Pub Date : 2022-01-01DOI: 10.20517/energymater.2022.36
Zhiwei Chen, Yuxiang Liao, Shengli Chen
Although carbon-supported platinum (Pt/C) has been generally used as a catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cells, its practical application is limited by the corrosion reaction of the carbon support. Therefore, it is essential to develop new self-supported catalysts for the ORR. Noble metal aerogels represent highly promising self-supported catalysts with large specific surface area and excellent electrocatalytic activity. Classic sol-gel processes for aerogel synthesis usually take days due to the slow gelation kinetics. Here, we report a straightforward strategy to synthesize platinum-copper (PtCu) aerogels by reducing the metal salt solution with an excess of sodium borohydride at room temperature. The PtCu aerogels are formed in a relatively short time of 1 h through a rapid nucleation mechanism. The obtained PtCu aerogels have a highly porous structure with an appreciable topological surface area of 33.0 m2/g and mainly exposed (111) facets, which are favorable for the ORR. Consequently, the PtCu aerogels exhibit excellent ORR activity with a mass activity of 369.4 mA/mgPt and a specific activity of 0.847 mA/cm2, which are 2.6 and 3.3 times greater than those of Pt/C, respectively. The PtCu aerogels show remarkable ORR catalysis among all the noble metal aerogels that have been reported. The porous morphology and outstanding electrocatalytic activities of the PtCu aerogels illustrate their promising applications in fuel cells.
{"title":"Facile synthesis of platinum-copper aerogels for the oxygen reduction reaction","authors":"Zhiwei Chen, Yuxiang Liao, Shengli Chen","doi":"10.20517/energymater.2022.36","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20517/energymater.2022.36","url":null,"abstract":"Although carbon-supported platinum (Pt/C) has been generally used as a catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cells, its practical application is limited by the corrosion reaction of the carbon support. Therefore, it is essential to develop new self-supported catalysts for the ORR. Noble metal aerogels represent highly promising self-supported catalysts with large specific surface area and excellent electrocatalytic activity. Classic sol-gel processes for aerogel synthesis usually take days due to the slow gelation kinetics. Here, we report a straightforward strategy to synthesize platinum-copper (PtCu) aerogels by reducing the metal salt solution with an excess of sodium borohydride at room temperature. The PtCu aerogels are formed in a relatively short time of 1 h through a rapid nucleation mechanism. The obtained PtCu aerogels have a highly porous structure with an appreciable topological surface area of 33.0 m2/g and mainly exposed (111) facets, which are favorable for the ORR. Consequently, the PtCu aerogels exhibit excellent ORR activity with a mass activity of 369.4 mA/mgPt and a specific activity of 0.847 mA/cm2, which are 2.6 and 3.3 times greater than those of Pt/C, respectively. The PtCu aerogels show remarkable ORR catalysis among all the noble metal aerogels that have been reported. The porous morphology and outstanding electrocatalytic activities of the PtCu aerogels illustrate their promising applications in fuel cells.","PeriodicalId":21863,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials","volume":"46 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87764143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ambient heat, slightly above or at room temperature, is a ubiquitous and inexhaustible energy source that has typically been ignored due to difficulties in its utilization. Recent evidence suggests that a class of azobenzene (Azo) photoswitches featuring a reversible photoinduced crystal-to-liquid transition could co-harvest photon energy and ambient heat. Thus, a new horizon has been opened for recovering and regenerating low-grade ambient heat. Here, a series of unilateral para-functionalized photoinduced liquefiable Azo derivatives is presented that can co-harvest and convert photon energy and ambient heat into chemical bond energy and latent heat in molecules and eventually release them in the form of high-temperature utilizable heat. A straightforward crystalline-to-liquid phase transition achieved with ultraviolet light irradiation (365 nm) is enabled by appending a halogen/alkoxy group on the para-position of the Azo photoswitches, and the release of thermal energy is triggered by short-wavelength visible-light irradiation (420 nm). The phase transition properties of the trans- and cis-isomers and the energy density, storage lifetime and heat release performance of the cis-liquid are investigated with differential scanning calorimetry, ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy, and an infrared (IR) thermal camera. The experimental results indicate a high energy density of 335 J/g, a long lifetime of 5 d and a heat release of up to 6.3 °C due to the coupled photochemical-thermophysical mechanism. This work presents a new model for utilizing renewable energy, i.e., the photoinduced conversion of ambient thermal energy.
