Exploring the electrochemical behavior of InSb as negative electrode for Mg-ion batteries

International audienceMagnesium metal has a tendency to react with conventional electrolytes to form a barrier on its surface[1], rendering cations exchange impossible, and thus dramatically limiting reversible stripping/deposition of Mg. Unlike Mg metal, alloys based on p-block elements (Sn, Sb, In, Pb, Bi) do not appear to suffer from the formation of a blocking passivation layer in conventional electrolytes. These substitute electrodes appear therefore as a promising solution to overcome the problem of compatibility with electrolytes, even if the reaction mechanisms behind their operation in conventional electrolytes are still unsolved. In order to improve the performance of these electrodes, we evaluated a possible synergy effect between p-block elements, as already shown for SnSb[2] and BiSb[3]. We chose to work on InSb that may combine the high theoretical capacity of Sb and the lowest working potential reported for In. InSb, synthetized by ball-milling, shows an electrochemical behavior (Figure 1) drastically different from those of the lone elements. We will demonstrate that the combination of In and Sb is beneficial as it promotes the reactivity of Sb, similarly to BiSb alloy[3]. Structural and morphological ex situ characterization will also be described in details and correlated with the peculiar electrochemical behavior of InSb. Figure 1: Voltage profile of an InSb-based electrode cycled at a rate of C/100 in an electrolyte based of EtMgCl and Et2AlCl in THF

Impact de la nanostructure sur les propriétés électriques de La2−x_{2-x}Srx_xZr2_2O7−δ_{7- \delta}, électrolyte potentiel pour les piles à conduction protonique

National audienc

The LEEL research group at CEA-Saclay: exploring new class of materials for energy storage in batteries ion

International audienc

Analyse par NRA de la diffusion de l’helium dans le carbure de Bore B4C

International audienc

ion beam analysis of light elements in thin films: common uses and capabilities

International audienc

La microsonde nucléaire, un outil de choix pour la caractérisation des batteries Li-ion

International audienc

Electrochemical reactivity of In-Pb solid solution as a negative electrode for rechargeable Mg-ion batteries

International audienceA composite In-Pb:carbon was successfully synthetized by a two-step mechanochemical synthesis in order to obtain an adequate particles size and structure to investigate the electrochemical reactivity of the In-Pb solid solution towards Mg. A potential synergetic coupling of electroactive elements In and Pb was examined using electrochemical and ex situ X-ray diffraction analyses. The potential profile of the solid solution indicates the formation of Mg2Pb and MgIn. However, the diffraction study suggests a peculiar electrochemically-driven amorphization of MgIn during the magnesiation, in strong contrast to MgIn crystallization in In-based and InBi-based electrodes reported in the literature. Combining In and Pb favors the amorphization of MgIn and a high first magnesiation capacity of about 550 mAh g−1, but is thereafter detrimental to the material’s reversibility. These results emphasize the possible influence of electrochemically-driven amorphization and crystallization processes on electrochemical performance of battery materials

L’analyse des éléments légers à la microsonde nucléaire : L’exemple du lithium dans les matériaux pour accumulateurs

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