability as unveiled by theoretical simulations. Our finding delineates the mechanistic origins of enhanced cycling stability of Sb anode in SIBs with potential implications for other large‐volume‐change electrode materials.

Silicon oxycarbides (SiOC) are an interesting alternative to state-of-the-art lithium battery anode materials, such as graphite, due to potentially higher capacities and rate capabilities. Recently, it was also shown that this class of materials shows great prospects towards sodium ion batteries. Yet, bulk SiOCs are still severely restricted with regard to their electrochemical performance. In the course of this work, a novel and facile strategy towards the synthesis of mesoporous and carbon-rich SiOC will be presented. To achieve this goal, 4,4′-bis(triethoxysilyl)-1,1′-biphenyl was sol–gel processed in the presence of the triblock copolymer Pluronic P123. After the removal of the surfactant using Soxhlet extraction the organosilica material was subsequently carbonized under an inert gas atmosphere at 1000 °C. The resulting black powder was able to maintain all structural features and the porosity of the initial organosilica precursor making it an interesting candidate as an anode material for both sodium and lithium ion batteries. To get a detailed insight into the electrochemical properties of the novel material in the respective battery systems, electrodes from the nanostructured SiOC were studied in half-cells with galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements. It will be shown that nanostructuring of SiOC is a viable strategy in order to outperform commercially applied competitors.