Batteries articles within Nature Chemistry

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  • Research Briefing |

    Ether-based electrolytes are desired for lithium metal batteries owing to their low reduction potentials; however, they suffer from low anodic stability. Strategic methylation of ether solvents is shown to extend their electrochemical stability and facilitate the formation of LiF-rich interphases, enabling high-voltage lithium metal batteries while avoiding the use of fluorinated solvents.

  • Article |

    Lithium metal batteries are an attractive energy storage technology, but their development relies on the complex interplay between the components’ chemical, physical and mechanical properties. Now, selective methylation of dimethoxyethane ether electrolytes is shown to improve electrolyte, electrode and solid–electrolyte interphase stabilities to enable high-performance 4.3 V lithium metal batteries.

    • Ai-Min Li
    • , Oleg Borodin
    •  & Chunsheng Wang

  • News & Views |

    Although Li–O2 batteries offer high theoretical energy storage capacities, few approach these limits. Now, a class of redox mediators is shown to send the discharge reaction from the electrode surface into the electrolyte solution, boosting device capacities and providing selection criteria for future efforts.

    • Zhangquan Peng

  • Article |

    Although Li–O2 batteries offer high theoretical capacities, redox mediators are necessary to control intermediate reaction kinetics and to limit electrode passivation. Now it has been shown that a family of triarylmethyl cations can rival top-performing quinone-based redox mediators. Cations with sluggish catalytic rates were found to suppress surface-mediated O2 reduction and achieve higher capacitances.

    • Erik J. Askins
    • , Marija R. Zoric
    •  & Ksenija D. Glusac

  • Article |

    Ultra-high-capacity Li–air batteries have low Coulombic efficiency and degrade during re-charging, resulting in a poor cycle life. Redox mediators enable improvements but only at undesirably high potentials. The origin of this high potential and the impact of purported reactive intermediates has now been elucidated by resolving the charging mechanism using Marcus theory.

    • Sunyhik Ahn
    • , Ceren Zor
    •  & Peter G. Bruce

  • News & Views |

    Aqueous organic redox flow batteries are promising for low-cost and large-scale energy storage, but the redox-active molecules they rely on degrade prematurely. Now, a facile electrochemical protocol to regenerate them has been proposed, resulting in extended battery lifetimes.

    • Antoni Forner-Cuenca

  • Article |

    Aqueous organic redox flow batteries offer a safe and inexpensive solution to the problem of storing electricity produced from intermittent renewables. However, decomposition of the redox-active organic molecules that they rely on limits their lifetimes, preventing commercialization. Now it has been shown that these redox molecules can be electro-recomposed in situ, rejuvenating their function.

    • Yan Jing
    • , Evan Wenbo Zhao
    •  & Michael J. Aziz

  • Article |

    Nickel-rich layered oxides, such as NCM622, are promising cathode materials for lithium batteries, but chemo-mechanical failures hinder their practical application. Now the solid-state synthesis of NCM622 has been studied using multiscale in situ techniques, and kinetic competition between precursor decomposition and lithiation has been observed to lead to spatially heterogeneous intermediates and the formation of defects that are detrimental to cycling.

    • Hyeokjun Park
    • , Hayoung Park
    •  & Kisuk Kang

  • Article |

    Super-concentrated water-in-salt electrolytes enable high-voltage aqueous batteries, but have considerable drawbacks such as high viscosity, low conductivity and slow kinetics. Now a concentration-dependent association between CO2 and TFSI– has been discovered and leveraged to decouple the interphasial responsibility of an aqueous electrolyte from its bulk properties, making high-voltage aqueous Li-ion batteries practical in dilute salt-in-water electrolytes.

    • Jinming Yue
    • , Jinkai Zhang
    •  & Liquan Chen

  • Article |

    The use of anionic redox chemistry in high-capacity Li-rich cathodes is being hampered by voltage hysteresis, the origin of which remains obscure. Now it has been shown that sluggish ligand-to-metal charge transfer kinetically traps an intermediate Fe4+ species and is responsible for voltage hysteresis in the prototypical Li-rich cation-disordered rock-salt Li1.17Ti0.33Fe0.5O2.

    • Biao Li
    • , Moulay Tahar Sougrati
    •  & Jean-Marie Tarascon

  • Thesis |

    We’re in the middle of an energy revolution, argues Bruce C. Gibb, and chemistry is an integral part of it.

