Interface engineering strategy via electron-defect trimethyl borate additive toward 4.7 V ultrahigh-nickel LiNi_(0.9)Co_(0.05)Mn_(0.05)O_(2)battery

The Li metal battery with ultrahigh-nickel cathode(LiNi_(x)M_(1-x)O_(2),M=Mn,Co,and x≥0.9)under high-voltage is regarded as one of the most promising approaches to fulfill the ambitious target of 400 Wh/kg.However,the practical application is impeded by the instability of electrode/electrolyte interface and Ni-rich cathode itself.Herein we proposed an electron-defect electrolyte additive trimethyl borate(TMB)which is paired with the commercial carbonate electrolyte to construct highly conductive fluorine-and boron-rich cathode electrolyte interface(CEI)on LiNi_(0.9)Co_(0.05)Mn_(0.05)O_(2)(NCM90)surface and solid electrolyte interphase(SEI)on lithium metal surface.The modified CEI effectively mitigates the structural transformation from layered to disordered rock-salt phase,and consequently alleviate the dissolution of transition metal ions(TMs)and its“cross-talk”effect,while the enhanced SEI enables stable lithium plating/striping and thus demonstrated good compatibility between electrolyte and lithium metal anode.As a result,the common electrolyte with 1 wt%TMB enables 4.7 V NCM90/Li cell cycle stably over 100 cycles with 70%capacity retention.This work highlights the significance of the electron-defect boron compounds for designing desirable interfacial chemistries to achieve high performance NCM90/Li battery under high voltage operation.

Transition metal carbonate anodes for Li-ion battery: fundamentals,synthesis and modification

Even though transition metal carbonates(TMCs, TM = Fe, Mn, Co, Ni etc.), show high theoretical capacities, rich reserves and environmental friendliness as anodes for lithium-ion batteries(LIBs), they suffer from sluggish electronic/ionic conductivities and huge volume variation, which severely deteriorate the rate capacities and cycling performances. Understanding the intrinsic reaction mechanism and further developing ideal TMC-based anode with high specific capacity, excellent rate capabilities, and longterm cycling stability are critical for the practical application of TMCs. In this review, we firstly focus on the fundamental electrochemical energy-storage mechanisms of TMCs, in terms of conversionreaction process, pseudocapacitance-type charge storage, valence change for charge storage and catalytic conversion mechanisms. Based on the reaction mechanisms, various modification strategies to improve the electrochemical performance of TMCs are summarized, covering:(i) micro-nano structural engineering, in which the influence factors on the morphology are discussed, and multiple architectures are listed;(ii) elemental doping, in which the intrinsic mechanisms of metal/nonmetal elements doping on the electrochemical performance are deeply explored;(iii) multifunctional compositing strategies, in which the specific affections on structure, electronic conductivity and chemo-mechanical stability are summarized.Finally, the key challenges and opportunities to develop high-performance TMCs are discussed and some solutions are also proposed. This timely review sheds light on the path towards achieving cost-effective and safe LIBs with high energy density and long cycling life using TMCs-based anode materials.

Stabilizing SEI by cyclic ethers toward enhanced K^(+) storage in graphite

The poor cycling stability of graphite in traditional ester electrolyte limits its applications as anodes for potassium ion batteries(KIBs).Herein,we demonstrate that the introduction of cyclic ether co-solvents into ester electrolytes can remarkably enhance the cycling stability of graphite anodes.The graphite anode in ester electrolyte with cyclic ether could achieve a reversible capacity of 196.1 m Ah g^(-1) after 100 cycles at 0.3 C(1 C=280 m A g^(-1)),about three times higher than those in ester electrolytes with or without linear ether.Compared with the SEI formed in ester electrolytes,the addition of tetrahydrofuran promotes the generation of K_(2)CO_(3) and ethylene oxide oligomers(PEO),of which the K_(2)CO_(3) is expected to be more conductive and PEO is mechanically robust.The more uniform,conductive and stable solid electrolyte interphases(SEIs)on graphite in electrolytes with cyclic ethers contribute to the enhancement of the electrochemical performances of graphite.This work provides a novel design of commercialized electrolytes to achieve high-performance anodes for KIBs,which potentially accelerates the development of KIBs.

Reinforced concrete-like Na_(3.5)V_(1.5)Mn_(0.5)(PO_(4))_(3)@graphene hybrids with hierarchical porosity as durable and high-rate sodium-ion battery cathode

Realizing high-rate capability and high-efficiency utilization of polyanionic cathode materials is of great importance for practical sodium-ion batteries(SIBs) since they usually suffer from extremely low electronic conductivity and limited ionic diffusion kinetics. Herein, taking Na_(3.5)V_(1.5)Mn_(0.5)(PO_(4))_(3)(NVMP) as an example, a reinforced concrete-like hierarchical and porous hybrid(NVMP@C@3DPG) built from 3D graphene(“rebar”) frameworks and in situ generated carbon coated NVMP(“concrete”) has been developed by a facile polymer assisted self-assembly and subsequent solid-state method. Such hybrids deliver superior rate capability(73.9 m Ah/g up to 20 C) and excellent cycling stability in a wide temperature range with a high specific capacity of 88.4 m Ah/g after 5000 cycles at 15 C at room temperature, and a high capacity retention of 97.1% after 500 cycles at 1 C(-20 ℃), and maintaining a high reversible capacity of 110.3 m Ah/g in full cell. This work offers a facile and efficient strategy to develop advanced polyanionic cathodes with high-efficiency utilization and 3D electron/ion transport systems.