Xuanxuan Bi

New Insights into the Instability of Discharge Products in Na-O2 Batteries.

Sodium-oxygen batteries currently stimulate extensive research due to their high theoretical energy density and improved operational stability when compared to lithium-oxygen batteries. Cell stability, however, needs to be demonstrated also under resting conditions before future implementation of these batteries. In this work we analyze the effect of resting periods on the stability of the sodium superoxide (NaO2) discharge product. The instability of NaO2 in the cell environment is demonstrated leading to the evolution of oxygen during the resting period and the decrease of the cell efficiency. In addition, migration of the superoxide anion (O2(-)) in the electrolyte is observed and demonstrated to be an important factor affecting Coulombic efficiency.

An Effectively Activated Hierarchical Nano‐/Microspherical Li1.2Ni0.2Mn0.6O2 Cathode for Long‐Life and High‐Rate Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries with high energy and high power density are required in the application of electric vehicles and portable electronics. Herein, we introduce a type of spherical Li-rich cathode material, Li1.2Ni0.2Mn0.6O2, assembled from uniform nanocubes by a facile polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-assisted hydrothermal method. The material with a hierarchical nano-/microstructure exhibits stable high-rate performance. Furthermore, the precipitant (i.e., urea) and the structure-directing agent (i.e., PVP) effectively activated the Li2 MnO3 components in the microscale material to achieve a high specific capacity of 298.5 mAh g(-1) in the first cycle. This Li-rich cathode material still delivered 243 mAh g(-1) at 0.1 C after 200 cycles and the capacity retentions at 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 C were 94.4, 78.7, 76.3, and 67.8% after 150 cycles, respectively. The results make this Li-rich nano-/microstructure a promising cathode material for long-life and high-performance lithium-ion batteries.

Toward Highly Efficient Electrocatalyst for Li–O2 Batteries Using Biphasic N-Doping Cobalt@Graphene Multiple-Capsule Heterostructures

For the promotion of lithium-oxygen batteries available for practical applications, the development of advanced cathode catalysts with low-cost, high activity, and stable structural properties is demanded. Such development is rooted on certain intelligent catalyst-electrode design that fundamentally facilitates electronic and ionic transport and improves oxygen diffusivity in a porous environment. Here we design a biphasic nitrogen-doped cobalt@graphene multiple-capsule heterostructure, combined with a flexible, stable porous electrode architecture, and apply it as promising cathodes for lithium-oxygen cells. The biphasic nitrogen-doping feature improves the electric conductivity and catalytic activity; the multiple-nanocapsule configuration makes high/uniform electroactive zones possible; furthermore, the colander-like porous electrode facilitates the oxygen diffusion, catalytic reaction, and stable deposition of discharge products. As a result, the electrode exhibits much improved electrocatalytic properties associated with unique morphologies of electrochemically grown lithium peroxides.

Mesocarbon Microbead Carbon-Supported Magnesium Hydroxide Nanoparticles: Turning Spent Li-ion Battery Anode into a Highly Efficient Phosphate Adsorbent for Wastewater Treatment

Phosphorus in water eutrophication has become a serious problem threatening the environment. However, the development of efficient adsorbents for phosphate removal from water is lagging. In this work, we recovered the waste material, graphitized carbon, from spent lithium ion batteries and modified it with nanostructured Mg(OH)2 on the surface to treat excess phosphate. This phosphate adsorbent shows one of the highest phosphate adsorption capacities to date, 588.4 mg/g (1 order of magnitude higher than previously reported carbon-based adsorbents), and exhibits decent stability. A heterogeneous multilayer adsorption mechanism was proposed on the basis of multiple adsorption results. This highly efficient adsorbent from spent Li-ion batteries displays great potential to be utilized in industry, and the mechanism study paved a way for further design of the adsorbent for phosphate adsorption.

Kinetics Tuning the Electrochemistry of Lithium Dendrites Formation in Lithium Batteries through Electrolytes

Lithium batteries are one of the most advance energy storage devices in the world and have attracted extensive research interests. However, lithium dendrite growth was a safety issue which handicapped the application of pure lithium metal in the negative electrode. In this investigation, two solvents, propylene carbonate (PC) and 2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran (2MeTHF), and four Li+ salts, LiPF6, LiAsF6, LiBF4 and LiClO4 were investigated in terms of their effects on the kinetics of lithium dendrite formation in eight electrolyte solutions. The kinetic parameters of charge transfer step (exchange current density, j0, transfer coefficient, α) of Li+/Li redox system, the mass transfer parameters of Li+ (transfer number of Li+, tLi+, diffusion coefficient of Li+, DLi+), and the conductivity (κ) of each electrolyte were studied separately. The results demonstrate that the solvents play a critical role in the measured j0, tLi+, DLi+, and κ of the electrolyte, while the choice of Li+ salts only slightly affect the measured parameters. The understanding of the kinetics will gain insight into the mechanism of lithium dendrite formation and provide guidelines to the future application of lithium metal.

Ultralong Cycle Life Achieved by a Natural Plant: Miscanthus × giganteus for Lithium Oxygen Batteries

Large energy-storage systems and electric vehicles require energy devices with high power and high energy density. Lithium oxygen (Li-O2) batteries could achieve high energy density, but they are still facing problems such as low practical capacity and poor cyclability. Here, we prepare activated carbons (MGACs) based on the natural plant Miscanthus × giganteus (MG) through slow pyrolysis. It possesses a large surface area, plenty of active sites, and high porosity, which are beneficial to the utilization of oxygen electrode in Li-O2 batteries. The MGACs-based oxygen electrode delivers a high specific capacity of 9400 mAh/g at 0.02 mA/cm2, and long cycle life of 601 cycles (with a cutoff capacity of 500 mAh/g) and 295 cycles (with a cutoff capacity of 1000 mAh/g) at 0.2 mA/cm2, respectively. Additionally, the material exhibits high rate capability and high reversibility, which is a promising candidate for the application in Li-O2 batteries.