Functional porous carbon-based composite electrode materials for lithium secondary batteries

The synthetic routes of porous carbons and the applications of the functional porous carbon-based composite electrode materials for lithium secondary batteries are reviewed. The synthetic methods have made great breakthroughs to control the pore size and volume, wall thickness, surface area, and connectivity of porous carbons, which result in the development of functional porous carbon-based composite electrode materials. The effects of porous carbons on the electrochemical properties are further discussed. The porous carbons as ideal matrixes to incorporate active materials make a great improvement on the electrochemical properties because of high surface area and pore volume, excellent electronic conductivity, and strong adsorption capacity. Large numbers of the composite electrode materials have been used for the devices of electrochemical energy conversion and storage, such as lithium-ion batteries （LIBs）, Li-S batteries, and Li-O2 batteries. It is believed that functional porous carbon-based composite electrode materials will continuously contribute to the field of lithium secondary batteries.

Study of lithium/polypyrrole secondary batteries with Lithium as cathode and polypyrrole anode

Lithium/polypyrrole （Li/PPy） batteries were fabricated using lithium sheet as cathode, PPy as anode, microporous membrane polypropylene/polyethylene/polypropylene （PP/PE/PP） composite as separator and LiPF6/ethylene carbonate-dimethyl carbonate-methyl ethyl carbonate （EC-DMC-EMC） as electrolyte. Polypyrrole was prepared by chemical polymerization. Certain fundamental electrochemical performances were investigated. Properties of the batteries were characterized and tested by SEM, galvanostatic charge/discharge tests, cyclic voltammetry （CV）, and a.c. impedance spectroscopy. The influences of separator, morphology, and conductivity of PPy anode, cold-molded pressure, and electric current on the performances of the batteries were studied. Using PP/PE/PP membranes as separator, the battery showed good storage stability and cycling property. The conductivity of materials rather than morphology affected the behavior of the battery. The higher the conductivity, the better performances the cells had. Proper cold-molded pressure 20 MPa of the anode pellet would make the properties of the cells good and the fitted charge/discharge current was 0.1 mA. The cells showed excellent performance with 97%-100% coulombic efficiency. The highest discharge capacity of 95.2 mAh/g was obtained.

Amorphous carbon-based materials as platform for advanced highperformance anodes in lithium secondary batteries

The growing concern for the exhaustion of fossil energy and the rapid revolution of electronics have created a rising demand for electrical energy storage devices with high energy density,for example,lithium secondary batteries(LSBs).With high surface area,low cost,excellent mechanical strength,and electrochemical stability,amorphous carbon-based materials(ACMs)have been widely investigated as promising platform for anode materials in the LSBs.In this review,we firstly summarize recent advances in the synthesis of the ACMs with various morphologies,ranging from zero-to three-dimensional structures.Then,the use of ACMs in Li-ion batteries and Li metal batteries is discussed respectively with the focus on the relationship between the structural features of the as-prepared ACMs and their roles in promoting electrochemical performances.Finally,the remaining challenges and the possible prospects for the use of ACMs in the LSBs are proposed to provide some useful clews for the future developments of this attractive area.

Three-in-one fire-retardant poly(phosphate)-based fast ion-conductor for all-solid-state lithium batteries

The development of flame retardant or nonflammable electrolytes is the key to improve the safety of lithium batteries,owing to inflammable organic solvents and polymer matrix in common liquid and polymer electrolytes regarded as the main cause of battery fire.Herein,a series of solid-state polyphosphate oligomers(SPPO)as a three-in-one electrolyte that integrated the roles of lithium salt,dissociation matrix,and flame retardant were synthesized.The well-designed SPPO electrolytes showed an optimal ionic conductivity of 5.5×10^(-4)S cm-1at 30℃,an acceptable electrochemical window up to 4.0 V vs.Li/Li+,and lithium ion transference number of 0.547.Stable Li-ion stripping/plating behavior for 500 h of charge-discharge cycles without internal short-circuit in a Li|SPPO|Li cell was confirmed,together with outstanding interface compatibility between the SPPO electrolyte and lithium foil.The optimal Li|SPPO|LiFePO4cell presented good reversible discharge capacity of 149.4 mA h g-1at 0.1 C and Coulombic efficiency of 96.4%after 120 cycles.More importantly,the prepared SPPO cannot be ignited by the lighter fire and show a limited-oxygen-index value as high as 35.5%,indicating splendid nonflammable nature.The SPPO could be a promising candidate as a three-in-one solid-state electrolyte for the improved safety of rechargeable lithium batteries.

