Cathode materials of metal-ion batteries for low-temperature applications

Energy storage devices have been developed greatly in recent years. Developing forward, they are expected to operate stably in electric vehicles, electric grids, military equipment, and aerospaces in various climates. Unfortunately, these areas require batteries to be repeatedly and periodically exposed to sub-zero temperatures, even extremely low temperatures (-40 degrees C or lower). The low temperature reduces the kinetics of all the activation processes of the batteries, leading to increased impedance and polarization, and loss of battery energy and power, thus restricting their performance. Developing new cathode materials is one of the main strategies to alleviate the low-temperature restrictions. A conventional lithium-ion battery is the most attractive system, which is more adaptive to the practical low-temperature application now. Sodium ion batteries, magnesium-ion batteries, and zinc-ion batteries, which have the advantages of low cost and high safety, are considered potential substitutes for lithium-ion batteries, the electrochemical performance of these batteries at low-temperature has been conducted extensively. This review provides an overview of lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, magnesium-ion batteries, and zinc-ion batteries that can work normally in low-temperature environments, with emphasis on various high-energy cathode materials, mainly including polyanionic compounds, layered oxides, spinel oxides, Prussian blue, and Prussian blue analogs. Specifically, we propose how the conventional low-temperature charge-transfer resistance can be overcome. However, these chemistries also present their own unique challenges at low temperatures. This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of these materials, as well as the main challenges and strategies for applying them to batteries at low temperatures so that the batteries can still discharge efficiently.(c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Cathode materials of metal-ion batteries for low-temperature applications

Energy storage devices have been developed greatly in recent years. Developing forward, they are expected to operate stably in electric vehicles, electric grids, military equipment, and aerospaces in various climates. Unfortunately, these areas require batteries to be repeatedly and periodically exposed to sub-zero temperatures, even extremely low temperatures (-40 degrees C or lower). The low temperature reduces the kinetics of all the activation processes of the batteries, leading to increased impedance and polarization, and loss of battery energy and power, thus restricting their performance. Developing new cathode materials is one of the main strategies to alleviate the low-temperature restrictions. A conventional lithium-ion battery is the most attractive system, which is more adaptive to the practical low-temperature application now. Sodium ion batteries, magnesium-ion batteries, and zinc-ion batteries, which have the advantages of low cost and high safety, are considered potential substitutes for lithium-ion batteries, the electrochemical performance of these batteries at low-temperature has been conducted extensively. This review provides an overview of lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, magnesium-ion batteries, and zinc-ion batteries that can work normally in low-temperature environments, with emphasis on various high-energy cathode materials, mainly including polyanionic compounds, layered oxides, spinel oxides, Prussian blue, and Prussian blue analogs. Specifically, we propose how the conventional low-temperature charge-transfer resistance can be overcome. However, these chemistries also present their own unique challenges at low temperatures. This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of these materials, as well as the main challenges and strategies for applying them to batteries at low temperatures so that the batteries can still discharge efficiently.(c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Medium-Entropy-Alloy FeCoNi Enables Lithium-Sulfur Batteries with Superb Low-Temperature Performance

Lithium-sulfur battery suffers from sluggish kinetics at low temperatures, resulting in serious polarization and reduced capacity. Here, this work introduces medium-entropy-alloy FeCoNi as catalysts and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) as hosts. FeCoNi nanoparticles are in suit synthesized in cotton-derived CNFs. FeCoNi with atomic-level mixing of each element can effectively modulate lithium polysulfides (LiPSs), multiple components making them promising to catalyze more LiPSs species. The higher configurational entropy endows FeCoNi@CNFs with extraordinary electrochemical activity, corrosion resistance, and mechanical properties. The fractal structure of CNFs provides a large specific surface area, leaving room for volume expansion and Li2S accumulation, facilitating electrolyte wetting. The unique 3D conductive network structure can suppress the shuttle effect by physicochemical adsorption of LiPSs. This work systematically evaluates the performance of the obtained Li2S6/FeCoNi@CNFs electrode. The initial discharge capacity of Li2S6/FeCoNi@CNFs reaches 1670.8 mAh g(-1) at 0.1 C under -20 degrees C. After 100 cycles at 0.2 C, the capacity decreases from 1462.3 to 1250.1 mAh g(-1). Notably, even under -40 degrees C at 0.1 C, the initial discharge capacity of Li2S6/FeCoNi@CNFs still reaches 1202.8 mAh g(-1). After 100 cycles at 0.2 C, the capacity retention rate is 50%. This work has important implications for the development of low-temperature Li-S batteries

