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Journal ArticleDOI

Sodium-ion batteries: present and future

19 Jun 2017-Chemical Society Reviews (The Royal Society of Chemistry)-Vol. 46, Iss: 12, pp 3529-3614
TL;DR: Current research on materials is summarized and discussed and future directions for SIBs are proposed to provide important insights into scientific and practical issues in the development of S IBs.
Abstract: Energy production and storage technologies have attracted a great deal of attention for day-to-day applications. In recent decades, advances in lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology have improved living conditions around the globe. LIBs are used in most mobile electronic devices as well as in zero-emission electronic vehicles. However, there are increasing concerns regarding load leveling of renewable energy sources and the smart grid as well as the sustainability of lithium sources due to their limited availability and consequent expected price increase. Therefore, whether LIBs alone can satisfy the rising demand for small- and/or mid-to-large-format energy storage applications remains unclear. To mitigate these issues, recent research has focused on alternative energy storage systems. Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are considered as the best candidate power sources because sodium is widely available and exhibits similar chemistry to that of LIBs; therefore, SIBs are promising next-generation alternatives. Recently, sodiated layer transition metal oxides, phosphates and organic compounds have been introduced as cathode materials for SIBs. Simultaneously, recent developments have been facilitated by the use of select carbonaceous materials, transition metal oxides (or sulfides), and intermetallic and organic compounds as anodes for SIBs. Apart from electrode materials, suitable electrolytes, additives, and binders are equally important for the development of practical SIBs. Despite developments in electrode materials and other components, there remain several challenges, including cell design and electrode balancing, in the application of sodium ion cells. In this article, we summarize and discuss current research on materials and propose future directions for SIBs. This will provide important insights into scientific and practical issues in the development of SIBs.

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Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The current advances, existing limitations, along with the possible solutions in the pursuit of cathode materials with high voltage, fast kinetics, and long cycling stability are comprehensively covered and evaluated to guide the future design of aqueous ZIBs with a combination of high gravimetric energy density, good reversibility, and a long cycle life.
Abstract: Aqueous zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) are truly promising contenders for the future large-scale electrical energy storage applications due to their cost-effectiveness, environmental friendliness, intri...

726 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors considered the use of hydrogen as a way of using fuel cells and showed that hydrogen can play a significant role for intermediate time storage of a few hours to several days, and even for intermediate scale capacity energy storage.
Abstract: Pumped-Storage of Water: It is the most efficient; it is developed in very large scale capacity storage facilities which require specific sites; nevertheless, in the future due to its long lifetime it will play a significant role for intermediate time storage of a few hours to several days, and even for intermediate scale capacity energy storage. Electrochemical Energy Storage in Batteries: It is now used locally in some places that are not connected to the electricity network and on the smart grids for frequency regulation or small peak production shifts. Examples include sodium sulfur batteries (NaS) which are used in Japan; redox flow batteries under development, and some large scale lithium–ion batteries (LIBs) that are used in specific places. Storage via Hydrogen: The development of hydrogen as a way of using fuel cells is considered and seems very interesting from the pollution point of view at the local scale. From the technical point of view, most of the problems are almost solved. Nevertheless, hydrogen has to be produced and stored; and in this case, the yield is quite low, similar to that of the internal combustion engine. Electricity storage via hydrogen requires water electrolysis, H2 gas storage, and electricity production in fuel cells, all of which leads to a low efficiency and therefore, significant energy loss during electricity storage.

719 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review comprehensively covering the studies on electrochemical materials for KIBs, including electrode and electrolyte materials and a discussion on recent achievements and remaining/emerging issues includes insights into electrode reactions and solid-state ionics and nonaqueous solution chemistry.
Abstract: Li-ion batteries (LIBs), commercialized in 1991, have the highest energy density among practical secondary batteries and are widely utilized in electronics, electric vehicles, and even stationary energy storage systems. Along with the expansion of their demand and application, concern about the resources of Li and Co is growing. Therefore, secondary batteries composed of earth-abundant elements are desired to complement LIBs. In recent years, K-ion batteries (KIBs) have attracted significant attention as potential alternatives to LIBs. Previous studies have developed positive and negative electrode materials for KIBs and demonstrated several unique advantages of KIBs over LIBs and Na-ion batteries (NIBs). Thus, besides being free from any scarce/toxic elements, the low standard electrode potentials of K/K+ electrodes lead to high operation voltages competitive to those observed in LIBs. Moreover, K+ ions exhibit faster ionic diffusion in electrolytes due to weaker interaction with solvents and anions than that of Li+ ions; this is essential to realize high-power KIBs. This review comprehensively covers the studies on electrochemical materials for KIBs, including electrode and electrolyte materials and a discussion on recent achievements and remaining/emerging issues. The review also includes insights into electrode reactions and solid-state ionics and nonaqueous solution chemistry as well as perspectives on the research-based development of KIBs compared to those of LIBs and NIBs.

651 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the challenges and recent developments related to rechargeable zinc-ion battery research are presented, as well as recent research trends and directions on electrode materials that can store Zn2+ and electrolytes that can improve the battery performance.
Abstract: The zinc-ion battery (ZIB) is a 2 century-old technology but has recently attracted renewed interest owing to the possibility of switching from primary to rechargeable ZIBs. Nowadays, ZIBs employing a mild aqueous electrolyte are considered one of the most promising candidates for emerging energy storage systems (ESS) and portable electronics applications due to their environmental friendliness, safety, low cost, and acceptable energy density. However, there are many drawbacks associated with these batteries that have not yet been resolved. In this Review, we present the challenges and recent developments related to rechargeable ZIB research. Recent research trends and directions on electrode materials that can store Zn2+ and electrolytes that can improve the battery performance are comprehensively discussed.

