Concurrent hetero-/homo-geneous electrocatalysts to bi-phasically mediate sulfur species for lithium-sulfur batteries

Expediting redox kinetics of sulfur species on conductive scaffolds with limited charge accessible surface is considered as an imperative approach to realize energy-dense and power-intensive lithium-sulfur(Li-S)batteries.In this work,the concept of concurrent hetero-/homo-geneous electrocatalysts is proposed to simultaneously mediate liquid-solid conversion of lithium polysulfides(LiPSs)and solid lithium disulfide/sulfide(Li_(2)S_(2)/Li_(2)S)propagation,the latter of which suffers from sluggish reduction kinetics due to buried conductive scaffold surface by extensive deposition of Li_(2)S_(2)/Li_(2)S.The selected model material to verify this concept is a two-in-one catalyst:carbon nanotube(CNT)scaffold supported iron-cobalt(Fe-Co)alloy nanoparticles and partially carbonized selenium(C-Se)component.The Fe-Co alloy serves as a heterogeneous electrocatalyst to seed Li_(2)S_(2)/Li_(2)S through sulphifilic active sites,while the C-Se sustainably releases soluble lithium polyselenides and functions as a homogeneous electrocatalyst to propagate Li_(2)S_(2)/Li_(2)S via solution pathways.Such bi-phasic mediation of the sulfur species benefits reduction kinetics of LiPS conversion,especially for the massive Li_(2)S_(2)/Li_(2)S growth scenario by affording an additional solution directed route in case of conductive surface being largely buried.This strategy endows the Li-S batteries with improved cycling stability(836 mA h g^(-1)after 180 cycles),rate capability(547 mA h g^(-1)at 4 C)and high sulfur loading superiority(2.96 mA h cm^(-2)at 2.4 mg cm^(-2)).This work hopes to enlighten the employment of bi-phasic electrocatalysts to dictate liquid-solid transformation of intermediates for conversion chemistry batteries.

Insight into demand-driven preparation of single-atomic mediators for lithium–sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur(Li-S) batteries have attracted considerable attention as one of the most appealing energy storage systems.Strenuous efforts have been devoted to tackling the tremendous challenges,mainly pertaining to the severe shuttle effect,sluggish redox kinetics and lithium dendritic growth.Single-atomic mediators as promising candidates exhibit impressive performance in addressing these intractable issues.Related research often utilizes a trial-and-error approach,proposing solutions to fabricate single-atomic materials with diversified features.However,comprehensive review articles especially targeting demand-driven preparation are still in a nascent stage.Inspired by these considerations,this review summarizes the design of single-atomic mediators based on the application case-studies in LiS batteries and other metal-sulfur systems.Emerging preparation routes represented by chemical vapor deposition technology are introduced in a demand-oriented classification.Finally,future research directions are proposed to foster the advancement of single-atomic mediators in Li-S realm.

A Review on Engineering Design for Enhancing Interfacial Contact in Solid-State Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

The utilization of solid-state electrolytes(SSEs)presents a promising solution to the issues of safety concern and shuttle effect in Li–S batteries,which has garnered significant interest recently.However,the high interfacial impedances existing between the SSEs and the electrodes(both lithium anodes and sulfur cathodes)hinder the charge transfer and intensify the uneven deposition of lithium,which ultimately result in insufficient capacity utilization and poor cycling stability.Hence,the reduction of interfacial resistance between SSEs and electrodes is of paramount importance in the pursuit of efficacious solid-state batteries.In this review,we focus on the experimental strategies employed to enhance the interfacial contact between SSEs and electrodes,and summarize recent progresses of their applications in solidstate Li–S batteries.Moreover,the challenges and perspectives of rational interfacial design in practical solid-state Li–S batteries are outlined as well.We expect that this review will provide new insights into the further technique development and practical applications of solid-state lithium batteries.

