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Problems of practical sodium-ion batteries.

A 180° faradaic shift is observed for a completely pre-lithiated Li4Ti5O12 anode when paired with an activated carbon cathode. The optimum range of pre-lithiation certainly enables attaining high energy and high power Li-ion capacitors.

The electrochemical performance of graphite recovered from 6H-pencil with the highest content of SiO

Spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) offer immense potential in the form of resources such as Li, transition metals (Co, Ni, and Mn), graphite, and Cu, which can be recovered through suitable recycling procedures. The Cu-current collector is recovered from spent LIBs and converted as a copper oxide (CuO) anode for Na-ion batteries. The performance of CuO is evaluated with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) (CuO-C), and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) (CuO-P) binders in CuO half-cell and CuO/carbon-coated Na

Olivine-type LiCoPO4 proves its intriguing electrochemical properties as a highly valuable voltage cathode material for the next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIB) with the benefits of a high operating potential of ∼4.8 V vs. Li and a high theoretical capacity of ∼167 mAh g–1. However, several limitations in attaining high coulombic efficiency, good rate capability, and long cycle stability need to be improved before implementing into commercial applications. Thus, various strategies involve advancing the LiCoPO4 performances via synthesis routes, surface modification, doping with iso- and alio-valent substitutions, etc., to achieve competitive performance with other commercial cathodes. Apart from these strategies, suitable electrolytes and additives are similarly important to alleviate the electrolyte oxidation at high voltages to develop next-generation LIBs. In this work, we summarize the structural and physical properties of the LiCoPO4 with information about the strategies to enhance the performance of the LiCoPO4 in the beginning and discuss the method of electrolyte optimization using various additives in detail. The future perspectives dictate the important insights into practical issues that can accelerate the progress of LiCoPO4-based LIBs in energy storage applications towards practical use.

Lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) with high energy density at high power capability are ideal for future energy storage applications. Group IV elements, mainly tin (Sn)-based derivatives, are considered as a viable option due to their high reversible capacity, lower redox potential, and moderately lower price. In the present work, we report the assembly of a new type of LIC with high energy and power with long-term stability by pairing SnO2@Graphite nanocomposites (SnO2@G ncs) as battery type electrodes and commercial activated carbon (AC) as capacitor type electrodes. SnO2@G ncs are synthesized by hydrothermal method followed by high-energy ball milling of SnO2 and commercial graphite. The testing potential window of the SnO2 @G ncs half–cells are limited to 1 V vs. Li+/Li to enable only the alloying process and avoid the conversion of Sn0 to SnOx. Among the compositions, the composite with 25% SnO2 and 75% graphite (C1)-based LIC, AC/C1 displayed stable performance with high energy and power. Furthermore, AC/C1-based LIC delivers an energy density of 172.33 Wh kg−1 and retains over 90% capacity after 9000 cycles. This study gives the idea of incorporating an alloying-intercalation-based battery-type electrode, which paves the way further to enhance the electrochemical performance of next-generation LICs.

Co–intercalation process using glyme-based solvents has brought new prospects for the reversible Na-intercalation into the graphitic materials. We report a high-energy Na-ion capacitor (SIC) with graphitic carbon nanofibers (GCNF) as a battery-type component obtained from the depolymerization of waste rubber. The kinetic study reveals that ~ 51% contribution is originated from the diffusion-controlled Faradaic mechanism for GCNF compared to the ~ 61% for commercial graphite powder. The synthesis procedure and less crystalline nature of the GCNF lead to the lowered intercalation potential, and extended Na-ion storage capacity in the lower potential region (vs. Na+/Na) which is significant compared to the graphite powder. Further, the half-cell delivered a discharge capacity of ~ 118 mAh g−1 irrespective of the applied current rate, which signifies the importance of this concept. In a SIC configuration with activated carbon, the SIC renders an energy density of 55.58 Wh kg−1 at 25 °C. In addition, exceptional low-temperature performance ( 97% capacity retention after 5000 cycles. This low-temperature performance, high energy density, and exceptional cyclability certainly offer a unique hybrid charge storage system that eventually explores the possibility of using graphitic carbon fibers towards balanced energy and power capabilities. On a lighter note, this study also provides the opportunity to handle the waste materials effectively for sustained charge storage applications.