{"title":"An azobenzene-based photothermal energy storage system for co-harvesting photon energy and low-grade ambient heat via a photoinduced crystal-to-liquid transition","authors":"Liqi Dong, Fei Zhai, Hui Wang, Cong Peng, Yiyu Feng, Wei Feng","doi":"10.20517/energymater.2022.26","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20517/energymater.2022.26","url":null,"abstract":"Ambient heat, slightly above or at room temperature, is a ubiquitous and inexhaustible energy source that has typically been ignored due to difficulties in its utilization. Recent evidence suggests that a class of azobenzene (Azo) photoswitches featuring a reversible photoinduced crystal-to-liquid transition could co-harvest photon energy and ambient heat. Thus, a new horizon has been opened for recovering and regenerating low-grade ambient heat. Here, a series of unilateral para-functionalized photoinduced liquefiable Azo derivatives is presented that can co-harvest and convert photon energy and ambient heat into chemical bond energy and latent heat in molecules and eventually release them in the form of high-temperature utilizable heat. A straightforward crystalline-to-liquid phase transition achieved with ultraviolet light irradiation (365 nm) is enabled by appending a halogen/alkoxy group on the para-position of the Azo photoswitches, and the release of thermal energy is triggered by short-wavelength visible-light irradiation (420 nm). The phase transition properties of the trans- and cis-isomers and the energy density, storage lifetime and heat release performance of the cis-liquid are investigated with differential scanning calorimetry, ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy, and an infrared (IR) thermal camera. The experimental results indicate a high energy density of 335 J/g, a long lifetime of 5 d and a heat release of up to 6.3 °C due to the coupled photochemical-thermophysical mechanism. This work presents a new model for utilizing renewable energy, i.e., the photoinduced conversion of ambient thermal energy.","PeriodicalId":21863,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85329938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-01-01DOI: 10.20517/energymater.2022.57
Jianjia Mu, Zhaoguo Liu, Qing-Song Lai, Da Wang, Xuanwen Gao, Dong-Run Yang, Hong Chen, Wen‐Bin Luo
Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and capacitors (SICs) have been drawing considerable interest in recent years and are considered two of the most promising candidates for next-generation battery technologies in the energy storage industry. Therefore, it is essential to explore feasible strategies to increase the energy density and cycling lifespan of these technologies for their future commercialization. However, relatively low Coulombic efficiency severely limits the energy density of sodium-ion full cells, particularly in the initial cycle, which gradually decreases the number of recyclable ions. Presodiation techniques are regarded as effective approaches to counteract the irreversible capacity in the initial cycle and boost the energy density of SIBs and SICs. Their cyclic stability can also be enhanced by the slow release of supplemental sodium and high-content recyclable ions during cycling. In this review, a general understanding of the sodium-ion loss pathways and presodiation process towards full cells with high Coulombic efficiency is summarized. From the perspectives of safety, operability and efficiency, the merits and drawbacks of various presodiation techniques are evaluated. This review attempts to provide a fundamental understanding of presodiation principles and strategies to promote the industrial development of SIBs and SICs.