A Review on Engineering Transition Metal Compound Catalysts to Accelerate the Redox Kinetics of Sulfur Cathodes for Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Engineering transition metal compounds(TMCs)catalysts with excellent adsorption-catalytic ability has been one of the most effec-tive strategies to accelerate the redox kinetics of sulfur cathodes.Herein,this review focuses on engineering TMCs catalysts by cation doping/anion doping/dual doping,bimetallic/bi-anionic TMCs,and TMCs-based heterostructure composites.It is obvious that introducing cations/anions to TMCs or constructing heterostructure can boost adsorption-catalytic capacity by regulating the electronic structure including energy band,d/p-band center,electron filling,and valence state.Moreover,the elec-tronic structure of doped/dual-ionic TMCs are adjusted by inducing ions with different electronegativity,electron filling,and ion radius,resulting in electron redistribution,bonds reconstruction,induced vacancies due to the electronic interaction and changed crystal structure such as lat-tice spacing and lattice distortion.Different from the aforementioned two strategies,heterostructures are constructed by two types of TMCs with different Fermi energy levels,which causes built-in electric field and electrons transfer through the interface,and induces electron redistribution and arranged local atoms to regulate the electronic structure.Additionally,the lacking studies of the three strategies to comprehensively regulate electronic structure for improving catalytic performance are pointed out.It is believed that this review can guide the design of advanced TMCs catalysts for boosting redox of lithium sulfur batteries.

Engineering Strategies for Suppressing the Shuttle Effect in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Lithium–sulfur(Li–S)batteries are supposed to be one of the most potential next-generation batteries owing to their high theoretical capacity and low cost.Nevertheless,the shuttle effect of firm multi-step two-electron reaction between sulfur and lithium in liquid electrolyte makes the capacity much smaller than the theoretical value.Many methods were proposed for inhibiting the shuttle effect of polysulfide,improving corresponding redox kinetics and enhancing the integral performance of Li–S batteries.Here,we will comprehensively and systematically summarize the strategies for inhibiting the shuttle effect from all components of Li–S batteries.First,the electrochemical principles/mechanism and origin of the shuttle effect are described in detail.Moreover,the efficient strategies,including boosting the sulfur conversion rate of sulfur,confining sulfur or lithium polysulfides(LPS)within cathode host,confining LPS in the shield layer,and preventing LPS from contacting the anode,will be discussed to suppress the shuttle effect.Then,recent advances in inhibition of shuttle effect in cathode,electrolyte,separator,and anode with the aforementioned strategies have been summarized to direct the further design of efficient materials for Li–S batteries.Finally,we present prospects for inhibition of the LPS shuttle and potential development directions in Li–S batteries.

Selective leaching of lithium from spent lithium-ion batteries using sulfuric acid and oxalic acid

Traditional hydrometallurgical methods for recovering spent lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)involve acid leaching to simultaneously extract all valuable metals into the leachate.These methods usually are followed by a series of separation steps such as precipitation,extraction,and stripping to separate the individual valuable metals.In this study,we present a process for selectively leaching lithium through the synergistic effect of sulfuric and oxalic acids.Under optimal leaching conditions(leaching time of 1.5 h,leaching temperature of 70°C,liquid-solid ratio of 4 mL/g,oxalic acid ratio of 1.3,and sulfuric acid ratio of 1.3),the lithium leaching efficiency reached89.6%,and the leaching efficiencies of Ni,Co,and Mn were 12.8%,6.5%,and 21.7%.X-ray diffraction(XRD)and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer(ICP-OES)analyses showed that most of the Ni,Co,and Mn in the raw material remained as solid residue oxides and oxalates.This study offers a new approach to enriching the relevant theory for selectively recovering lithium from spent LIBs.

