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Two-dimensional heterostructures for energy storage

Nature Energy volume 2, Article number: 17089 (2017) Cite this article

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Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) materials provide slit-shaped ion diffusion channels that enable fast movement of lithium and other ions. However, electronic conductivity, the number of intercalation sites, and stability during extended cycling are also crucial for building high-performance energy storage devices. While individual 2D materials, such as graphene, show some of the required properties, none of them can offer all properties needed to maximize energy density, power density, and cycle life. Here we argue that stacking different 2D materials into heterostructured architectures opens an opportunity to construct electrodes that would combine the advantages of the individual building blocks while eliminating the associated shortcomings. We discuss characteristics of common 2D materials and provide examples of 2D heterostructured electrodes that showed new phenomena leading to superior electrochemical performance. We also consider electrode fabrication approaches and finally outline future steps to create 2D heterostructured electrodes that could greatly expand current energy storage technologies.

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Figure 1: Overcoming limitations of current batteries by using 2D materials.
Figure 2: Schematic illustration of the electrochemical cycling process in a battery with 2D heterostructured pillared electrodes.
Figure 3: Fabrication of 2D heterostructured electrodes through layer-by-layer assembly.

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Acknowledgements

Y.G. acknowledges funding from the Fluid Interface Reactions, Structures and Transport (FIRST) Center, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, 19104, Pennsylvania, USA

    Ekaterina Pomerantseva & Yury Gogotsi

  2. A. J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, 19104, Pennsylvania, USA

    Yury Gogotsi

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  1. Ekaterina Pomerantseva
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  2. Yury Gogotsi
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Correspondence to Ekaterina Pomerantseva or Yury Gogotsi.

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Pomerantseva, E., Gogotsi, Y. Two-dimensional heterostructures for energy storage. Nat Energy 2, 17089 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nenergy.2017.89

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