Preparation of lithium-ion battery anode materials from graphitized spent carbon cathode derived from aluminum electrolysis

Graphitized spent carbon cathode(SCC)is a hazardous solid waste generated in the aluminum electrolysis process.In this study,a flotation-acid leaching process is proposed for the purification of graphitized SCC,and the use of the purified SCC as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries is explored.The flotation and acid leaching processes were separately optimized through one-way experiments.The maximum SCC carbon content(93wt%)was achieved at a 90%proportion of−200-mesh flotation particle size,a slurry concentration of 10wt%,a rotation speed of 1600 r/min,and an inflatable capacity of 0.2 m^(3)/h(referred to as FSCC).In the subsequent acid leaching process,the SCC carbon content reached 99.58wt%at a leaching concentration of 5 mol/L,a leaching time of 100 min,a leaching temperature of 85°C,and an HCl/FSCC volume ratio of 5:1.The purified graphitized SCC(referred to as FSCC-CL)was utilized as an anode material,and it exhibited an initial capacity of 348.2 mAh/g at 0.1 C and a reversible capacity of 347.8 mAh/g after 100 cycles.Moreover,compared with commercial graphite,FSCC-CL exhibited better reversibility and cycle stability.Thus,purified SCC is an important candidate for anode material,and the flotation-acid leaching purification method is suitable for the resourceful recycling of SCC.

High-performance Zn-graphite battery based on LiPF6 single-salt electrolyte with high working voltage and long cycling life

Zinc-ion batteries(ZIBs) are promising alternative energy storage devices to lithium-ion batteries owing to the merits of large abundance,high theoretical capacity,and environmental friendliness.However,critical challenges including low working voltage(below 2 V),low energy density as well as dendrites formation during long cycling caused by aqueous ZIB systems still hinder their practical applications.Herein,a high-voltage Zn-graphite battery(ZGB) based on a non-zinc ion single-salt electrolyte(2.5 M LiPF6 in carbonate solvent) is developed.Moreover,we surprisingly found that Zn^(2+) is dissolved in the LiPF6 single-salt electrolyte during resting and discharging processes,thus enabling reversible Zn plating/stripping mechanism on the Zn foil anode in the ZGB over the voltage window of 1.0-3.1 V.As a result,the ZGB achieves long-term cycling performance with a capacity retention of ~100% for over1200 cycles at 3 C and high Coulombic efficiency of ~100% in 1.0-3.1 V with no dendrites formation.Moreover,the ZGB exhibits a high working voltage of up to 2.2 V,thus contributing to both high energy density(up to 210 Wh kg^(-1)) and high power density(up to 1013 W kg^(-1)),superior than most reported ZIBs.

Anion-hosting cathodes for current and late-stage dual-ion batteries

Anion-hosting cathodes capable of reversibly storing large-size anions play a leading role in dual-ion batteries(DIBs). The purpose of the present review is to summarize the most promising anion-hosting cathodes for current and late-stage DIBs. This review first summarizes the developments in conventional graphite cathodes, especially the latest advances in the graphiterelated research. Next, organic cathodes for the anion storage are discussed, including aromatic amine polymers, heterocyclic polymers, bipolar compounds, and all-carbon-unsaturated compounds. Then, the review focuses on the conversion-type cathodes with high theoretical specific capacities. Finally, the future research directions of the cathodes of DIBs are proposed.

Explosive-Emission Plasma Dynamics in Ion Diode in Double-Pulse Mode

The results of an experimental investigation of explosive-emission plasma dynamics in an ion diode with self-magnetic insulation are presented. The investigations were accomplished at the TEMP-4M accelerator set in a mode of double pulse formation. Plasma behaviour in the anode-cathode gap was analyzed according to both the current-voltage characteristics of the diode （time resolution of 0.5 ns） and thermal imprints on a target （spatial resolution of 0.8 mm）. It was shown that when plasma formation at the potential electrode was complete, and up until the second （positive） pulse, the explosive-emission plasma expanded across the anode-cathode gap with a speed of 1.3±0.2 cm/μs. After the voltage polarity at the potential electrode was reversed （second pulse）, the plasma erosion in the anode-cathode gap （similar to the effect of a plasma opening switch） occurred. During the generation of an ion beam the size of the anode-cathode gap spacing was determined by the thickness of the plasma layer on the potential electrode and the layer thickness of the electrons drifting along the grounded electrode.

Field emission characteristics of nano-diamond cathode surface by graphitization pretreatment

Cathode samples of nano-diamond by graphitization pretreatment with different temperatures were fabricated by electrophoresis, then the structures and morphologies of the cathode samples were characterized by scanning electron microscope(SEM) and X-ray diffraction(XRD), and the field emission tests were conducted. The effects of graphitization pretreatment on the field emission characteristics of nano-diamond cathode surface on titanium substrate are studied. The results indicate that the surface morphologies of nano-diamond cathode samples after graphitization pretreatment change a lot, and the field emission characteristics in low-voltage area are improved obviously. However, in high-voltage area, the curve distortion happens, and it doesn't conform the mechanism of field emission characteristics.

Electro-catalyzed multicomponent transformation of 3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5(4H)-one to 1,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives in green medium

An efficient and convenient synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives is described,using the electrogenerated anion of ethanol as the base in the presence of sodium bromide as an supporting electrolyte in a one-pot, three component condensation of malononitrile, aromatic aldehydes and 3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5（4H）-one. The reaction is carried out in an undivided cell containing an iron electrode as the cathode and a graphite electrode as the anode, at a constant current at room temperature.