EELS spectroscopy of iron fluorides and FeFx/C nanocomposite electrodes used in Li-ion batteries

Enabling Long Cycle Life and High Rate Iron Difluoride Based Lithium Batteries by In Situ Cathode Surface Modification

Metals fluorides (MFs) are potential conversion cathodes to replace commercial intercalation cathodes. However, the application of MFs is impeded by their poor electronic/ionic conductivity and severe decomposition of electrolyte. Here, a composite cathode of FeF₂ and polymer-derived carbon (FeF₂ @PDC) with excellent cycling performance is reported. The composite cathode is composed of nanorod-shaped FeF₂ embedded in PDC matrix with excellent mechanical strength and electronic/ionic conductivity. The FeF₂ @PDC enables a reversible capacity of 500 mAh g^-1 with a record long cycle lifetime of 1900 cycles. Remarkably, the FeF₂ @PDC can be cycled at a record rate of 60 C with a reversible capacity of 107 mAh g^-1 after 500 cycles. Advanced electron microscopy reveals that the in situ formation of stable Fe₃ O₄ layers on the surface of FeF₂ prevents the electrolyte decomposition and leaching of iron (Fe), thus enhancing the cyclability. The results provide a new understanding to FeF₂ electrochemistry, and a strategy to radically improve the electrochemical performance of FeF₂ cathode for lithium-ion battery applications.

The Role of Electrolyte Composition in Enabling Li Metal-Iron Fluoride Full-Cell Batteries

FeF₃ conversion cathodes, paired with Li metal, are promising for use in next-generation secondary batteries and offer a remarkable theoretical energy density of 1947 Wh kg^-1 compared to 690 Wh kg^-1 for LiNi_0.5 Mn_1.5 O₄ ; however, many successful studies on FeF₃ cathodes are performed in cells with a large (>90-fold) excess of Li that disguises the effects of tested variables on the anode and decreases the practical energy density of the battery. Herein, it is demonstrated that for full-cell compatibility, the electrolyte must produce both a protective solid-electrolyte interphase and cathode-electrolyte interphase and that an electrolyte composed of 1:1.3:3 (m/m) LiFSI, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, and 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl ether fulfills both these requirements. This work demonstrates the importance of verifying electrode level solutions on the full-cell level when developing new battery chemistries and represents the first full cell demonstration of a Li/FeF₃ cell, with both limited Li and high capacity FeF₃ utilization.

Revisiting metal fluorides as lithium-ion battery cathodes

Metal fluorides, promising lithium-ion battery cathode materials, have been classified as conversion materials due to the reconstructive phase transitions widely presumed to occur upon lithiation. We challenge this view by studying FeF₃ using X-ray total scattering and electron diffraction techniques that measure structure over multiple length scales coupled with density functional theory calculations, and by revisiting prior experimental studies of FeF₂ and CuF₂. Metal fluoride lithiation is instead dominated by diffusion-controlled displacement mechanisms, and a clear topological relationship between the metal fluoride F^- sublattices and that of LiF is established. Initial lithiation of FeF₃ forms FeF₂ on the particle's surface, along with a cation-ordered and stacking-disordered phase, A-Li_xFe_yF₃, which is structurally related to α-/β-LiMn²⁺Fe³⁺F₆ and which topotactically transforms to B- and then C-Li_xFe_yF₃, before forming LiF and Fe. Lithiation of FeF₂ and CuF₂ results in a buffer phase between FeF₂/CuF₂ and LiF. The resulting principles will aid future developments of a wider range of isomorphic metal fluorides.