    • Bruce C. Gibb

  • Article |

    Phase-forming conversion chemistry, like that observed in Li–S and Li–O2 batteries, shows great promise, but these systems suffer some drawbacks, such as practically low cathode areal capacities and electrolyte decomposition. Now, high-energy conversion battery chemistry—based on nitrate/nitrite redox where one of the products is soluble—has been enabled by using nanoparticulate Ni/NiO electrocatalysts.

    • Vincent Giordani
    • , Dylan Tozier
    •  & Dan Addison

  • News & Views |

    Interphases that form on the anode surface of lithium-ion batteries are critical for performance and lifetime, but are poorly understood. Now, a decade-old misconception regarding a main component of the interphase has been revealed, which could potentially lead to improved devices.

    • Stefan A. Freunberger

  • News & Views |

    Aqueous batteries hold promise for large-scale energy storage, but are often maligned because of their low energy densities. Now, a demonstration of halogen conversion–intercalation chemistry inside graphite has blazed a trail for high-energy aqueous batteries.

    • Xianyong Wu
    •  & Xiulei Ji

  • Article |

    Developing a stable metallic lithium anode is necessary for next-generation batteries; however, lithium is prone to corrosion, a process that must be better understood if practical devices are to be created. A Kirkendall-type mechanism of lithium corrosion has now been observed. The corrosion is fast and is governed by a galvanic process.

    • Dingchang Lin
    • , Yayuan Liu
    •  & Yi Cui

  • Article |

    The use of Li or Na as electrodes in Li-Na alloy–O2 batteries creates formidable challenges for both safety and stability because of their oxidative corrosion and the growth of dendrites and cracks on their surface. Now, an aprotic bimetal Li-Na alloy–O2 battery with high cycling stability has been developed using a Li-Na eutectic alloy anode and an electrolyte additive.

    • Jin-ling Ma
    • , Fan-lu Meng
    •  & Qing Jiang

  • Article |

    Calcium-ion batteries are potentially attractive alternatives to lithium-ion batteries, but remain largely unexplored because of low performance. A reversible calcium alloying/de-alloying reaction with the tin anode has now been coupled with the intercalation/de-intercalation of hexafluorophosphate in the graphite cathode to enable a calcium-ion battery that operates stably at room temperature.

    • Meng Wang
    • , Chunlei Jiang
    •  & Hui-Ming Cheng

  • Article |

    Mg-based batteries possess potential advantages over their lithium counterparts; however, the use of reversible oxidation-resistant, carbonate-based electrolytes has been hindered because of their undesirable electrochemical reduction reactions. Now, by engineering a Mg2+-conductive artificial interphase on a Mg electrode surface, which prevents such reactivity, highly reversible Mg deposition/stripping in carbonate-based electrolytes has been demonstrated.

    • Seoung-Bum Son
    • , Tao Gao
    •  & Chunmei Ban

  • News & Views |

    Combining conventional transition-metal oxidation with oxygen oxidation in 'lithium-excess' materials is a recently discovered route to improving the capacity of lithium-ion batteries. Now two studies, one experimental and one theoretical, have investigated the processes, states and structures involved.

    • Claude Delmas

  • Article |

    The chemistry of the transition metals within the oxide cathodes of lithium-ion batteries typically limits their capacity, however, reversible oxygen redox could potentially break this limit. It is now demonstrated that Li-excess and cation disorder create specific environments around oxygen atoms that lead to labile oxygen electrons that participate in the practical capacity of cathodes.

    • Dong-Hwa Seo
    • , Jinhyuk Lee
    •  & Gerbrand Ceder

  • Article |

    The energy that can be stored in lithium-ion batteries is typically limited by the redox chemistry of the transition metals within the cathodes. Now it is shown that for Li1.2[Ni2+0.13Co3+0.13Mn4+0.54]O2, a 3d-transition-metal oxide that breaks this limit, Li-ion extraction is charge compensated not just by transition-metal oxidation but also through the generation of localized electron-holes on oxygen.

