Layered double hydroxides derived NiCo-sulfide as a cathode material for aluminum ion batteries

Review of Transition Metal Chalcogenides and Halides as Electrode Materials for Thermal Batteries and Secondary Energy Storage Systems

Transition metal chalcogenides and halides (TMCs and TMHs) have been extensively used and reported as electrode materials in diverse primary and secondary batteries. This review summarizes the suitability of TMCs and TMHs as electrode materials focusing on thermal batteries (utilized for defense applications) and energy storage systems like mono- and multivalent rechargeable batteries. The report also identifies the specific physicochemical properties that need to be achieved for the same materials to be employed as cathode materials in thermal batteries and anode materials in monovalent rechargeable systems. For example, thermal stability of the materials plays a crucial role in delivering the performance of the thermal battery system, whereas the electrical conductivity and layered structure of similar materials play a vital role in enhancing the electrochemical performance of the mono- and multivalent rechargeable batteries. It can be summarized that nonlayered CoS2, FeS2, NiS2, and WS2 were found to be ideal as cathode materials for thermal batteries primarily due to their better thermal stability, whereas the layered structures of these materials with a coating of carbon allotrope (CNT, graphene, rGO) were found to be suitable as anode materials for monovalent alkali metal ion rechargeable batteries. On the other hand, vanadium, titanium, molybdenum, tin, and antimony based chalcogenides were found to be suitable as cathode materials for multivalent rechargeable batteries due to the high oxidation state of cathode materials which resists the stronger field produced during the interaction of di- and trivalent ions with the cathode material facilitating higher energy density with minimal structural and volume changes at a high rate of discharge.

Dual Protection Strategy by Constructing MXene-Coated Cu2Se-Cu1.8Se Heterojunction and CMK-3 Modification for High-Performance Aluminum-Ion Batteries

The fabrication of cathode materials with ideal kinetic behavior is important to improve the electrochemical performance of aluminum-ion batteries (AIBs). Transition metal selenides have the advantages of abundant reserves and high discharge specific capacity and discharge voltage plateau, which makes them a promising material for rechargeable AIBs. It is well-known that the low structural stability and relatively poor reaction kinetics pose a considerable challenge to the development of AIBs. The cubic structure of Cu₂Se-Cu_1.8Se can adapt to the volume change of the active material during cycling and facilitate the intercalation and deintercalation of chloroaluminate anions in the cathode material. We created a two-fold protection mechanism for AIBs with a CMK-3 modified separator and a Cu₂Se-Cu_1.8Se heterojunction coated with MXene in order to better mitigate the detrimental impacts. In addition to offering numerous electronic transmission routes, MXene and CMK-3 help prevent the solubilization of active species. This novel design enables the Cu₂Se-Cu_1.8Se@MXene composite to have a high initial discharge capacity of 705.5 mAh g^-1 at 1.0 A g^-1. Even after 1500 cycles at 2.0 A g^-1, the capacity is still maintained at 225.1 mAh g^-1. Furthermore, the reaction mechanism of AlCl₄^- intercalated/deintercalated into Cu₂Se-Cu_1.8Se heterojunction is revealed during charge/discharge. This work to construct novel cathode materials has greatly improved the electrochemical performance of AIBs.

Boron-doping-induced Defect Engineering Enables High-performance Graphene Cathode for Aluminum Batteries

Rechargeable aluminum batteries (RABs) have received significant interest due to the low cost, high volumetric capacity, and low flammability of aluminum. However, the paucity of reliable cathode materials poses substantial...

Nonaqueous Rechargeable Aluminum Batteries: Progresses, Challenges, and Perspectives

For significantly increasing the energy densities to satisfy the growing demands, new battery materials and electrochemical chemistry beyond conventional rocking-chair based Li-ion batteries should be developed urgently. Rechargeable aluminum batteries (RABs) with the features of low cost, high safety, easy fabrication, environmental friendliness, and long cycling life have gained increasing attention. Although there are pronounced advantages of utilizing earth-abundant Al metals as negative electrodes for high energy density, such RAB technologies are still in the preliminary stage and considerable efforts will be made to further promote the fundamental and practical issues. For providing a full scope in this review, we summarize the development history of Al batteries and analyze the thermodynamics and electrode kinetics of nonaqueous RABs. The progresses on the cutting-edge of the nonaqueous RABs as well as the advanced characterizations and simulation technologies for understanding the mechanism are discussed. Furthermore, major challenges of the critical battery components and the corresponding feasible strategies toward addressing these issues are proposed, aiming to guide for promoting electrochemical performance (high voltage, high capacity, large rate capability, and long cycling life) and safety of RABs. Finally, the perspectives for the possible future efforts in this field are analyzed to thrust the progresses of the state-of-the-art RABs, with expectation of bridging the gap between laboratory exploration and practical applications.