Toward high-sulfur-content,high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries:Review of materials and technologies

Lithium sulfur batteries(LSBs)are recognized as promising devices for developing next-generation energy storage systems.In addition,they are attractive rechargeable battery systems for replacing lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)for commercial use owing to their higher theoretical energy density and lower cost compared to those of LIBs.However,LSBs are still beset with some persistent issues that prevent them from being used industrially,such as the unavoidable dissolution of lithium polysulfide intermediates during electrochemical reactions and large volume expansion(up to 80%)upon the formation of Li_(2)S,resulting in serious battery life and safety limitations.In the process of solving these problems,it is necessary to maintain a high sulfur content in the cathode materials to ensure that the LSBs have high energy densities and excellent cycle performance.In this review,the novel preparation methods and cathode materials used for preparing LSBs in recent years are reviewed considering the sulfur content and cycle performance.In addition,the problems and difficulties in practically applying cathode materials are described,and the development trend is discussed.

From Liquid to Solid‑State Lithium Metal Batteries:Fundamental Issues and Recent Developments

The widespread adoption of lithium-ion batteries has been driven by the proliferation of portable electronic devices and electric vehicles,which have increasingly stringent energy density requirements.Lithium metal batteries(LMBs),with their ultralow reduction potential and high theoretical capacity,are widely regarded as the most promising technical pathway for achieving high energy density batteries.In this review,we provide a comprehensive overview of fundamental issues related to high reactivity and migrated interfaces in LMBs.Furthermore,we propose improved strategies involving interface engineering,3D current collector design,electrolyte optimization,separator modification,application of alloyed anodes,and external field regulation to address these challenges.The utilization of solid-state electrolytes can significantly enhance the safety of LMBs and represents the only viable approach for advancing them.This review also encompasses the variation in fundamental issues and design strategies for the transition from liquid to solid electrolytes.Particularly noteworthy is that the introduction of SSEs will exacerbate differences in electrochemical and mechanical properties at the interface,leading to increased interface inhomogeneity—a critical factor contributing to failure in all-solidstate lithium metal batteries.Based on recent research works,this perspective highlights the current status of research on developing high-performance LMBs.

Aqueous electrochemical delithiation of cathode materials as a strategy to selectively recover lithium from waste lithium-ion batteries

Lithium recovery from end-of-life Li-ion batteries(LIBs)through pyro-and hydrometallurgical recycling processes involves several refining stages,with high consumption of reagents and energy.A competitive technological alternative is the electrochemical oxidation of the cathode materials,whereby lithium can be deintercalated and transferred to an electrolyte solution without the aid of chemical extracting compounds.This article investigates the potential to selectively recover Li from LIB cathode materials by direct electrochemical extraction in aqueous solutions.The process allowed to recovering up to 98%of Li from high-purity commercial cathode materials(LiMn_(2)O_(4),LiCoO_(2),and Li Ni_(1/3)Mn_(1/3)Co_(1/3)O_(2))with a faradaic efficiency of 98%and negligible co-extraction of Co,Ni,and Mn.The process was then applied to recover Li from the real waste LIBs black mass obtained by the physical treatment of electric vehicle battery packs.This black mass contained graphite,conductive carbon,and metal impurities from current collectors and steel cases,which significantly influenced the evolution and performances of Li electrochemical extraction.Particularly,due to concomitant oxidation of impurities,lithium extraction yields and faradaic efficiencies were lower than those obtained with high-purity cathode materials.Copper oxidation was found to occur within the voltage range investigated,but it could not quantitatively explain the reduced Li extraction performances.In fact,a detailed investigation revealed that above 1.3 V vs.Ag/Ag Cl,conductive carbon can be oxidized,contributing to the decreased Li extraction.Based on the reported experimental results,guidelines were provided that quantitatively enable the extraction of Li from the black mass,while preventing the simultaneous oxidation of impurities and,consequently,reducing the energy consumption of the proposed Li recovery method.

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.