Understanding the conversion mechanism and performance of monodisperse FeF2 nanocrystal cathodes

The application of transition metal fluorides as energy-dense cathode materials for lithium ion batteries has been hindered by inadequate understanding of their electrochemical capabilities and limitations. Here, we present an ideal system for mechanistic study through the colloidal synthesis of single-crystalline, monodisperse iron(II) fluoride nanorods. Near theoretical capacity (570 mA h g^-1) and extraordinary cycling stability (>90% capacity retention after 50 cycles at C/20) is achieved solely through the use of an ionic liquid electrolyte (1 m LiFSI/Pyr_1,3FSI), which forms a stable solid electrolyte interphase and prevents the fusing of particles. This stability extends over 200 cycles at much higher rates (C/2) and temperatures (50 °C). High-resolution analytical transmission electron microscopy reveals intricate morphological features, lattice orientation relationships and oxidation state changes that comprehensively describe the conversion mechanism. Phase evolution, diffusion kinetics and cell failure are critically influenced by surface-specific reactions. The reversibility of the conversion reaction is governed by topotactic cation diffusion through an invariant lattice of fluoride anions and the nucleation of metallic particles on semicoherent interfaces. This new understanding is used to showcase the inherently high discharge rate capability of FeF₂.

Unravelling lithiation mechanisms of iron trifluoride by operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy and MCR-ALS chemometric tools

The entire lithiation mechanism of two iron fluorides with excellent time resolution through XAS operando and chemometric tools MCR-ALS highlights their various electrochemical performances.

A charge optimized many-body potential for iron/iron-fluoride systems

A classical interatomic potential for iron/iron-fluoride systems is developed in the framework of the charge optimized many-body (COMB) potential. This interatomic potential takes into consideration the effects of charge transfer and many-body interactions depending on the chemical environment. The potential is fitted to a training set composed of both experimental and ab initio results of the cohesive energies of several Fe and FeF2 crystal phases, the two fluorine molecules F2 and the F2-1 dissociation energy curve, the Fe and FeF2 lattice parameters of the ground state crystalline phase, and the elastic constants of the body centered cubic Fe structure. The potential is tested in an NVT ensemble for different initial structural configurations as the crystal ground state phases, F2 molecules, iron clusters, and iron nanospheres. In particular, we model the FeF2/Fe bilayer and multilayer interfaces, as well as a system of square FeF2 nanowires immersed in an iron solid. It has been shown that there exists a reordering of the atomic positions for F and Fe atoms at the interface zone; this rearrangement leads to an increase in the charge transfer among the atoms that make the interface and put forward a possible mechanism of the exchange bias origin based on asymmetric electric charge transfer in the different spin channels.

Facile synthesis of C–FeF2 nanocomposites from CFx: influence of carbon precursor on reversible lithium storage

Impact of the nature of carbon on the electrochemical performance of four C–FeF₂ nanocomposites derived from CFx and Fe(CO)₅.

Theoretical and Experimental Evidence for the Carbon-Oxygen Group Enhancement of NO Reduction

The relation between a catalytic center and the surrounding carbon-oxygen groups influences the catalytic activity in various reactions. However, the impact of this relation on catalysis is usually discussed separately. For the first time, we proved that carbon-oxygen groups increased the reducibility of Fe-C bonds toward NO reduction. Experimentally, we compared the reductive activities of materials with either one or both factors, i.e., carbon-oxygen groups and Fe-C bonds. As a result, graphene oxide-supported Fe (with both factors) showed the best activity, duration of activity, and selectivity. This material reduced 100% of NO to N₂ at 300 °C. Moreover, theoretical calculations revealed that the adsorption energy of graphene for NO increased from -13.51 (physical adsorption) to -327.88 kJ/mol (chemical adsorption) after modification with Fe-C. When the graphene-supported Fe was further modified with carboxylic acid groups, the ability to transfer charge increased dramatically from 0.109 to 0.180 |e^-|. Therefore, the carbon-oxygen groups increased the reducibility of Fe-C. The main results will contribute to the understanding of NO reduction and the design of effective catalysts.

Pomegranate-Structured Conversion-Reaction Cathode with a Built-in Li Source for High-Energy Li-Ion Batteries

