Metal Oxides and Oxysalts as Anode Materials for Li Ion Batteries

Despite the imminent commercial introduction of Li-ion batteries in electric drive vehicles and their proposed use as enablers of smart grids based on renewable energy technologies, an intensive quest for new electrode materials that bring about improvements in energy density, cycle life, cost, and safety is still underway. This Progress Report highlights the recent developments and the future prospects of the use of phases that react through conversion reactions as both positive and negative electrode materials in Li-ion batteries. By moving beyond classical intercalation reactions, a variety of low cost compounds with gravimetric specific capacities that are two-to-five times larger than those attained with currently used materials, such as graphite and LiCoO(2), can be achieved. Nonetheless, several factors currently handicap the applicability of electrode materials entailing conversion reactions. These factors, together with the scientific breakthroughs that are necessary to fully assess the practicality of this concept, are reviewed in this report.

Beyond Intercalation-Based Li-Ion Batteries: The State of the Art and Challenges of Electrode Materials Reacting Through Conversion Reactions

Hydrogen production for energy: An overview

Because of the generally lower activation energy associated with proton conduction in oxides compared to oxygen ion conduction, protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) should be able to operate at lower temperatures than solid oxide fuel cells (250° to 550°C versus ≥600°C) on hydrogen and hydrocarbon fuels if fabrication challenges and suitable cathodes can be developed. We fabricated the complete sandwich structure of PCFCs directly from raw precursor oxides with only one moderate-temperature processing step through the use of sintering agents such as copper oxide. We also developed a proton-, oxygen-ion–, and electron-hole–conducting PCFC-compatible cathode material, BaCo0.4Fe0.4Zr0.1Y0.1O3-δ (BCFZY0.1), that greatly improved oxygen reduction reaction kinetics at intermediate to low temperatures. We demonstrated high performance from five different types of PCFC button cells without degradation after 1400 hours. Power densities as high as 455 milliwatts per square centimeter at 500°C on H2 and 142 milliwatts per square centimeter on CH4 were achieved, and operation was possible even at 350°C.

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/349/6254/1321.full.pdf

Readily processed protonic ceramic fuel cells with high performance at low temperatures

Spindle-like porous α-Fe(2)O(3) was prepared from an iron-based metal organic framework (MOF) template. When tested as anode material for lithium batteries (LBs), this spindle-like porous α-Fe(2)O(3) shows greatly enhanced performance of Li storage. The particle with a length and width of ∼0.8 and ∼0.4 μm, respectively, was composed of clustered Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles with sizes of <20 nm. The capacity of the porous α-Fe(2)O(3) retained 911 mAh g(-1) after 50 cycles at a rate of 0.2 C. Even when cycled at 10 C, comparable capacity of 424 mAh g(-1) could be achieved.

Spindle-like mesoporous α-Fe₂O₃ anode material prepared from MOF template for high-rate lithium batteries.

The protonic ceramic electrochemical cell (PCEC) is an emerging and attractive technology that converts energy between power and hydrogen using solid oxide proton conductors at intermediate temperatures. To achieve efficient electrochemical hydrogen and power production with stable operation, highly robust and durable electrodes are urgently desired to facilitate water oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions, which are the critical steps for both electrolysis and fuel cell operation, especially at reduced temperatures. In this study, a triple conducting oxide of PrNi0.5Co0.5O3-δ perovskite is developed as an oxygen electrode, presenting superior electrochemical performance at 400~600 °C. More importantly, the self-sustainable and reversible operation is successfully demonstrated by converting the generated hydrogen in electrolysis mode to electricity without any hydrogen addition. The excellent electrocatalytic activity is attributed to the considerable proton conduction, as confirmed by hydrogen permeation experiment, remarkable hydration behavior and computations.

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Self-sustainable protonic ceramic electrochemical cells using a triple conducting electrode for hydrogen and power production.

High performance of proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cell with a layered PrBaCo2O5+δ cathode

Nanosized α-Fe2O3 and Li–Fe composite oxide electrodes for lithium-ion batteries

Prontonic ceramic membrane fuel cells with layered GdBaCo2O5+x cathode prepared by gel-casting and suspension spray

Reversible protonic ceramic electrochemical cells (R-PCECs) are a promising option for efficient and low-cost generation of electricity and hydrogen Commercialization of R-PCECs, however, hinges o

Hanping Ding

Papers

Self-sustainable protonic ceramic electrochemical cells using a triple conducting electrode for hydrogen and power production.

High performance of proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cell with a layered PrBaCo2O5+δ cathode

Nanosized α-Fe2O3 and Li–Fe composite oxide electrodes for lithium-ion batteries

Prontonic ceramic membrane fuel cells with layered GdBaCo2O5+x cathode prepared by gel-casting and suspension spray

An Active and Robust Air Electrode for Reversible Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cells