Battery-Free Power Supply for Wireless Sensor Combining Photovoltaic Cells and Supercapacitors

This article exhibits the sizing, modelling, and characterization of a power supply (output 3.3 V, 200 mA max, 11 days full autonomy) dedicated to powering a wireless sensor node without a battery but usable as simply as with a battery. This system is modular for various light levels (indoor and outdoor). It is easily integrable into a sensor node, using only commercial circuits. The choices of the photovoltaic surface (amorphous silicon, η 5%, 35 cm2) and of the supercapacitors value (2x 25F, 2.7 V) are explained for permanent operation, considering the solar potential and the consumption. An original part of the paper is devoted to the issue of the startup, in which we demonstrate that after a particular preload, once installed, the device can start on request at the desired time (within 15 days) using as a trigger any light source, such as the LED of a mobile phone.

Understanding the Li diffusion mechanism and positive effect of current collector volume expansion in anode free batteries

In anode free batteries(AFBs), the current collector acts as anode simultaneously and has large volume expansion which is generally considered as a negative effect decreasing the structural stability of a battery. Moreover, despite many studies on the fast lithium diffusion in the current collector materials of AFB such as copper and aluminum, the involved Li diffusion mechanism in these materials remains poorly understood. Through first-principles calculation and stress-assisted diffusion equations, here we study the Li diffusion mechanism in several current collectors and related alloys and clarify the effect of volume expansion on Li diffusion respectively. It is suggested that due to the lower Li migration barriers in aluminum and tin, they should be more suitable to be used as AFB anodes, compared to copper, silver, and lead. The Li diffusion facilitation in copper with a certain number of vacancies is proposed to explain why the use of copper with a thickness≤100 nm as the protective coating on the anode improves the lifetime of the batteries. We show that the volume expansion has a positive effect on Li diffusion via mechanical–electrochemical coupling. Namely, the volume expansion caused by Li diffusion will further induce stress which in turn affects the diffusion. These findings not only provide in-depth insight into the operating principle of AFBs, but also open a new route toward design of improved anode through utilizing the positive effect of mechanical–electrochemical coupling.

Host-guest supramolecular interaction behavior at the interface between anode and electrolyte for long life Zn anode

The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and dendrite growth associated with Zn anode have become the main bottlenecks for the further development of zinc ion batteries (ZIBs).In this work,the electrochemical activity of H_(3)O^(+) is inhibited by the supramolecular host–guest complex composed of H_(3)O^(+) as guest and 18-crown-6 as host.The even Zn plating is induced by the host–guest complex electrostatic shielding layer on Zn anode,as detected by in-situ optical microscopy.The lamellar Zn is plated which profits from the improved Zn plating behavior.Density functional theory (DFT) calculation presents the stable structure of complex.The less produced H_(2) content is monitored online by a mass spectrometer during Zn plating/stripping,which indicates HER can be hampered by the host–guest behavior.Thus,the ZIBs with long life and high Coulombic efficiency are achieved via introducing 18-crown-6.The proposed host–guest supramolecular interaction is expected to facilitate the furthermore development of Zn batteries.

Entropy change-induced elastic softening of lithiated materials

To understand the ＂elastic softening＂ of Li-Si alloys for the development of Li-ion batteries, the effect of stress-induced change of entropy on the mechanical properties of lithiated materials is examined within the theories of thermodynamics and linear elasticity, An approach is presented whereby the change of Gibbs free energy is governed by the change of the mixture entropy due to stress-induced migration of mobile atoms, from which the contribution of the change of the mixture entropy to the apparent elastic modulus of lithiated materials is determined. The reciprocal of the apparent elastic modulus of a lithiated material is a linear function of the concentration of mobile Li-atoms at a stress-free state and the square of the mismatch strain per unit mole fraction of mobile Li-atoms.

Microfibrillated Cellulose Based Ink for Eco-Sustainable Screen Printed Flexible Electrodes in Lithium Ion Batteries

Free organic solvent ink containing graphite, carboxymethyl cellulose and microfibrillated cellulose as active material, dispersing and binder, respectively, has been formulated to produce flexible and eco- sustainable electrodes for lithium ion batteries. Content ratio of components and dispersion protocol were tailored in order to have theological properties suitable for a large and cheap manufacturing process as well as screen printing. The bio-sourced printed electrodes exhibit a high porosity value of 70% that limits the electrochemical performances. However, the calendering process enhances electrode performances by increasing the reversible capacity from 85 until 315 mAh/g and reducing porosity to an optimal value of 34%. Moreover the introduction of 2% w/w of monofluoro-ethylene carbonate in the electrolyte reduced their reversible capacity loss of 11% in the printed electrode.