    • Kun Luo
    • , Matthew R. Roberts
    •  & Peter G. Bruce

  • Article |

    Li+-selective solid electrolytes may enable next-generation battery systems, such as Li–S and Li–O2. Now, in an exemplar system, it is shown that a resistive interphase forms at the interface between solid and liquid electrolytes, termed the solid-liquid electrolyte interphase (SLEI). An in situ study of this undesirable effect is supported by state-of-the-art surface analysis.

    • Martin R. Busche
    • , Thomas Drossel
    •  & Jürgen Janek

  • News & Views |

    The use of renewable resources as providers to the electrical grid is hampered by the intermittent and irregular nature in which they generate energy. Electrical energy storage technology could provide a solution and now, by using an iterative design process, a promising anolyte for use in redox flow batteries has been developed.

    • Wei Wang
    •  & Vince Sprenkle

  • Article |

    Better understanding of the chemistry of rechargeable metal–oxygen batteries is needed to fulfil their potential. It is now shown that proton phase-transfer catalysts drive Na–O2 batteries, transporting superoxide between the electrode surface and the electrolyte as HO2. The chemistry uncovered gives rise to the system's high reversible capacity.

    • Chun Xia
    • , Robert Black
    •  & Linda F. Nazar

  • Article |

    The maximum attainable capacity of the Li–O2 battery is limited by the passivation of its cathode by electronically insulating Li2O2. It is now shown that electrolyte additives, which activate solution-mediated growth of Li2O2, make it possible to circumvent this fundamental limitation, leading to design rules for additive selection.

    • Nagaphani B. Aetukuri
    • , Bryan D. McCloskey
    •  & Alan C. Luntz

  • Review Article |

    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.

    • D. Larcher
    •  & J-M. Tarascon

  • Article |

    The mechanism of O2 reduction in aprotic solvents is important for the operation of Li–O2 batteries but is not well understood. A single unified mechanism is now described that regards previous models as limiting cases. It shows that the solubility of the intermediate LiO2 is a critical factor that dictates the mechanism, emphasizing the importance of the solvent.

    • Lee Johnson
    • , Chunmei Li
    •  & Peter G. Bruce

  • News & Views |

    The rechargeable Li–O2 battery has low energy efficiency, which is mainly due to kinetic difficulties in the electrochemical oxidation of the insulating discharge product, Li2O2. Now a redox mediator, acting as an electron–hole transfer agent, has been used to promote this oxidation reaction.

    • Yonggang Wang
    •  & Yongyao Xia

  • Article |

    Recharging Li–O2 batteries requires oxidation of the discharge product solid Li2O2. Now a redox-mediating molecule is shown to assist this process by transferring electron–holes between solid Li2O2 and the positive electrode in a non-aqueous Li–O2 cell. This allows the cell to be charged at rates that are otherwise impossible.

    • Yuhui Chen
    • , Stefan A. Freunberger
    •  & Peter G. Bruce

  • News & Views |

    The reversible reduction and evolution of oxygen are the key processes to be mastered before high-energy rechargeable lithium–air batteries can be successfully created. Now an advance towards this goal has been achieved with the synthesis of a pyrochlore catalyst that benefits from a mesoporous structure and oxygen deficiencies.

    • Fangyi Cheng
    •  & Jun Chen

  • Article |

    The lithium–O2 battery can theoretically provide energy densities that greatly exceed that of Li-ion, but it requires more efficient catalysts (or ‘promoters’) than carbon for oxygen reduction and evolution. Here, we report a tailor-made mesoporous metallic oxide that results in high reversible capacities and operates over many cycles.

    • Si Hyoung Oh
    • , Robert Black
    •  & Linda F. Nazar

  • Article |

    Lithium–air batteries have the possibility of having a very high energy density, but their use has been hampered by a limited number of charge–discharge cycles and a low current-rate capability. Now, exploiting a suitable, stable electrolyte allows an advanced lithium–air battery to operate with many cycles at various capacity and rate values.

    • Hun-Gi Jung
    • , Jusef Hassoun
    •  & Bruno Scrosati

  • Article |

    With the cost of noble metal oxygen-reduction catalysts rendering some fuel cells and batteries prohibitively expensive, the search for effective and cheaper catalysts is underway and would be speeded up by ‘design principles’. Now, the catalytic activity of oxide materials has been correlated to σ*-orbital occupation and the extent of metal–oxygen covalency.

    • Jin Suntivich
    • , Hubert A. Gasteiger
    •  & Yang Shao-Horn

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