{"title":"An industrial pathway to emerging presodiation strategies for increasing the reversible ions in sodium-ion batteries and capacitors","authors":"Jianjia Mu, Zhaoguo Liu, Qing-Song Lai, Da Wang, Xuanwen Gao, Dong-Run Yang, Hong Chen, Wen‐Bin Luo","doi":"10.20517/energymater.2022.57","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20517/energymater.2022.57","url":null,"abstract":"Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and capacitors (SICs) have been drawing considerable interest in recent years and are considered two of the most promising candidates for next-generation battery technologies in the energy storage industry. Therefore, it is essential to explore feasible strategies to increase the energy density and cycling lifespan of these technologies for their future commercialization. However, relatively low Coulombic efficiency severely limits the energy density of sodium-ion full cells, particularly in the initial cycle, which gradually decreases the number of recyclable ions. Presodiation techniques are regarded as effective approaches to counteract the irreversible capacity in the initial cycle and boost the energy density of SIBs and SICs. Their cyclic stability can also be enhanced by the slow release of supplemental sodium and high-content recyclable ions during cycling. In this review, a general understanding of the sodium-ion loss pathways and presodiation process towards full cells with high Coulombic efficiency is summarized. From the perspectives of safety, operability and efficiency, the merits and drawbacks of various presodiation techniques are evaluated. This review attempts to provide a fundamental understanding of presodiation principles and strategies to promote the industrial development of SIBs and SICs.","PeriodicalId":21863,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83711714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-01-01DOI: 10.20517/energymater.2022.19
Zheng Wang, Zhenhan Li, Yang Chao, Yu Cui, Xin-yu He, P. Liang, Chi Zhang, Zhonghua Zhang
Dealloying has been an essential technique for developing nanostructured catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Self-supported active catalysts can be fabricated through an alloying-dealloying process on metal foil surfaces. This study uses a Ga-assisted alloying-dealloying strategy combined with electrooxidation and heteroatom doping to fabricate a Fe-doped Ni(OH)2/Ni self-supported OER catalyst. We find that the surface phase compositions and dealloyed structures can be adjusted by controlling the reaction-diffusion temperature and time. The optimized O-Ni-Fe/200-3 catalyst shows an overpotential of 318 mV to activate a 10 mA cm-2 current density with a Tafel slope of 60.60 mV dec-1. Ex-situ characterization of the catalyst proves that Fe doping promotes the formation of active NiOOH, which contributes to the excellent OER activity. This study extends the Ga-assisted alloying-dealloying strategy and demonstrates the possibility of controlling the microstructure of dealloyed materials by changing the reaction-diffusion conditions.
脱合金是制备纳米析氧反应(OER)催化剂的重要技术。在金属箔表面采用合金化-脱合金工艺制备自支撑型活性催化剂。本研究采用ga辅助合金化-脱合金策略,结合电氧化和杂原子掺杂制备了fe掺杂Ni(OH)2/Ni自支撑OER催化剂。通过控制反应扩散温度和时间,可以调节表面相组成和合金结构。优化后的O-Ni-Fe/200-3催化剂的过电位为318 mV,可激活10 mA cm-2电流密度,Tafel斜率为60.60 mV / dec1。催化剂的非原位表征证明,Fe掺杂促进了活性NiOOH的形成,这有助于优异的OER活性。本研究扩展了ga辅助合金化-脱合金策略,并证明了通过改变反应扩散条件来控制脱合金材料微观组织的可能性。
{"title":"Dealloying-derived Fe-doped Ni(OH)2/Ni foils as self-supported oxygen evolution reaction catalysts","authors":"Zheng Wang, Zhenhan Li, Yang Chao, Yu Cui, Xin-yu He, P. Liang, Chi Zhang, Zhonghua Zhang","doi":"10.20517/energymater.2022.19","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20517/energymater.2022.19","url":null,"abstract":"Dealloying has been an essential technique for developing nanostructured catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Self-supported active catalysts can be fabricated through an alloying-dealloying process on metal foil surfaces. This study uses a Ga-assisted alloying-dealloying strategy combined with electrooxidation and heteroatom doping to fabricate a Fe-doped Ni(OH)2/Ni self-supported OER catalyst. We find that the surface phase compositions and dealloyed structures can be adjusted by controlling the reaction-diffusion temperature