Toward solid-state Li-air batteries; an SOFC perspective of solid 3D architectures, heterogeneous interfaces, and oxygen exchange kinetics.

The full electrification of transportation will require batteries with both 3-5× higher energy densities and a lower cost than what is available in the market today. Energy densities of >1000 W h kg will enable electrification of air transport and are among the very few technologies capable of achieving this energy density. Li-O or Li-air are theoretically able to achieve this energy density and are also capable of reducing the cost of batteries by replacing expensive supply chain constrained cathode materials with "free" air.

Microwave-Assisted Fabrication of High Energy Density Binary Metal Sulfides for Enhanced Performance in Battery Applications.

Nanomaterials have found use in a number of relevant energy applications. In particular, nanoscale motifs of binary metal sulfides can function as conversion materials, similar to that of analogous metal oxides, nitrides, or phosphides, and are characterized by their high theoretical capacity and correspondingly low cost. This review focuses on structure-composition-property relationships of specific relevance to battery applications, emanating from systematic attempts to either (1) vary and alter the dimension of nanoscale architectures or (2) introduce conductive carbon-based entities, such as carbon nanotubes and graphene-derived species.

Impact of sodium vanadium oxide (NaVO, NVO) material synthesis conditions on charge storage mechanism in Zn-ion aqueous batteries.

The electrochemical charge storage of sodium vanadate (NaVO or NVO) cathodes in aqueous Zn-ion batteries has been hypothesized to be influenced by the inclusion of structural water for facilitating ion transfer in the material. Materials properties considered important (morphology, crystallite and particle size, surface area) are systematically studied herein through investigation of two NVO materials, NaVO·0.34HO [NVO(300)] and NaVO·0.

Defect Control in the Synthesis of 2 D MoS Nanosheets: Polysulfide Trapping in Composite Sulfur Cathodes for Li-S Batteries.

One of the inherent challenges with Li-S batteries is polysulfide dissolution, in which soluble polysulfide species can contribute to the active material loss from the cathode and undergo shuttling reactions inhibiting the ability to effectively charge the battery. Prior theoretical studies have proposed the possible benefit of defective 2 D MoS materials as polysulfide trapping agents. Herein the synthesis and thorough characterization of hydrothermally prepared MoS nanosheets that vary in layer number, morphology, lateral size, and defect content are reported.

Insights into Reactivity of Silicon Negative Electrodes: Analysis Using Isothermal Microcalorimetry.

Silicon offers high theoretical capacity as a negative electrode material for lithium-ion batteries; however, high irreversible capacity upon initial cycling and poor cycle life have limited commercial adoption. Herein, we report an operando isothermal microcalorimetry (IMC) study of a model system containing lithium metal and silicon composite film electrodes during the first two cycles of (de)lithiation. The total heat flow data are analyzed in terms of polarization, entropic, and parasitic heat flow contributions to quantify and determine the onset of parasitic reactions.