Spinels with the formula of AB2O4 (where A and B are metal ions) and the properties of magnetism, optics, electricity, and catalysis have taken significant roles in applications of data storage, biotechnology, electronics, laser, sensor, conversion reaction, and energy storage/conversion, which largely depend on their precise structures and compositions. In this review, various spinels with controlled preparations and their applications in oxygen reduction/evolution reaction (ORR/OER) and beyond are summarized. First, the composition and structure of spinels are introduced. Then, recent advances in the preparation of spinels with solid-, solution-, and vapor-phase methods are summarized, and new methods are particularly highlighted. The physicochemical characteristics of spinels such as their compositions, structures, morphologies, defects, and substrates have been rationally regulated through various approaches. This regulation can yield spinels with improved ORR/OER catalytic activities, which can furth...

Spinels: Controlled Preparation, Oxygen Reduction/Evolution Reaction Application, and Beyond

Production technology for automotive lithium-ion battery (LIB) cells and packs has improved considerably in the past five years. However, the transfer of developments in materials, cell design and processes from lab scale to production scale remains a challenge due to the large number of consecutive process steps and the significant impact of material properties, electrode compositions and cell designs on processes. This requires an in-depth understanding of the individual production processes and their interactions, and pilot-scale investigations into process parameter selection and prototype cell production. Furthermore, emerging process concepts must be developed at lab and pilot scale that reduce production costs and improve cell performance. Here, we present an introductory summary of the state-of-the-art production technologies for automotive LIBs. We then discuss the key relationships between process, quality and performance, as well as explore the impact of materials and processes on scale and cost. Finally, future developments and innovations that aim to overcome the main challenges are presented. The battery manufacturing process significantly affects battery performance. This Review provides an introductory overview of production technologies for automotive batteries and discusses the importance of understanding relationships between the production process and battery performance.

Current status and challenges for automotive battery production technologies

A solid-state high-voltage (5 V) lithium battery is demonstrated to deliver a cycle life of 10 000 with 90% capacity retention. Furthermore, the solid electrolyte enables the use of high-voltage cathodes and Li anodes with minimum side reactions, leading to a high Coulombic efficiency of 99.98+%.

Solid Electrolyte: the Key for High‐Voltage Lithium Batteries

Transformational changes in battery technologies are critically needed to enable the effective use of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, and to allow for the expansion of the electrification of vehicles. Developing high-performance batteries is critical to meet these requirements, which certainly relies on material breakthroughs. This review article presents the recent progresses and challenges in discovery of high-performance anode materials for Li-ion batteries related to their applications in future electrical vehicles and grid energy storage. The advantages and disadvantages of a series of anode materials are highlighted.

High-Performance Anode Materials for Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Batteries

Reversibly intercalating ions into host materials for electrochemical energy storage is the essence of the working principle of rocking-chair type batteries. The most relevant example is the graphite anode for rechargeable Li-ion batteries which has been commercialized in 1991 and still represents the benchmark anode in Li-ion batteries 30 years later. Learning from past lessons on alkali metal intercalation in graphite, recent breakthroughs in sodium and potassium intercalation in graphite have been demonstrated for Na-ion batteries and K-ion batteries. Interestingly, some significant differences proved to exist for the intercalation of Na+ and K+ into graphite compared with the Li+ case. Such different host-guest interactions are unique depending on the host materials and electrolytes, which greatly contribute to a deeper understanding of intercalation-type electrode materials for next generation alkali metal ion batteries. This review summarizes significant advances from both experimental and theoretical calculations with a focus on comparing the intercalation of three alkali metal ions (Li+, Na+, K+) into graphite and aims to clarify the intimate host-guest relationships and the underlying mechanisms. New approaches developed to achieve favorable intercalation coupled with the challenges in this field are also discussed. We also extrapolate alkali metal ion intercalation in graphite to mono-/multi-valent ions in layered electrode materials, which will deepen the understanding of intercalation chemistry and provide guidance to explore new guests and hosts.

Intercalation chemistry of graphite: alkali metal ions and beyond.

Herein we report a novel study on the reaction mechanism of non-aqueous aluminum/graphite cell chemistry employing 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride:aluminum trichloride (EMIMCl:AlCl3) as the electrolyte. This work highlights new insights into the reversibility of the anion intercalation chemistry besides confirming its outstanding cycle life exceeding 2000 cycles, corresponding to more than 5 months of cycling test. The reaction mechanism, involving the intercalation of AlCl4− in graphite, has been fully characterized by means of ex situ X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy (XANES) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), evidencing the accumulation of anionic species into the cathode as the main factor responsible for the slight initial irreversibility of the electrochemical process.

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Insights into the reversibility of aluminum graphite batteries

Influence of electrode preparation on the electrochemical performance of LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 composite electrodes for lithium-ion batteries

Insights about the irreversible capacity of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 cathode materials in lithium batteries

/pdf/simultaneous-x-ray-diffraction-and-tomography-operando-3ikvf8a80a.pdf

Simultaneous X‐Ray Diffraction and Tomography Operando Investigation of Aluminum/Graphite Batteries

We present a detailed investigation of the changes in the local structure and chemical disorder induced by controlled potential cycling in Pt3±δCo nanoparticles used as a catalyst in the proton exc...

http://www.mif.pg.gda.pl/pl/download/post_awansowe/A_Witkowska/Zalacznik-1/H8-JPChC2012.pdf

Giorgia Greco

Papers

Insights into the reversibility of aluminum graphite batteries

Influence of electrode preparation on the electrochemical performance of LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 composite electrodes for lithium-ion batteries

Insights about the irreversible capacity of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 cathode materials in lithium batteries

Simultaneous X‐Ray Diffraction and Tomography Operando Investigation of Aluminum/Graphite Batteries

Local Ordering Changes in Pt−Co Nanocatalyst Induced by Fuel Cell Working Conditions