Energy storage using batteries offers a solution to the intermittent nature of energy production from renewable sources; however, such technology must be sustainable. This Review discusses battery development from a sustainability perspective, considering the energy and environmental costs of state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries and the design of new systems beyond Li-ion. Images: batteries, car, globe: © iStock/Thinkstock.

Towards greener and more sustainable batteries for electrical energy storage

Research Development on Sodium-Ion Batteries

The lithium metal battery is strongly considered to be one of the most promising candidates for high-energy-density energy storage devices in our modern and technology-based society. However, uncontrollable lithium dendrite growth induces poor cycling efficiency and severe safety concerns, dragging lithium metal batteries out of practical applications. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the lithium metal anode and its dendritic lithium growth. First, the working principles and technical challenges of a lithium metal anode are underscored. Specific attention is paid to the mechanistic understandings and quantitative models for solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation, lithium dendrite nucleation, and growth. On the basis of previous theoretical understanding and analysis, recently proposed strategies to suppress dendrite growth of lithium metal anode and some other metal anodes are reviewed. A section dedicated to the potential of full-cell lithium metal batteries for practical applicatio...

Toward Safe Lithium Metal Anode in Rechargeable Batteries: A Review.

The status of ambient temperature sodium ion batteries is reviewed in light of recent developments in anode, electrolyte and cathode materials. These devices, although early in their stage of development, are promising for large-scale grid storage applications due to the abundance and very low cost of sodium-containing precursors used to make the components. The engineering knowledge developed recently for highly successful Li ion batteries can be leveraged to ensure rapid progress in this area, although different electrode materials and electrolytes will be required for dual intercalation systems based on sodium. In particular, new anode materials need to be identified, since the graphite anode, commonly used in lithium systems, does not intercalate sodium to any appreciable extent. A wider array of choices is available for cathodes, including high performance layered transition metal oxides and polyanionic compounds. Recent developments in electrodes are encouraging, but a great deal of research is necessary, particularly in new electrolytes, and the understanding of the SEI films. The engineering modeling calculations of Na-ion battery energy density indicate that 210 Wh kg−1 in gravimetric energy is possible for Na-ion batteries compared to existing Li-ion technology if a cathode capacity of 200 mAh g−1 and a 500 mAh g−1 anode can be discovered with an average cell potential of 3.3 V.

Sodium‐Ion Batteries

Since the discovery of mechanically exfoliated graphene in 2004, research on ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials has grown exponentially in the fields of condensed matter physics, material science, chemistry, and nanotechnology. Highlighting their compelling physical, chemical, electronic, and optical properties, as well as their various potential applications, in this Review, we summarize the state-of-art progress on the ultrathin 2D nanomaterials with a particular emphasis on their recent advances. First, we introduce the unique advances on ultrathin 2D nanomaterials, followed by the description of their composition and crystal structures. The assortments of their synthetic methods are then summarized, including insights on their advantages and limitations, alongside some recommendations on suitable characterization techniques. We also discuss in detail the utilization of these ultrathin 2D nanomaterials for wide ranges of potential applications among the electronics/optoelectronics, electrocat...

Recent Advances in Ultrathin Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials

Enabling Sodium Batteries Using Lithium-Substituted Sodium Layered Transition Metal Oxide Cathodes

Layered Na[Ni1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3]O2 cathodes for Na-ion battery application

LiFePO 4 nanoparticles were synthesized using the polyol process without any further heating as a postprocessing step. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the sample exhibited a good fit with the orthorhombic phase with no unwanted impurity phases. The LiFePO 4 nanoparticles showed a reversible capacity of 166 mAh/g, which amounts to a utilization efficiency of 98%, with an excellent reversibility in extended cycles. The electrode shows an excellent capacity retention at high-rate current densities due to its single-crystal-like and monodispersed uniform morphology with orthorhombic shape with an average width of 20 nm and length of 50 nm.

Donghan Kim

Papers

Sodium‐Ion Batteries

Enabling Sodium Batteries Using Lithium-Substituted Sodium Layered Transition Metal Oxide Cathodes

Layered Na[Ni1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3]O2 cathodes for Na-ion battery application

Synthesis of LiFePO4 Nanoparticles in Polyol Medium and Their Electrochemical Properties

Countering the Voltage Decay in High Capacity xLi2MnO3•(1–x)LiMO2 Electrodes (M=Mn, Ni, Co) for Li+-Ion Batteries