and time. The optimized O-Ni-Fe/200-3 catalyst shows an overpotential of 318 mV to activate a 10 mA cm-2 current density with a Tafel slope of 60.60 mV dec-1. Ex-situ characterization of the catalyst proves that Fe doping promotes the formation of active NiOOH, which contributes to the excellent OER activity. This study extends the Ga-assisted alloying-dealloying strategy and demonstrates the possibility of controlling the microstructure of dealloyed materials by changing the reaction-diffusion conditions.","PeriodicalId":21863,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials","volume":"42 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79157240","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Transition metal molybdates have been studied as anode materials for high-performance lithium-ion batteries, owing to their high theoretical capacity and low cost, as well as the multivalent states of molybdenum. However, their electrochemical performance is hindered by poor conductivity and large volume changes during charge and discharge. Here, we report lithium molybdate (Li2MoO4) composited with carbon nanofibers (Li2MoO4@CNF) as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. Li2MoO4 shows a shot-rod nanoparticle morphology that is tightly wound in the fibrous CNF. Compared with bare Li2MoO4, the Li2MoO4@CNF composite demonstrates superior high specific capacity and cycling stability, which are attributed to the reversible Li-ion intercalation in the LixMoyOz amorphous phase during charge and discharge. The capacity of the Li2MoO4@CNF anode material can reach 830 mAh g-1 in the second cycle and 760 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles at a charge/discharge current density of 100 mA g-1, which is much better than the bare Li2MoO4. This work provides a simple method to prepare a high-capacity and stable lithium molybdate anode material for lithium-ion batteries.
过渡金属钼酸盐具有理论容量高、成本低、钼的多价态等优点,已成为高性能锂离子电池的负极材料。然而,电导率差和充放电时体积变化大阻碍了它们的电化学性能。在这里,我们报道了钼酸锂(Li2MoO4)与碳纳米纤维(Li2MoO4@CNF)复合作为锂离子电池的负极材料。Li2MoO4在纤维CNF中表现出紧密缠绕的弹棒状纳米颗粒形态。与裸Li2MoO4相比,Li2MoO4@CNF复合材料具有更高的比容量和循环稳定性,这是由于在充放电过程中LixMoyOz非晶相中锂离子的可逆插层。当充放电电流密度为100 mA g-1时,Li2MoO4@CNF负极材料第二次循环的容量可达830 mAh g-1, 100次循环后的容量可达760 mAh g-1,大大优于裸锂离子电池。本工作为制备高容量、稳定的锂离子电池钼酸锂负极材料提供了一种简单的方法。
{"title":"Lithium molybdate composited with carbon nanofibers as a high-capacity and stable anode material for lithium-ion batteries","authors":"Jiaqi Wang, Junyi Yao, Wanying Li, Wenhao Zhu, Jie Yang, Jianqing Zhao, Lijun Gao","doi":"10.20517/energymater.2022.22","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20517/energymater.2022.22","url":null,"abstract":"Transition metal molybdates have been studied as anode materials for high-performance lithium-ion batteries, owing to their high theoretical capacity and low cost, as well as the multivalent states of molybdenum. However, their electrochemical performance is hindered by poor conductivity and large volume changes during charge and discharge. Here, we report lithium molybdate (Li2MoO4) composited with carbon nanofibers (Li2MoO4@CNF) as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. Li2MoO4 shows a shot-rod nanoparticle morphology that is tightly wound in the fibrous CNF. Compared with bare Li2MoO4, the Li2MoO4@CNF composite demonstrates superior high specific capacity and cycling stability, which are attributed to the reversible Li-ion intercalation in the LixMoyOz amorphous phase during charge and discharge. The capacity of the Li2MoO4@CNF anode material can reach 830 mAh g-1 in the second cycle and 760 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles at a charge/discharge current density of 100 mA g-1, which is much better than the bare Li2MoO4. This work provides a simple method to prepare a high-capacity and stable lithium molybdate anode material for lithium-ion batteries.","PeriodicalId":21863,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials","volume":"34 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73347296","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-01-01DOI: 10.20517/energymater.2022.25
Jiaxin Chen, Chao Wang, Guoxu Wang, D. Zhou, Li‐Zhen Fan
