Perspective on low-temperature electrolytes for LiFePO 4-based lithium-ion batteries

The olivine-type lithium iron phosphate(LiFePO_(4))cathode material is promising and widely used as a high-performance lithium-ion battery cathode material in commercial batteries due to its low cost,environmental friendliness,and high safety.At present,LiFePO_(4)/C sec-ondary batteries are widely used for electronic products,automotive power batteries,and other occasion-related applications with good thermal stability,stable cycle performance,and low room-temperature self-discharge rate.However,LiFePO_(4)-based battery applications are seriously limited when they are operated in a cold climate.This outcome is due to a considerable decrease in Li+transport capabilities within the elec-trode,particularly leading to a dramatic decrease in the electrochemical capacity and power performance of the electrolyte.Therefore,the design of low-temperature electrolytes is important for the further commercial application of LiFePO_(4) batteries.This paper reviews the key factors for the poor low-temperature performance of LiFePO_(4)-based batteries and the research progress of low-temperature electrolytes.Spe-cial attention is paid to electrolyte components,including lithium salts,cosolvents,additives,and the development of new electrolytes.The factors affecting the anode are also analyzed.Finally,according to the current research progress,some viewpoints are summarized to provide suitable modification methods and research suggestions for improving the practicability of LiFePO_(4)/C commercial batteries at low temperat-ures in the future.

Status of an MWth integrated gasification fuel cell powergeneration system in China

Abstract Here,we provide a status update of an integrated gasification fuel cell(IGFC)power-generation system being developed at the National Institute of Clean-and-Low-Carbon in China at the megawatt thermal(MWth)scale.This system is designed to use coal as fuel to produce syngas as a first step,similar to that employed for the integrated gasification combined cycle.Subsequently,the solid-oxide fuel-cell(SOFC)system is used to convert chemical energy to electricity directly through an electrochemical reaction without combustion.This system leads to higher efficiency as compared with that from a traditional coal-fired power plant.The unreacted fuel in the SOFC system is transported to an oxygencombustor to be converted to steam and carbon dioxide(CO_(2)).Through a heat-recovery system,the steam is condensed and removed,and CO_(2) is enriched and captured for sequestration or utilization.Comprehensive economic analyses for a typical IGFC system was performed and the results were compared with those for a supercritical pulverized coal-fired power plant.The SOFC stacks selected for IGFC development were tested and qualified under hydrogen and simulated coal syngas fuel.Experimental results using SOFC stacks and thermodynamic analyses indicated that the control of hydrogen/CO ratio of syngas and steam/CO ratio is important to avoid carbon deposition with the fuel pipe.A 20-kW SOFC unit is under development with design power output of 20 kW and DC efficiency of 50.41%.A 100 kW-level subsystem will consist of 6920-kW power-generation units,and the MWth IGFC system will consist of 59100 kWlevel subsystems.

Carbon Nanofibers Encapsulated CoNiFe Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Durable Zn-Air Batteries at Room and -40℃ Ultralow Temperatures

Reasonably designing composition and nanostructure to enhance the stability of bifunctional catalysts is highly desired for rechargeable Zn-air batteries(ZABs).Here,porous carbon nanofibers(CNFs)encapsulated CoNiFe alloy nanoparticles(NPs)(CoNiFe/CNFs)were synthesized controllably by in-situ growth and cation etching.Electrochemical tests indicated that CoNiFe/CNFs exhibited excellent bifunctional performances in both oxygen evolution reaction(OER)and oxygen reduction reaction(ORR).Using CoNiFe/CNFs as bifunctional catalysts,the assembled ZABs presented ultralong durability up to 1050 and 660 h at 5 and 25 mA cm^(-2),respectively.The assembled flexible solid-state ZABs-based polyacrylamide(PAM)hydrogel exhibited a power density of 62.9 mW cm^(-2) and 66 h durability at 2 mA cm^(-2) under ultralow temperature of -40℃.The excellent performance of CoNiFe/CNFs was ascribed to the encapsulation of CNFs by the alloy NPs and the synergy of multi-metals in the alloy NPs,because the encapsulation could suppress alloy spillage and agglomeration and protect the catalytic sites from electrolyte deterioration,thereby boosting the durability of the resulting ZABs.