Medium-Entropy-Alloy FeCoNi Enables Lithium-Sulfur Batteries with Superb Low-Temperature Performance

Lithium-sulfur battery suffers from sluggish kinetics at low temperatures, resulting in serious polarization and reduced capacity. Here, this work introduces medium-entropy-alloy FeCoNi as catalysts and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) as hosts. FeCoNi nanoparticles are in suit synthesized in cotton-derived CNFs. FeCoNi with atomic-level mixing of each element can effectively modulate lithium polysulfides (LiPSs), multiple components making them promising to catalyze more LiPSs species. The higher configurational entropy endows FeCoNi@CNFs with extraordinary electrochemical activity, corrosion resistance, and mechanical properties. The fractal structure of CNFs provides a large specific surface area, leaving room for volume expansion and Li2S accumulation, facilitating electrolyte wetting. The unique 3D conductive network structure can suppress the shuttle effect by physicochemical adsorption of LiPSs. This work systematically evaluates the performance of the obtained Li2S6/FeCoNi@CNFs electrode. The initial discharge capacity of Li2S6/FeCoNi@CNFs reaches 1670.8 mAh g(-1) at 0.1 C under -20 degrees C. After 100 cycles at 0.2 C, the capacity decreases from 1462.3 to 1250.1 mAh g(-1). Notably, even under -40 degrees C at 0.1 C, the initial discharge capacity of Li2S6/FeCoNi@CNFs still reaches 1202.8 mAh g(-1). After 100 cycles at 0.2 C, the capacity retention rate is 50%. This work has important implications for the development of low-temperature Li-S batteries

Single-Shell Multiple-Core MnO@C Hollow Carbon Nanospheres for Low-Temperature Lithium Storage

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been extensively employed in a range of electrical vehicles and portable devices in virtue of their high energy density and stable cycle life. However, poor performance under low temperatures hinders their application in cold climates and regions. Herein, single-shell (carbon) multiple-core (ultra-small MnO@C nanoparticles) hollow carbon nanospheres (MnO@C@HCS) were prepared by a sacrificial template method, and MnO@C@HCS showed excellent low-temperature electrochemical performance. These MnO@C cores with large surface areas can shorten diffusion lengths of lithium ions and enhance diffusion rates along their rich grain boundaries, enabling rapid charging/discharging. The hollow carbon nanosphere with a porous shell can block serious agglomeration of nanoparticles and regulate the amount of electrolyte filled in the hollow nanosphere to reduce side reactions between highly active electrode materials and electrolytes. The hollow structure formed between the core and the shell mitigates the volume expansion and contraction during cycling. The MnO@C@HCS anode exhibits high specific capacities (1027 mAh g–1 at 0.20 A g–1) and high rate performance (353 mAh g–1 at 10.00 A g–1) under room temperature. Furthermore, the MnO@C@HCS anode maintains a satisfactory discharge capacity under low temperatures (461 mAh g–1 at 0.05 A g–1 under −10 °C, 220 mAh g–1 at 0.10 A g–1 under −20 °C, respectively). The contribution of pseudocapacitance to the capacity decreases as the test temperature drops. Our strategy provides a design concept for the high-performance anode for low-temperature lithium storage