The exploration of solid polymer-based composite electrolytes (SCPEs) that possess good safety, easy processability, and high ionic conductivity is of great significance for the development of advanced all-solid-state lithium-metal batteries (ASSLMBs). However, the poor interfacial compatibility between the electrode and solid electrolyte leads to a large interfacial impedance that weakens the electrochemical performance of the battery. Herein, an interpenetrating network polycarbonate (INPC)-based composite electrolyte is constructed via the in-situ polymerization of butyl acrylate, Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO), Lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulphonyl)imide, succinonitrile and 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile on the base of a symmetric polycarbonate monomer. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of each component and the unique structure features, the INPC&LLZO-SCPE can effectively integrate the merits of the polymer and inorganic electrolytes and deliver superior ionic conductivity (3.56 × 10-4S cm-1 at 25 °C), an impressive Li+ transference number [t(Li+) = 0.52] and a high electrochemical stability window (up to 5.0 V vs. Li+/Li). Based on this, full batteries of LiFePO4/INPC&LLZO-SCPE/Li and LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2/INPC&LLZO-SCPE/Li are assembled, which exhibit large initial capacities of 156.3 and 158.9 mAh g-1 and high capacity retention of 86.8% and 95.4% over 500 and 100 cycles at 0.2 and 0.1 C, respectively. This work offers a new route for the construction of novel polycarbonate-based composite electrolytes for high-voltage ASSLMBs.
探索具有良好的安全性、易加工性和高离子电导率的固体聚合物基复合电解质(SCPEs)对于发展先进的全固态锂金属电池(asslmb)具有重要意义。然而,电极与固体电解质之间的界面相容性差,导致界面阻抗大,削弱了电池的电化学性能。在对称聚碳酸酯单体的基础上,通过原位聚合丙烯酸丁酯、Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO)、锂二(三氟甲烷磺酸基)亚胺、丁二腈和2,2-偶氮二异丁腈,构建了互穿网络聚碳酸酯(INPC)基复合电解质。得益于各组分的协同作用和独特的结构特点,INPC&LLZO-SCPE可以有效地整合聚合物和无机电解质的优点,并提供卓越的离子电导率(25°C时为3.56 × 10-4S cm-1),令人印象深刻的Li+转移数[t(Li+) = 0.52]和高电化学稳定性窗口(高达5.0 V vs. Li+/Li)。在此基础上,制备了LiFePO4/INPC&LLZO-SCPE/Li和LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2/INPC&LLZO-SCPE/Li充满电池,其初始容量分别为156.3和158.9 mAh g-1,在0.2℃和0.1℃下循环500次和100次后的容量保持率分别为86.8%和95.4%。本研究为构建新型高压asslmb用聚碳酸酯基复合电解质提供了一条新途径。
{"title":"An interpenetrating network polycarbonate-based composite electrolyte for high-voltage all-solid-state lithium-metal batteries","authors":"Jiaxin Chen, Chao Wang, Guoxu Wang, D. Zhou, Li‐Zhen Fan","doi":"10.20517/energymater.2022.25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20517/energymater.2022.25","url":null,"abstract":"The exploration of solid polymer-based composite electrolytes (SCPEs) that possess good safety, easy processability, and high ionic conductivity is of great significance for the development of advanced all-solid-state lithium-metal batteries (ASSLMBs). However, the poor interfacial compatibility between the electrode and solid electrolyte leads to a large interfacial impedance that weakens the electrochemical performance of the battery. Herein, an interpenetrating network polycarbonate (INPC)-based composite electrolyte is constructed via the in-situ polymerization of butyl acrylate, Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO), Lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulphonyl)imide, succinonitrile and 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile on the base of a symmetric polycarbonate monomer. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of each component and the unique structure features, the INPC&LLZO-SCPE can effectively integrate the merits of the polymer and inorganic electrolytes and deliver superior ionic conductivity (3.56 × 10-4S cm-1 at 25 °C), an impressive Li+ transference number [t(Li+) = 0.52] and a high electrochemical stability window (up to 5.0 V vs. Li+/Li). Based on this, full batteries of LiFePO4/INPC&LLZO-SCPE/Li and LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2/INPC&LLZO-SCPE/Li are assembled, which exhibit large initial capacities of 156.3 and 158.9 mAh g-1 and high capacity retention of 86.8% and 95.4% over 500 and 100 cycles at 0.2 and 0.1 C, respectively. This work offers a new route for the construction of novel polycarbonate-based composite electrolytes for high-voltage ASSLMBs.","PeriodicalId":21863,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74668680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has