Engineering two-dimensional pores in freestanding TiO_2/graphene gel film for high performance lithium ion battery

As the key component of electrochemical energy storage devices, an electrode with superior ions transport pores is the important premise for high electrochemical performance. In this paper, we developed a unique solution process to prepare freestanding TiO_2/graphene hydrogel electrode with tunable density and porous structures. By incorporating room temperature ionic liquids（RTILs）, even upon drying, the non-volatile RTILs that remained in the gel film would preserve the efficient ion transport channels and prevent the electrode from closely stacking, to develop dense yet porous structures. As a result, the dense TiO_2/graphene gel film as an electrode for lithium ion battery displayed a good gravimetric electrochemical performance and more importantly a high volumetric performance.

A review on first principles based studies for improvement of cathode material of lithium ion batteries

Lithium ion batteries（LIBs） are currently best energy storage devices providing rechargeable electrical storage to wide variety of applications – from portable electronics to automobiles. Though, these batteries are fully adopted, widely used and commercialized, but researchers are still extensively working on their constituent materials and developing technology to improve their performance. A major part of related research activities is devoted to the electrode of the battery for improvement in its performance thereby addressing issues like safety, lifetime, specific capacity, energy density and most importantly abundance and cost. There are number of cathode materials that have been proposed and tested at laboratory scale and subsequently utilized in commercialized batteries ever since the appearance of LIBs. Owing to the availability of improved computational resources in the last decade, first principles calculation has become a reliable tool and played a vital role to predict the material properties of electrodes prior to their experimental analysis. This review gives a comprehensive insight and thorough analysis of the global research efforts related to the cathode materials based on first principles framework, sheds light on current status of knowledge and explores the ways forward.

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.

Free-standing porous carbon electrodes derived from wood for high-performance Li-O2 battery applications

Porous carbon materials are widely used in particulate forms for energy applications such as fuel cells, batteries, and （super） capacitors. To better hold the particles together, polymeric additives are utilized as binders, which not only increase the weight and volume of the devices, but also cause adverse side effects. We developed a wood-derived, free-standing porous carbon electrode and successfully applied it as a cathode in Li-O2 batteries. The spontaneously formed hierarchical porous structure exhibits good performance in facilitating the mass transport and hosting the discharge products of Li202. Heteroatom （N） doping further improves the catalytic activity of the carbon cathode with lower overpotential and higher capacity. Overall, the Li-O2 battery based on the new carbon cathode affords a stable energy efficiency of 65% and can be operated for 20 cycles at a discharge depth of 70%. The wood-derived free-standing carbon represents a new, unique structure for energy applications.

A novel scrape-applied method for the manufacture of the membrane-electrode assembly of the fuel-cell system

This study investigates the transfer of the scrape-applied method from the electrodes of a lithium battery to the membrane-electrode assembly of fuel cells, including Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells and Direct Methanol Fuel Cell. Three methods are commonly used to manufacture lithium battery electrodes： the roller-applied method, the spraying-applied method, and the scrape-applied method. This study develops novel scrape-applied equip- ment for lithium battery electrodes. This method is novel and suitable for producing fuel cell, better than other tradi- tional methods. In this study, the stability of coating process was tested by measuring the weight and thickness of a dry electrode. The stability and reproducibility of electrode fab- rication were examined by systematic data analysis. Finally, the study used a specially designed single cell composed of 16 conductive segments, which are insulated locally. The current passing through each segment was measured using Hall Effect sensors connected to the segment compartments. Based on the measured distribution of the local current in a segmented single cell, the influence of flooding and stoi- chiometry variation of feed gas was discussed in terms of electrochemical reaction rate. The experimental results serve as an important basis for future research in this field, which hold potential benefits to the academia and the industry.