1
|
Zhang Q, Han B, Zou Y, Shen S, Li M, Lu X, Wang M, Guo Z, Yao J, Chang Z, Gu M. Enabling Atomic-Scale Imaging of Sensitive Potassium Metal and Related Solid Electrolyte Interphases Using Ultralow-Dose Cryo-TEM. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2102666. [PMID: 34499778 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202102666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Potassium-based solid electrolyte interphases (SEIs) have a much smaller damage threshold than their lithium counterpart; thus, they are significantly more beam sensitive. Here, an ultralow-dose cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) technique (≈8 e Å-2 s-1 × 10 s), which enables the atomic-scale chemical imaging of the electron-beam-sensitive potassium metal and SEI in its native state, is adapted. The potassium-based SEI consists of large brackets of diverse inorganic phases (≈hundreds of nanometers) interspersed with amorphous phases, which are different from the tiny nanocrystalline inorganic phases (≈a few nanometers) formed in a lithium-based SEI. Organic phosphate-based electrolyte solvents induce the formation of a thin and stable SEI layer for enhanced cycling performance, while the carbonate ester-based electrolytes result in large quantities of metastable KHCO3 , and K4 CO4 products in the SEI, depleting the potassium reserves in the battery. The findings provide deep insights and guidance in the selection of optimum electrolytes that should be used for potassium batteries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qing Zhang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Bing Han
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yucheng Zou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Shaocheng Shen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Menghao Li
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xinzhen Lu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Man Wang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zaiping Guo
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
| | - Jianquan Yao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zhi Chang
- Energy Technology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Umezono, Tsukuba, 305-8568, Japan
| | - Meng Gu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, 518055, China
| |
Collapse
|