Transition metal fluorides (such as FeF3 or CoF2) promise significantly higher theoretical capacities (>571 mAh g(-1)) than the cathode materials currently used in Li-ion batteries. However, their practical application faces major challenges that include poor electrochemical reversibility induced by the repeated bond-breaking and formation and the accompanied volume changes and the difficulty of building an internal Li source within the material so that a full Li-ion cell could be assembled at a discharged state without inducing further technical risk and cost issues. In this work, we effectively addressed these challenges by designing and synthesizing, via an aerosol-spray pyrolysis technique, a pomegranate-structured nanocomposite FeM/LiF/C (M = Co, Ni), in which 2-3 nm carbon-coated FeM nanoparticles (∼10 nm in diameter) and LiF nanoparticles (∼20 nm) are uniformly embedded in a porous carbon sphere matrix (100-1000 nm). This uniquely architectured nanocomposite was made possible by the extremely short pyrolysis time (∼1 s) and carbon coating in a high-temperature furnace, which prevented the overgrowth of FeM and LiF in the primordial droplet that serves as the carbon source. The presence of Ni or Co in FeM/LiF/C effectively suppresses the formation of Fe3C and further reduces the metallic particle size. The pomegranate architecture ensures the intimate contact among FeM, LiF, and C, thus significantly enhancing the conversion-reaction kinetics, while the nanopores inside the pomegranate-like carbon matrix, left by solvent evaporation during the pyrolysis, effectively accommodate the volume change of FeM/LiF during charge/discharge. Thus, the FeM/LiF/C nanocomposite shows a high specific capacity of >300 mAh g(-1) for more than 100 charge/discharge cycles, which is one of the best performances among all of the prelithiated metal fluoride cathodes ever reported. The pomegranate-structured FeM/LiF/C with its built-in Li source provides an inspiration to the practical application of conversion-reaction-type chemistries as next-generation cathode materials for high-energy density Li-ion batteries.

Visualization of electrochemically driven solid-state phase transformations using operando hard X-ray spectro-imaging

In situ techniques with high temporal, spatial and chemical resolution are key to understand ubiquitous solid-state phase transformations, which are crucial to many technological applications. Hard X-ray spectro-imaging can visualize electrochemically driven phase transformations but demands considerably large samples with strong absorption signal so far. Here we show a conceptually new data analysis method to enable operando visualization of mechanistically relevant weakly absorbing samples at the nanoscale and study electrochemical reaction dynamics of iron fluoride, a promising high-capacity conversion cathode material. In two specially designed samples with distinctive microstructure and porosity, we observe homogeneous phase transformations during both discharge and charge, faster and more complete Li-storage occurring in porous polycrystalline iron fluoride, and further, incomplete charge reaction following a pathway different from conventional belief. These mechanistic insights provide guidelines for designing better conversion cathode materials to realize the promise of high-capacity lithium-ion batteries.

Hard X-ray spectro-imaging using synchrotron radiation can be used to monitor electrochemical reactions. Here, the authors present X-ray absorption data and resolve phase evolution for the conversion of iron fluoride, a high-capacity Li-ion battery conversion cathode, with nanoscale resolution.

Sodiation via heterogeneous disproportionation in FeF2 electrodes for sodium-ion batteries

Sodium-ion batteries utilize various electrode materials derived from lithium batteries. However, the different characteristics inherent in sodium may cause unexpected cell reactions and battery performance. Thus, identifying the reactive discrepancy between sodiation and lithiation is essential for fundamental understanding and practical engineering of battery materials. Here we reveal a heterogeneous sodiation mechanism of iron fluoride (FeF2) nanoparticle electrodes by combining in situ/ex situ microscopy and spectroscopy techniques. In contrast to direct one-step conversion reaction with lithium, the sodiation of FeF2 proceeds via a regular conversion on the surface and a disproportionation reaction in the core, generating a composite structure of 1-4 nm ultrafine Fe nanocrystallites (further fused into conductive frameworks) mixed with an unexpected Na3FeF6 phase and a NaF phase in the shell. These findings demonstrate a core-shell reaction mode of the sodiation process and shed light on the mechanistic understanding extended to generic electrode materials for both Li- and Na-ion batteries.

Interplay between the ionic and electronic transport and its effects on the reaction pattern during the electrochemical conversion in an FeF2 nanoparticle

The continuous Fe network provides an electronic transport pathway, which in turn enables ionic transport through the interface.