been widely used in environmental cleaning, hospital disinfecting and chemical engineering. Compared to the traditional anthraquinone oxidation method, the electrocatalytic two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e-ORR) to produce H2O2 has become a promising alternative due to its green, safety and reliability. However, its industrial application is still limited by the slow reaction kinetics and low selectivity due to the competitive reaction of the 4e-ORR to H2O. Herein, we prepare a novel photoresponsive metal-free electrocatalyst based on oxidized g-C3N4/carbon nanotubes (OCN/CNTs) and introduce an external light field to realize the high-performance electrocatalytic 2e-ORR to produce H2O2. Impressively, the OCN/CNT electrocatalyst exhibits an outstanding H2O2 productivity of 30.7 mmol/gcat/h with a high faradaic H2O2 efficiency of 95%. The oxygen-containing groups of the OCN/CNTs promote the adsorption of oxygen intermediates and the photo-coupled electrocatalysis simultaneously improves the electron transport efficiency and enhances the electrocatalytic selectivity.
{"title":"Photo-coupled electrocatalytic oxygen reduction to hydrogen peroxide using metal-free CNT-threaded oxidized g-C3N4","authors":"Qiong Zhu, Jinchen Fan, Yingle Tao, Huan Shang, Jingcheng Xu, Dieqing Zhang, Guisheng Li, Hexing Li","doi":"10.20517/energymater.2022.33","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20517/energymater.2022.33","url":null,"abstract":"Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has been widely used in environmental cleaning, hospital disinfecting and chemical engineering. Compared to the traditional anthraquinone oxidation method, the electrocatalytic two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e-ORR) to produce H2O2 has become a promising alternative due to its green, safety and reliability. However, its industrial application is still limited by the slow reaction kinetics and low selectivity due to the competitive reaction of the 4e-ORR to H2O. Herein, we prepare a novel photoresponsive metal-free electrocatalyst based on oxidized g-C3N4/carbon nanotubes (OCN/CNTs) and introduce an external light field to realize the high-performance electrocatalytic 2e-ORR to produce H2O2. Impressively, the OCN/CNT electrocatalyst exhibits an outstanding H2O2 productivity of 30.7 mmol/gcat/h with a high faradaic H2O2 efficiency of 95%. The oxygen-containing groups of the OCN/CNTs promote the adsorption of oxygen intermediates and the photo-coupled electrocatalysis simultaneously improves the electron transport efficiency and enhances the electrocatalytic selectivity.","PeriodicalId":21863,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials","volume":"55 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88887804","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-01-01DOI: 10.20517/energymater.2022.52
Longfei Jiang, Pengze Li, Shiyi Wang, Rui Liu, Xufei Zhu, Ye Song, T. Ree, Prof. Ye Song
Nanostructured anodic films on transition metals prepared using the electrochemical anodization method have recently attracted particular attention owing to their extraordinary properties and potential use in a variety of applications. Herein, we provide a thorough review of the anodization fabrication of anodic films with different nanostructures, including nanopores, nanotubes, nanoflowers, nanoneedles and nanowires on transition metals, focusing on the growth processes of nanostructured anodic films on three representative transition metals, namely, iron, copper and zinc. Specific consideration is given to the anodization behavior and formed film nanostructures of these transition metals. We conclude that electrolyte composition plays a key role in influencing the final morphologies of anodic films. Fluoride-containing solutions represent universal electrolytes for forming nanostructured anodic films on transition metals. The main applications of the resulting nanostructured anodic films, especially in energy-related fields, such as photoelectrochemical water splitting and supercapacitors, are also presented and discussed. Finally, we indicate the main challenges associated with the fabrication of anodic films with highly ordered nanostructures and the potential future directions of this field are indicated.