Pyrometallurgical recycling of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries

The global importance of lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)has been increasingly underscored with the advancement of high-performance energy storage technologies.However,the end-of-life of these batteries poses significant challenges from environmental,economic,and resource management perspectives.This review paper focuses on the pyrometallurgy-based recycling process of lithium-ion batteries,exploring the fundamental understanding of this process and the importance of its optimization.Centering on the high energy consumption and emission gas issues of the pyrometallurgical recycling process,we systematically analyzed the capital-intensive nature of this process and the resulting technological characteristics.Furthermore,we conducted an in-depth discussion on the future research directions to overcome the existing technological barriers and limitations.This review will provide valuable insights for researchers and industry stakeholders in the battery recycling field.

Enabling an Inorganic-Rich Interface via Cationic Surfactant for High-Performance Lithium Metal Batteries

An anion-rich electric double layer(EDL)region is favorable for fabricating an inorganic-rich solid-electrolyte interphase(SEI)towards stable lithium metal anode in ester electrolyte.Herein,cetyltrimethylammonium bromide(CTAB),a cationic surfactant,is adopted to draw more anions into EDL by ionic interactions that shield the repelling force on anions during lithium plating.In situ electrochemical surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy results combined with molecular dynamics simulations validate the enrichment of NO_(3)^(−)/FSI−anions in the EDL region due to the positively charged CTA^(+).In-depth analysis of SEI structure by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry results confirmed the formation of the inorganic-rich SEI,which helps improve the kinetics of Li^(+)transfer,lower the charge transfer activation energy,and homogenize Li deposition.As a result,the Li||Li symmetric cell in the designed electrolyte displays a prolongated cycling time from 500 to 1300 h compared to that in the blank electrolyte at 0.5 mA cm^(-2) with a capacity of 1 mAh cm^(-2).Moreover,Li||LiFePO_(4) and Li||LiCoO_(2) with a high cathode mass loading of>10 mg cm^(-2) can be stably cycled over 180 cycles.

Review on current development of polybenzimidazole membrane for lithium battery

With the rapid development of portable technology,lithium batteries have emerged as potential candidates for high-performance energy storage systems owing to their high energy density and cycling stability.Among the key components of a lithium battery system,the separator plays a critical role as it directly influences the battery performance benchmark(cycling performance and safety).However,traditional polyolefin separators(polypropylene/polyethylene)are unable to meet the demands of highperformance and safer battery systems due to their poor electrolyte compatibility,thermal runaways,and ultimate growth of dendrites.In contrast,membranes fabricated using polybenzimidazole(PBI)exhibit excellent electrolyte wettability and outstanding thermal dimensional stability,thus holding great potential as separators for high-performance and high-safety batteries.In this paper,we present a comprehensive review of the general requirements for separators,synthesis technology for separators,and research trends focusing PBI membranes in lithium batteries to alleviate the current commercial challenges faced by conventional polyolefin separators.In addition,we discuss the future development direction for PBI battery separators by considering various factors such as production cost,ecological footprint,preparation technology,and battery component compatibility.By exploring these perspectives,we aim to promote the continued application and exploration of PBI-based materials to advance lithium battery technology.

Inherent thermal-responsive strategies for safe lithium batteries

Safe batteries are the basis for next-generation application scenarios such as portable energy storage devices and electric vehicles,which are crucial to achieving carbon neutralization.Electrolytes,separators,and electrodes as main components of lithium batteries strongly affect the occurrence of safety accidents.Responsive materials,which can respond to external stimuli or environmental change,have triggered extensive attentions recently,holding great promise in facilitating safe and smart batteries.This review thoroughly discusses recent advances regarding the construction of high-safety lithium batteries based on internal thermal-responsive strategies,together with the corresponding changes in electrochemical performance under external stimulus.Furthermore,the existing challenges and outlook for the design of safe batteries are presented,creating valuable insights and proposing directions for the practical implementation of safe lithium batteries.