612 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a review describes the overall research activities focused on developing high-performance Li-ion batteries (LIBs) fabricated with various TiO2 polymorphs as insertion anodes.

127 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A theoretical analysis suggests that an intermediate phase encountered during phase transformation of VODP is crucial for better kinetics during battery operations, suggesting that the presence of intermediate phases is beneficial for cell kinetics by buffering the differences in lattice parameters between initial and final phases.
Abstract: Sodium ion batteries offer promising opportunities in emerging utility grid applications because of the low cost of raw materials, yet low energy density and limited cycle life remain critical drawbacks in their electrochemical operations. Herein, we report a vanadium-based ortho-diphosphate, Na_7V_4(P_2O_7)_4PO_4, or VODP, that significantly reduces all these drawbacks. Indeed, VODP exhibits single-valued voltage plateaus at 3.88 V vs. Na/Na+ while retaining substantial capacity (>78%) over 1,000 cycles. Electronic structure calculations reveal that the remarkable single plateau and cycle life originate from an intermediate phase (a very shallow voltage step) that is similar both in the energy level and lattice parameters to those of fully intercalated and deintercalated states. We propose a theoretical scheme in which the reaction barrier that arises from lattice mismatches can be evaluated by using a simple energetic consideration, suggesting that the presence of intermediate phases is beneficial for cell kinetics by buffering the differences in lattice parameters between initial and final phases. We expect these insights into the role of intermediate phases found for VODP hold in general and thus provide a helpful guideline in the further understanding and design of battery materials.

127 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is found that the increase in graphene layer spacing during intercalation only slightly depends on the chain length and is in the range of 250%, and still mechanical stability is preserved, and this provides a comprehensive study on the formation and the stability of t-GICs.
Abstract: The abundance of sodium has recently sparked considerable interest in sodium-ion batteries (NIBs). Their similarity to conventional lithium-ion technology is obvious; however, the cell chemistry often significantly deviates. Graphite, although being the standard negative electrode in Li-ion batteries, is largely inactive for Na-ion storage in conventional non-aqueous carbonate-based electrolytes, for example. Very recently, it has been demonstrated that graphite can be activated for Na-ion storage in cells with ether-based electrolytes. The storage mechanism is based on co-intercalation of solvent molecules along with the Na-ions, forming ternary graphite intercalation compounds (t-GICs). This process is highly reversible but yet poorly understood. Here, we provide a comprehensive study on the formation and the stability of t-GICs. A series of ether solvents are being discussed: linear glymes with different chain lengths (mono-, di-, tri-, and tetraglyme), several derivatives with side groups as well as tetrahydrofuran (THF) as a cyclic ether and one crown ether. We show that the redox potentials shift depending on the ether chain length and mixing of ethers might enable tailoring of the redox behaviour. The inferior behaviour of triglyme is likely due to the less ideal ion coordination. Complementary experiments with lithium are made and demonstrate the superior behaviour of sodium. We find that the increase in graphene layer spacing during intercalation only slightly depends on the chain length and is in the range of 250%, and still mechanical stability is preserved. We further show the t-GICs possess chemical stability and demonstrate that the kinetically favoured charge transfer is probably due to the absence of a solid electrolyte interphase.

126 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A systematic comparison between SnO 2/nitrogen-doped graphene nanohybrids and the SnO2/graphene counterpart as anode materials for sodium-ion batteries has been conducted and shows that the improved electron transfer efficiency of SnO1/ Nitrogen-Doped graphene due to nitrogen-doping plays a more important role than the increased electro-active sites within graphene network in enhancing the electro-activity.
Abstract: SnO2/nitrogen-doped graphene nanohybrids have been synthesized by an in situ hydrothermal method, during which the formation of SnO2 nanocrystals and nitrogen doping of graphene occur simultaneously. The as-prepared SnO2/nitrogen-doped graphene nanohybrids exhibit enhanced electrochemical performance for sodium-ion batteries compared to SnO2/graphene nanocomposites. A systematic comparison between SnO2/nitrogen-doped graphene nanohybrids and the SnO2/graphene counterpart as anode materials for sodium-ion batteries has been conducted. The comparison is in a reasonable framework, where SnO2/nitrogen-doped graphene nanohybrids and the SnO2/graphene counterpart have the same SnO2 ratio, similar SnO2 crystallinity and particle size, close surface area and pore size. The results clearly manifest that the improved electron transfer efficiency of SnO2/nitrogen-doped graphene due to nitrogen-doping plays a more important role than the increased electro-active sites within graphene network in enhancing the electro-activity of SnO2/nitrogen-doped graphene nanohybrids compared to the SnO2/graphene counterpart. In contrast to the previous reports which often ascribe the enhanced electro-activity of nitrogen-doped graphene based composites to two nitrogen-doping effects (improving the electron transfer efficiency and increasing electro-active sites within graphene networks) in one single declaration, this work is expected to provide more specific information for understanding the effects of nitrogen-doping into graphene on improving the electrochemical performance of graphene based composites.

126 citations