{"title":"Anodization fabrication techniques and energy-related applications for nanostructured anodic films on transition metals","authors":"Longfei Jiang, Pengze Li, Shiyi Wang, Rui Liu, Xufei Zhu, Ye Song, T. Ree, Prof. Ye Song","doi":"10.20517/energymater.2022.52","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20517/energymater.2022.52","url":null,"abstract":"Nanostructured anodic films on transition metals prepared using the electrochemical anodization method have recently attracted particular attention owing to their extraordinary properties and potential use in a variety of applications. Herein, we provide a thorough review of the anodization fabrication of anodic films with different nanostructures, including nanopores, nanotubes, nanoflowers, nanoneedles and nanowires on transition metals, focusing on the growth processes of nanostructured anodic films on three representative transition metals, namely, iron, copper and zinc. Specific consideration is given to the anodization behavior and formed film nanostructures of these transition metals. We conclude that electrolyte composition plays a key role in influencing the final morphologies of anodic films. Fluoride-containing solutions represent universal electrolytes for forming nanostructured anodic films on transition metals. The main applications of the resulting nanostructured anodic films, especially in energy-related fields, such as photoelectrochemical water splitting and supercapacitors, are also presented and discussed. Finally, we indicate the main challenges associated with the fabrication of anodic films with highly ordered nanostructures and the potential future directions of this field are indicated.","PeriodicalId":21863,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials","volume":"26 2 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82702993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-01-01DOI: 10.20517/energymater.2022.23
Delong Ma, Ruili Zhang, Xun-shi Hu, Yang Chen, Chen Xiao, Fei He, Shu Zhang, Jianbing Chen, G. Hu
In recent years, energy storage and conversion have become key areas of research to address social and environmental issues, as well as practical applications, such as increasing the storage capacity of portable electronic storage devices. However, current commercial lithium-ion batteries suffer from low specific energy and high cost and toxicity. Conversion-type cathode materials are promising candidates for next-generation Li metal and Li-ion batteries (LIBs). Metal fluoride materials have shown tremendous chemical tailorability and exhibit excellent energy density in LIBs. Batteries based on such electrodes can compete with other envisaged alternatives, such as Li-air and Li-S systems. However, conversion reactions are typically multiphase redox reactions with mass transport phenomena and nucleation and growth processes of new phases along with interfacial reactions. Therefore, these reactions involve nonequilibrium reaction pathways and significant overpotentials during the charge-discharge process. In this review, we summarize the key challenges facing metal fluoride cathode materials and general strategies to overcome them in cells. Different synthesis methods of metal fluorides are also presented and discussed in the context of their application as cathode materials in Li and LIBs. Finally, the current challenges and future opportunities of metal fluorides as electrode materials are emphasized. With continuous rapid improvements in the electrochemical performance of metal fluorides, it is believed that these materials will be used extensively for energy storage in Li batteries in the future.