All-Solid-State Thin-Film Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Lithium-sulfur(Li-S)system coupled with thin-film solid electrolyte as a novel high-energy micro-battery has enormous potential for complementing embedded energy harvesters to enable the autonomy of the Internet of Things microdevice.However,the volatility in high vacuum and intrinsic sluggish kinetics of S hinder researchers from empirically integrating it into allsolid-state thin-film batteries,leading to inexperience in fabricating all-solid-state thin-film Li-S batteries(TFLSBs).Herein,for the first time,TFLSBs have been successfully constructed by stacking vertical graphene nanosheets-Li2S(VGsLi2S)composite thin-film cathode,lithium-phosphorous-oxynitride(LiPON)thin-film solid electrolyte,and Li metal anode.Fundamentally eliminating Lipolysulfide shuttle effect and maintaining a stable VGs-Li2S/LiPON interface upon prolonged cycles have been well identified by employing the solid-state Li-S system with an“unlimited Li”reservoir,which exhibits excellent longterm cycling stability with a capacity retention of 81%for 3,000 cycles,and an exceptional high temperature tolerance up to 60℃.More impressively,VGs-Li2S-based TFLSBs with evaporated-Li thin-film anode also demonstrate outstanding cycling performance over 500 cycles with a high Coulombic efficiency of 99.71%.Collectively,this study presents a new development strategy for secure and high-performance rechargeable all-solid-state thin-film batteries.

Atomically Dispersed Ruthenium Catalysts with Open Hollow Structure for Lithium-Oxygen Batteries

Lithium–oxygen battery with ultrahigh theoretical energy density is considered a highly competitive next-generation energy storage device,but its practical application is severely hindered by issues such as difficult decomposition of discharge products at present.Here,we have developed N-doped carbon anchored atomically dispersed Ru sites cathode catalyst with open hollow structure(h-RuNC)for Lithium–oxygen battery.On one hand,the abundance of atomically dispersed Ru sites can effectively catalyze the formation and decomposition of discharge products,thereby greatly enhancing the redox kinetics.On the other hand,the open hollow structure not only enhances the mass activity of atomically dispersed Ru sites but also improves the diffusion efficiency of catalytic molecules.Therefore,the excellent activity from atomically dispersed Ru sites and the enhanced diffusion from open hollow structure respectively improve the redox kinetics and cycling stability,ultimately achieving a high-performance lithium–oxygen battery.

Recovery of Li, Ni, Co and Mn from spent lithium-ion batteries assisted by organic acids: Process optimization and leaching mechanism

The proper recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)can promote the recovery and utilization of valuable resources,while also negative environmental effects resulting from the presence of toxic and hazardous substances.In this study,a new environmentally friendly hydro-metallurgical process was proposed for leaching lithium(Li),nickel(Ni),cobalt(Co),and manganese(Mn)from spent LIBs using sulfuric acid with citric acid as a reductant.The effects of the concentration of sulfuric acid,the leaching temperature,the leaching time,the solid-liquid ratio,and the reducing agent dosage on the leaching behavior of the above elements were investigated.Key parameters were optimized using response surface methodology(RSM)to maximize the recovery of metals from spent LIBs.The maxim-um recovery efficiencies of Li,Ni,Co,and Mn can reach 99.08%,98.76%,98.33%,and 97.63%.under the optimized conditions(the sulfuric acid concentration was 1.16 mol/L,the citric acid dosage was 15wt%,the solid-liquid ratio was 40 g/L,and the temperature was 83℃ for 120 min),respectively.It was found that in the collaborative leaching process of sulfuric acid and citric acid,the citric acid initially provided strong reducing CO_(2)^(-),and the transition metal ions in the high state underwent a reduction reaction to produce transition metal ions in the low state.Additionally,citric acid can also act as a proton donor and chelate with lower-priced transition metal ions,thus speeding up the dissolution process.

