Search

Aqueous static zinc–iodine batteries attract tremendous attention because of their abundant reserves of iodine, nonflammable electrolyte, and facile assembly. Currently, scientific challenges for static zinc–iodine batteries include self‐discharge and sluggish kinetics. Herein, a lithiation approach for the iodine host to suppress the shuttle effect and catalyze iodine conversion is reported. Through regulating the d‐ and p‐band center and lowering the I−/I0 conversion barrier, Li+ intercalation into VS2 reinforces interaction with I3− and achieves catalytic conversion of iodine, ameliorating self‐discharge, and accelerating kinetics. Zinc–iodine batteries featuring LiVS2 as the iodine host reach a high iodine utilization, high Coulombic efficiencies, and a long cyclic lifespan. Notably, the performance enhancement mechanism is the thermodynamically favorable iodine conversion reaction, inhibition of the I3− appearance, and promotion of I3− consumption due to the Li+ insertion. The findings provide fundamental insights into tackling issues of static zinc–iodine batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finding suitable electrode materials for energy storage devices with large ions like Na+ and K+ is notoriously difficult. Herein, MnO2@graphene with hierarchical lamellar structure has be synthesized. The flower‐like lamellar‐structured MnO2 and nanosheets of graphene combine together to form the composite with vast space for large ions to transport and store, as well as huge surface area for reactions. Sandwiched between graphene nanosheets, electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of MnO2 are highly enhanced, enabling it to withstand large current shock and long time cycling. In Li, Na and K ion batteries, MnO2@graphene all shows excellent electrochemical performance. Also, when coupled with liquid K−Na anode, MnO2@graphene displays better performance than with solid K anode, indicating its great potential at dendrite‐free K ion battery. MnO2@graphene promotes the exploitation of more suitable electrode materials for alkali ion batteries, deepens understanding of their inner mechanisms, and boosts their commercialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we designed a novel rechargeable Al−Ni battery. Nickel foil was firstly used as a cathode material for aluminum batteries and realized a reversible electrode reaction in a weak Lewis acidic electrolyte. Al−Ni battery can provide a high discharge capacity of more than 0.4 mA h cm−2 and exhibit excellent stability. Furthermore, the electrode reaction mechanism and proposed reasonable reaction equations of Al−Ni battery was studied deeply. We also explored the failure process of Al−Ni batteries and obtained the composition of side reaction products. This Al−Ni battery could offer a high reversible capacity of 0.66 mA h at a current density of 0.5 mA cm−2. Even at 1 mA cm−2, it still delivers a capacity of 0.415 mA h (0.27 mA h cm−2) after 100 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum‐ion batteries (Al‐ion batteries) have become a potential energy storage system, owing to their excellent cycling performance, three‐electron‐redox properties, and safety performance. Until now, great progress has been made in Al‐ion batteries. However, the Al‐ion battery system still encounters various problems, such as high electrolyte price, harsh working environment, low discharge platforms, and inferior capacity. Here, we prepared a novel Al‐ion battery with AlCl3/Imidazole hydrochloride (ImidazoleHCl) as the electrolyte, aluminum as the negative electrode, and commercial graphite as the positive electrode. The battery achieves a high specific discharge capacity of 129 mA h g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1 and 105 mA h g−1 with a high coulombic efficiency of 99 % at the current density of 4 A g−1 after 1000 cycles. The mechanism of AlCl4− intercalation/de‐intercalation is proved by Raman, XRD and EDS studies. ImidazoleHCl is a promising electrolyte and this work provides a new insight for the Al‐ion battery system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel Al-ion battery based on a room temperature electrolyte was assembled. • AlCl 3 /pyridinium chloride (PC) was firstly used as the electrolyte for Al-ion battery. • Spherical graphite is firstly used as the cathode for Al-ion battery. • The battery performs a discharge capacity of 123 mA h g−1 at 1 A g−1. The electrolyte system of Al-ion batteries still faces some problems, such as high price, low capacity and strict working environment. Here, a novel ionic liquid AlCl 3 /pyridinium chloride (PC) is prepared as the electrolyte for Al-ion battery, and spherical graphite (SG) is also firstly used as the cathode. The battery performs a discharge capacity of 123 mA h g−1 at the current density of 1 A g−1. It can reach 101 mA h g−1 at 5 A g−1 with a good coulombic efficiency of 97% after 500 cycles. AlCl 3 /PC electrolyte with SG cathode exhibit a high specific capacity, stable cycling performance and rate capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]