Catalytic effect in lithium metal batteries: From heterogeneous catalyst to homogenous catalyst

Lithium metal batteries are regarded as prominent contenders to address the pressing needs owing to the high theoretical capacity.Toward the broader implementation,the primary obstacle lies in the intricate multi-electron,multi-step redox reaction associated with sluggish conversion kinetics,subsequently giving rise to a cascade of parasitic issues.In order to smooth reaction kinetics,catalysts are widely introduced to accelerate reaction rate via modulating the energy barrier.Over past decades,a large amount of research has been devoted to the catalyst design and catalytic mechanism exploration,and thus the great progress in electrochemical performance has been realized.Therefore,it is necessary to make a comprehensive review toward key progress in catalyst design and future development pathway.In this review,the basic mechanism of lithium metal batteries is provided along with corresponding advantages and existing challenges detailly described.The main catalysts employed to accelerate cathode reaction with emphasis on their catalytic mechanism are summarized as well.Finally,the rational design and innovative direction toward efficient catalysts are suggested for future application in metal-sulfur/gas battery and beyond.This review is expected to drive and benefit future research on rational catalyst design with multi-parameter synergistic impacts on the activity and stability of next-generation metal battery,thus opening new avenue for sustainable solution to climate change,energy and environmental issues,and the potential industrial economy.

Two positive effects with one arrow:Modulating crystal and interfacial decoration towards high-potential cathode material

As the primary suppliers of cyclable sodium ions,O3-type layer-structured manganese-based oxides are recognized as highly competitive cathode candidates for sodium-ion batteries.To advance the development of high-energy sodium-ion batteries,it is crucial to explore cathode materials operating at high voltages while maintaining a stable cycling behavior.The orbital and electronic structure of the octahedral center metal element plays a crucial role in maintaining the octahedra structural integrity and improving Na^(+)ion diffusion by introducing heterogeneous chemical bonding.Inspired by the abundant configuration of extra nuclear electrons and large ion radius,we employed trace amounts of tungsten in this study.The obtained cathode material can promote the reversibility of oxygen redox reactions in the high-voltage region and inhibit the loss of lattice oxygen.Additionally,the formation of a Na_(2)WO_(4) coating on the material surface can improve the interfacial stability and interface ions diffusion.It demonstrates an initial Coulombic efficiency(ICE)of 94.6%along with 168.5 mA h g^(-1 )discharge capacity within the voltage range of 1.9-4.35 V.These findings contribute to the advancement of high-energy sodium-ion batteries by providing insights into the benefits of tungsten doping and Na_(2)WO_(4) coating on cathode materials.

Boosting nitrogen electrocatalytic fixation by three-dimensional TiO_(2-δ)N_δnanowire arrays

Owing to the environmental and inherent advantages,nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR)by electrocatalysts attracts global attention.The surface engineering is widely employed to enhance the electrocatalytic activity by atomic defects and heterostructure effects.A three-dimensional(3D)free-standing integrated electrode was fabricated by numerous nearly-single-crystal TiO_(2-δ)N_δnanowire arrays.Based on the high electronic conductivity network,it exposes numerous active sites as well to facilitate the selective nitrogen adsorption and*H adsorption suppression.The synergistic effects between Ti^(3+)and oxygen vacancy(O_v)boost the intrinsic catalytic activity,in which Ti^(3+)acquired electrons via Ovcan effectively activate the N≡N bond and make it easy to bind with protons.The energy barrier of primary protonation process(*N_(2)+H^(+)+e^(-)→*NNH)can be dramatically decreased.The highest ammonia yield rate(14.33μg h^(-1)mgcat^(-1))emerges at-0.2 V,while the optimal ammonia Faradaic efficiency(9.17%)is acquired at-0.1 V.Density functional theory(DFT)calculation reveals that the Ti^(3+)can be served as the active sites for nitrogen adsorption and activation,while ammonia synthesis is accomplished by the distal pathway.The high electronic conductivity integrated network and synergistic effects can significantly facilitate nitrogen absorption and accelerate electrocatalytic reaction kinetic,which are responsible for the excellent NRR performance at room temperature.