Metamorphosis of Seaweeds into Multitalented Materials for Energy Storage Applications

Transition metal ion dissolution due to hydrofluoric acid attack is a long‐standing issue in the Mn‐based spinel cathode materials of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). Numerous strategies have been proposed to address this issue, but only a fragmentary solution has been established. In this study, reported is a seaweed‐extracted multitalented material, namely, agar, for high‐performance LIBs comprising Mn‐based cathode materials at a practical loading density (23.1 mg cm^?2 for LiMn₂O₄ and 10.9 mg cm^?2 for LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄, respectively). As a surface modifier, 3‐glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) is employed to enable the agar to have different phase separation behaviors during the nonsolvent‐induced phase separation process, thus eventually leading to the fabrication of an outstanding separator membrane that features a well‐defined porous structure, superior mechanical robustness, high ionic conductivity, and good thermal stability. The GPTMS‐modified agar separator membrane coupled with a pure agar binder to the LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄/graphite full cell leads to exceptional improvement in electrochemical performance outperforming binders and separator membrane in current commercial products even at 55 °C; this improvement is due to beneficial features such as Mn²⁺ chelation and PF₅ stabilizing capabilities. This study is believed to provide insights into the potential energy applications of natural seaweeds.     

A New P2‐Type Layered Oxide Cathode with Extremely High Energy Density for Sodium‐Ion Batteries

Herein, a new P2‐type layered oxide is proposed as an outstanding intercalation cathode material for high energy density sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). On the basis of the stoichiometry of sodium and transition metals, the P2‐type Na_0.55[Ni_0.1Fe_0.1Mn_0.8]O₂ cathode is synthesized without impurities phase by partially substituting Ni and Fe into the Mn sites. The partial substitution results in a smoothing of the electrochemical charge/discharge profiles and thus greatly improves the battery performance. The P2‐type Na_0.55[Ni_0.1Fe_0.1Mn_0.8]O₂ cathode delivers an extremely high discharge capacity of 221.5 mAh g^?1 with a high average potential of ≈2.9 V (vs Na/Na⁺) for SIBs. In addition, the fast Na‐ion transport in the P2‐type Na_0.55[Ni_0.1Fe_0.1Mn_0.8]O₂ cathode structure enables good power capability with an extremely high current density of 2400 mA g^?1 (full charge/discharge in 12 min) and long‐term cycling stability with ≈80% capacity retention after 500 cycles at 600 mA g^?1. A combination of electrochemical profiles, in operando synchrotron X‐ray diffraction analysis, and first‐principles calculations are used to understand the overall Na storage mechanism of P2‐type Na_0.55[Ni_0.1Fe_0.1Mn_0.8]O₂.     

Metal‐Air Batteries: Metal–Air Batteries with High Energy Density: Li–Air versus Zn–Air (Adv. Energy Mater. 1/2011)

In the past decade, there have been exciting developments in the field of lithium ion batteries as energy storage devices, resulting in the application of lithium ion batteries in areas ranging from small portable electric devices to large power systems such as hybrid electric vehicles. However, the maximum energy density of current lithium ion batteries having topatactic chemistry is not sufficient to meet the demands of new markets in such areas as electric vehicles. Therefore, new electrochemical systems with higher energy densities are being sought, and metal‐air batteries with conversion chemistry are considered a promising candidate. More recently, promising electrochemical performance has driven much research interest in Li‐air and Zn‐air batteries. This review provides an overview of the fundamentals and recent progress in the area of Li‐air and Zn‐air batteries, with the aim of providing a better understanding of the new electrochemical systems.     

Antimonene Engineered Highly Deformable Freestanding Electrode with Extraordinarily Improved Energy Storage Performance

Advanced 2D materials have spurred great interest as a new paradigm in pursuing improved energy storage performance. Herein, for the first time, antimonene is utilized as an effective active component for constructing highly deformable and editable freestanding film electrodes, as the basis of a supercapacitor with record‐breaking electrode performance. The insertion of antimonene is able to improve the environmental stability of the antimonene/MXene composite electrode and remarkably enhance the energy storage capability in both protic and neutral electrolytes. Notably, an ultrahigh specific volumetric capacitance of 4255 F cm^?3 is achieved by the electrode tested in a1 m H₂SO₄ electrolyte, which represents the state‐of‐the‐art value reported to date for supercapacitor electrodes based on MXenes. The flexible supercapacitors constructed by the composite electrode, also demonstrate highly competitive energy and power densities: 459.75 mWh cm^?3 and 3.12 W cm^?3 for the asymmetrical one with a much widened potential window of 2 V in neutral electrolyte; 112.52 mWh cm^?3 and 1 W cm^?3 for the symmetrical configuration with an outstanding capacitance of 1265 F cm^?3 in acidic media. This work sheds new light on the fabrication of high‐performance supercapacitor electrodes with functionalities in different electrolyte media and various device configurations.