Influence of particle size and fluorination ratio of CF x precursor compounds on the electrochemical performance of C-FeF2 nanocomposites for reversible lithium storage

Systematical studies of the electrochemical performance of CF x -derived carbon-FeF2 nanocomposites for reversible lithium storage are presented. The conversion cathode materials were synthesized by a simple one-pot synthesis, which enables a reactive intercalation of nanoscale Fe particles in a CF x matrix, and the reaction of these components to an electrically conductive C-FeF2 compound. The pretreatment and the structure of the utilized CF x precursors play a crucial role in the synthesis and influence the electrochemical behavior of the conversion cathode material. The particle size of the CF x precursor particles was varied by ball milling as well as by choosing different C/F ratios. The investigations led to optimized C-FeF2 conversion cathode materials that showed specific capacities of 436 mAh/g at 40 °C after 25 cycles. The composites were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X-Ray diffraction measurements, electron energy loss spectroscopy and TEM measurements. The electrochemical performances of the materials were tested by galvanostatic measurements.

In situ TEM observation of lithium nanoparticle growth and morphological cycling

Lithium fluoride crystals were subjected to electron beam irradiation at 200 and 300 keV using transmission electron microscopy in order to study in situ fabrication of Li nanostructures. We observed that LiF crystals decompose in a unique way different to all other metal halides: Fluorine ablation and salt-to-metal conversion is non-local and due to a rapid lateral diffusion of Li, the life cycle from nucleation to annihilation of fresh Li nano-crystals can be observed at a distance from the Li-source, the irradiated salt. Growth, shape transition and annihilation of Li nanostructures follow at slow enough speed for live video recording with resolution of 25 frames per second. The equilibrium shapes of pure Li nano-crystals range from cubic to rod-shaped and ball-shaped and up to 300 nm size. By varying the e-beam flux of irradiation, transitions from cube to spherical shape can be induced cyclically.

Beyond intercalation-based Li-ion batteries: the state of the art and challenges of electrode materials reacting through conversion reactions

Despite the imminent commercial introduction of Li-ion batteries in electric drive vehicles and their proposed use as enablers of smart grids based on renewable energy technologies, an intensive quest for new electrode materials that bring about improvements in energy density, cycle life, cost, and safety is still underway. This Progress Report highlights the recent developments and the future prospects of the use of phases that react through conversion reactions as both positive and negative electrode materials in Li-ion batteries. By moving beyond classical intercalation reactions, a variety of low cost compounds with gravimetric specific capacities that are two-to-five times larger than those attained with currently used materials, such as graphite and LiCoO(2), can be achieved. Nonetheless, several factors currently handicap the applicability of electrode materials entailing conversion reactions. These factors, together with the scientific breakthroughs that are necessary to fully assess the practicality of this concept, are reviewed in this report.

Identifying the local structures formed during lithiation of the conversion material, iron fluoride, in a Li ion battery: a solid-state NMR, X-ray diffraction, and pair distribution function analysis study

The structural transformations that occur when FeF(3) is cycled at room temperature in a Li cell were investigated using a combination of X-ray diffraction (XRD), pair distribution function (PDF) analysis, and magic-angle-spinning NMR spectroscopy. Two regions are seen on discharge. The first occurs between Li = 0 and 1.0 and involves an insertion reaction. This first region actually comprises two steps: First, a two-phase reaction between Li = 0 and 0.5 occurs, and the Li(0.5)FeF(3) phase that is formed gives rise to a Li NMR resonance due to Li(+) ions near both Fe(3+) and Fe(2+) ions. On the basis of the PDF data, the local structure of this phase is closer to the rutile structure than the original ReO(3) structure. Second, a single-phase intercalation reaction occurs between Li = 0.5 and 1.0, for which the Li NMR data indicate a progressive increase in the concentration of Fe(2+) ions. In the second region, the conversion reaction, superparamagnetic, nanosized ( approximately 3 nm) Fe metal is formed, as indicated by the XRD and NMR data, along with some LiF and a third phase that is rich in Li and F. The charge process involves the formation of a series of intercalation phases with increasing Fe oxidation state, which, on the basis of the Li NMR and PDF data, have local structures that are similar to the intercalation phases seen during the first stage of the discharge process. The solid-state NMR and XRD results for the rutile phase FeF(2) are presented for comparison, and the data indicate that an insertion reaction also occurs, which is accompanied by the formation of LiF. This is followed by the formation of Fe nanoparticles and LiF via a conversion reaction.