Sulfide-Based All-Solid-State Lithium-Sulfur Batteries:Challenges and Perspectives

Lithium-sulfur batteries with liquid electrolytes have been obstructed by severe shuttle effects and intrinsic safety concerns.Introducing inorganic solid-state electrolytes into lithium-sulfur systems is believed as an effective approach to eliminate these issues without sacrificing the high-energy density,which determines sulfidebased all-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries.However,the lack of design principles for high-performance composite sulfur cathodes limits their further application.The sulfur cathode regulation should take several factors including the intrinsic insulation of sulfur,well-designed conductive networks,integrated sulfur-electrolyte interfaces,and porous structure for volume expansion,and the correlation between these factors into account.Here,we summarize the challenges of regulating composite sulfur cathodes with respect to ionic/electronic diffusions and put forward the corresponding solutions for obtaining stable positive electrodes.In the last section,we also outlook the future research pathways of architecture sulfur cathode to guide the develop high-performance all-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries.

Bifunctional TiO_(2-x)nanofibers enhanced gel polymer electrolyte for high performance lithium metal batteries

Exploration of advanced gel polymer electrolytes(GPEs)represents a viable strategy for mitigating dendritic lithium(Li)growth,which is crucial in ensuring the safe operation of high energy density Li metal batteries(LMBs).Despite this,the application of GPEs is still hindered by inadequate ionic conductivity,low Li^(+)transference number,and subpar physicochemical properties.Herein,Ti O_(2-x)nanofibers(NF)with oxygen vacancy defects were synthesized by a one-step process as inorganic fillers to enhance the thermal/mechanical/ionic-transportation performances of composite GPEs.Various characterizations and theoretical calculations reveal that the oxygen vacancies on the surface of Ti O_(2-x)NF accelerate the dissociation of Li PF_6,promote the rapid transfer of free Li^(+),and influence the formation of Li F-enriched solid electrolyte interphase.Consequently,the composite GPEs demonstrate enhanced ionic conductivity(1.90m S cm^(-1)at room temperature),higher lithium-ion transference number(0.70),wider electrochemical stability window(5.50 V),superior mechanical strength,excellent thermal stability(210℃),and improved compatibility with lithium,resulting in superior cycling stability and rate performance in both Li||Li,Li||Li Fe PO_(4),and Li||Li Ni_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2)cells.Overall,the synergistic influence of nanofiber morphology and enriched oxygen vacancy structure of fillers on electrochemical properties of composite GPEs is comprehensively investigated,thus,it is anticipated to shed new light on designing high-performance GPEs LMBs.

Dual-single-atoms of Pt-Co boost sulfur redox kinetics for ultrafast Li-S batteries

Applications of lithium-sulfur(Li-S)batteries are still limited by the sluggish conversion kinetics from polysulfide to Li_(2)S.Although various single-atom catalysts are available for improving the conversion kinetics,the sulfur redox kinetics for Li-S batteries is still not ultrafast.Herein,in this work,a catalyst with dual-single-atom Pt-Co embedded in N-doped carbon nanotubes(Pt&Co@NCNT)was proposed by the atomic layer deposition method to suppress the shuttle effect and synergistically improve the interconversion kinetics from polysulfides to Li_(2)S.The X-ray absorption near edge curves indicated the reversible conversion of Li_(2)Sx on the S/Pt&Co@NCNT electrode.Meanwhile,density functional theory demonstrated that the Pt&Co@NCNT promoted the free energy of the phase transition of sulfur species and reduced the oxidative decomposition energy of Li_(2)S.As a result,the batteries assembled with S/Pt&Co@NCNT electrodes exhibited a high capacity retention of 80%at 100 cycles at a current density of 1.3 mA cm^(−2)(S loading:2.5 mg cm^(−2)).More importantly,an excellent rate performance was achieved with a high capacity of 822.1 mAh g^(−1) at a high current density of 12.7 mA cm^(−2).This work opens a new direction to boost the sulfur redox kinetics for ultrafast Li-S batteries.