THE ELECTROCHEMICAL BEHAVIOUR OF THE NEW VANADIUM BRONZE (Li_3V_5O_(15)) CATHODE IN SECONDARY LITHIUM BATTERY

A new kind of vanadium bronze with rich lithium (Li_5V_5O_(15))was prepared from Li_2CO_3 and V_2O_5 at 680℃ for 24 hrs. The charge and discharge curves of bronze electrode were determined in organic electrolyte. One mole of this material could be incorporated up to 4 mole lithium at 0.2mA/cm^2 and 1.0V cut-off voltage, corresponding capacity about 340Ah/kg. Compared with the cell of Li/Li_(1+x)V_3O_5 the cell of Li/new bronze had higher capacity, smoother discberge curve, but lower plateau voltage (about 1.8V). The cycling behaviour of this material was good. The electrode insertion reaction was controlled by the lithium diffusion process in the bronze. This new bronze could be used for low voltage rechargeable lithium battery.

Recent progresses in the suppression method based on the growth mechanism of lithium dendrite

Lithium secondary batteries（LSBs） with high energy densities need to be further developed for future applications in portable electronic devices, electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles and smart grids. Lithium metal is the most promising electrode for next-generation rechargeable batteries. However, the formation of lithium dendrite on the anode surface leads to serious safety concerns and low coulombic efficiency.Recently, researchers have made great efforts and significant progresses to solve these problems. Here we review the growth mechanism and suppression method of lithium dendrite for LSBs’ anode protection. We also establish the relationship between the growth mechanism and suppression method. The research direction for building better LSBs is given by comparing the advantages and disadvantages of these methods based on the growth mechanism.

Physics towards next generation Li secondary batteries materials:A short review from computational materials design perspective

The physics that associated with the performance of lithium secondary batteries(LSB)are reviewed.The key physical problems in LSB include the electronic conduction mechanism,kinetics and thermodynamics of lithium ion migration,electrode/electrolyte surface/interface,structural(phase)and thermodynamics stability of the electrode materials,physics of intercalation and deintercalation.The relationship between the physical/chemical nature of the LSB materials and the batteries performance is summarized and discussed.A general thread of computational materials design for LSB materials is emphasized concerning all the discussed physics problems.In order to fasten the progress of the new materials discovery and design for the next generation LSB,the Materials Genome Initiative(MGI)for LSB materials is a promising strategy and the related requirements are highlighted.

Preparation and electrochemical property of Cs0.35V2O5/Cu composite material

Cs0.35V2O5 was successfully synthesized as cathode material for lithium secondary battery by the rheological phase reaction method from Cs2CO3 and NH4VO3. The Cs0.35V2O5/Cu composite material was prepared by the displacement reaction in CuSO4 solution using zinc powder as a reductant. The structure and electrochemical property of the so-prepared powders were characterized by means of XRD （powder X-ray diffraction） and the galvanostatic discharge-charge techniques. The results show that the electrochemical property of Cs0.35V2O5/Cu composite material is significantly improved compared to the bulk Cs0.35V2O5 material. The Cs0.35V2O5/Cu composite material exhibits the first discharge capacity as high as 164.3 mAh.g -1 in the range of 4.2-1.8V at a current rate of 10 mA.g-1 and remains at a stable discharge capacity of about 110 mAh.g-1 within 40 cycles.

Synthesis and electrochemical performance of LiNi_(0.6)Co_(0.2)Mn_(0.2)O_2 as a concentration-gradient cathode material for lithium batteries

A well-ordered and spherical LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 cathode material was successfully synthesized from Ni and Mn concentration-gradient precursors via co-precipitation. The crystal structure, morphology and electrochemical properties of LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and charge-discharge tests. The material delivered an initial discharge capacity of 174.3 mAh/g at 180 mA/g （1 C rate） between 2.8 and 4.3 V and more than 93.1% of that was retained after 100 cycles. In addition, it also exhibited excellent rate capability, high cut-off voltage and temperature performance.

Synthesis and Electrochemical Performance of Spinel LiMn_2O_(4-x )(SO_4)_x Cathode Materials

The spinel LiMn_2O_(4-x)(SO_4)_x compound cathode materials were synthesizedby solid-state reaction of the calculated amounts of LiOH · H_2O, MnO_2 and MnSO_4. The results ofthe electrochemical test demonstrated that these materials exhibited excellent electrochemicalproperties. The highest reversible capacity of these series of cathode materials was ～120 mAh/g,and after 50 cycles, this reversible capacity was still around 116 mAh/g with nearly 100% reversibleefficiency, which revealed that doped sulfate ion could improve the structural stability of spinel.