{"title":"Insights into the electrochemical performance of metal fluoride cathodes for lithium batteries","authors":"Delong Ma, Ruili Zhang, Xun-shi Hu, Yang Chen, Chen Xiao, Fei He, Shu Zhang, Jianbing Chen, G. Hu","doi":"10.20517/energymater.2022.23","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20517/energymater.2022.23","url":null,"abstract":"In recent years, energy storage and conversion have become key areas of research to address social and environmental issues, as well as practical applications, such as increasing the storage capacity of portable electronic storage devices. However, current commercial lithium-ion batteries suffer from low specific energy and high cost and toxicity. Conversion-type cathode materials are promising candidates for next-generation Li metal and Li-ion batteries (LIBs). Metal fluoride materials have shown tremendous chemical tailorability and exhibit excellent energy density in LIBs. Batteries based on such electrodes can compete with other envisaged alternatives, such as Li-air and Li-S systems. However, conversion reactions are typically multiphase redox reactions with mass transport phenomena and nucleation and growth processes of new phases along with interfacial reactions. Therefore, these reactions involve nonequilibrium reaction pathways and significant overpotentials during the charge-discharge process. In this review, we summarize the key challenges facing metal fluoride cathode materials and general strategies to overcome them in cells. Different synthesis methods of metal fluorides are also presented and discussed in the context of their application as cathode materials in Li and LIBs. Finally, the current challenges and future opportunities of metal fluorides as electrode materials are emphasized. With continuous rapid improvements in the electrochemical performance of metal fluorides, it is believed that these materials will be used extensively for energy storage in Li batteries in the future.","PeriodicalId":21863,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89458272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-01-01DOI: 10.20517/energymater.2022.07
Z. Bi, Xiangxin Guo
Conventional lithium-ion batteries with inflammable organic liquid electrolytes are required to make a breakthrough regarding their bottlenecks of energy density and safety, as demanded by the ever-increasing development of electric vehicles and grids. In this context, solid-state lithium batteries (SSLBs), which replace liquid electrolytes with solid counterparts, have become a popular research topic due to their excellent potential in the realization of improved energy density and safety. However, in practice, the energy density of SSLBs is limited by the cathode mass loading, electrolyte thickness and anode stability. Moreover, the crucial interfacial issues related to the rigid and heterogeneous solid-solid contacts between the electrolytes and electrodes, including inhomogeneous local potential distributions, sluggish ion transport, side reactions, space charge barriers and stability degradation, severely deteriorate the cycle life of SSLBs. Solidification, which converts a liquid into a solid inside a solid battery, represents a powerful tool to overcome the aforementioned obstacles. The liquid precursors fully wet the interfaces and infiltrate the electrodes, followed by in-situ conformal solidification under certain conditions for the all-in-one construction of cells with highly conducting, closely contacted and sustainable electrode/electrolyte interfaces, thereby enabling high energy density and long cycle life. Therefore, in this review, we address the research progress regarding the latest strategies toward the solidification of the electrolyte layers and the interfaces between the electrodes and electrolytes. The critical challenges and future research directions are proposed for the solidification strategies in SSLBs from both science and engineering perspectives.
{"title":"Solidification for solid-state lithium batteries with high energy density and long cycle life","authors":"Z. Bi, Xiangxin Guo","doi":"10.20517/energymater.2022.07","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20517/energymater.2022.07","url":null,"abstract":"Conventional lithium-ion batteries with inflammable organic liquid electrolytes are required to make a breakthrough regarding their bottlenecks of energy density and safety, as demanded by the ever-increasing development of electric vehicles and grids. In this context, solid-state lithium batteries (SSLBs), which replace liquid electrolytes with solid counterparts, have become a popular research topic due to their excellent potential in the realization of improved energy density and safety. However, in practice, the energy density of SSLBs is limited by the cathode mass loading, electrolyte thickness and anode stability. Moreover, the crucial interfacial issues related to the rigid and heterogeneous solid-solid contacts between the electrolytes and electrodes, including inhomogeneous local potential distributions, sluggish ion transport, side reactions, space charge barriers and stability degradation, severely deteriorate the cycle life of SSLBs. Solidification, which converts a liquid into a solid inside a solid battery, represents a powerful tool to overcome the aforementioned obstacles. The liquid precursors fully wet the interfaces and infiltrate the electrodes, followed by in-situ conformal solidification under certain conditions for the all-in-one construction of cells with highly conducting, closely contacted and sustainable electrode/electrolyte interfaces, thereby enabling high energy density and long cycle life. Therefore, in this review, we address the research progress regarding the latest strategies toward the solidification of the electrolyte layers and the interfaces between the electrodes and electrolytes. The critical challenges and future research directions are proposed for the solidification strategies in SSLBs from both science and engineering perspectives.","PeriodicalId":21863,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy Materials","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87609402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}