Batteries articles within Nature Communications

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• Article | 09 April 2013

  Graphene-modified LiFePO₄ cathode for lithium ion battery beyond theoretical capacity

  The specific capacity of an important commercial cathode material, lithium iron phosphate, is much lower than its theoretical value. Hu et al. report that incorporation of electrochemically exfoliated graphene layers in a carbon coating improves capacity beyond that predicted by theory.

  • By Lung-Hao Hu
  • , Feng-Yu Wu
  •  & Lain-Jong Li

• Article | 26 February 2013

  New class of nonaqueous electrolytes for long-life and safe lithium-ion batteries

  Safe lithium-ion batteries require stable electrolytes with high chemical resistance and high thermal tolerance. Chen et al. find a solid lithium-salt electrolyte that is able to give rise to a prolonged battery life and a delayed decomposition of battery cathodes.

  • Zonghai Chen
  • , Yang Ren
  •  & Khalil Amine

• Article | 26 February 2013

  Stretchable batteries with self-similar serpentine interconnects and integrated wireless recharging systems

  Components for flexible electronics capable of both bending and stretching have been reported but the fabrication of similarly pliable power sources remains challenging. Here, the authors present stretchable lithium ion batteries exploiting segmented layouts and deformable electrical interconnects.

  • Sheng Xu
  • , Yihui Zhang
  •  & John A. Rogers

• Article | 12 February 2013

  A new class of Solvent-in-Salt electrolyte for high-energy rechargeable metallic lithium batteries

  Commercial lithium-ion batteries normally use a liquid electrolyte. Suo et al. show that a glassy-like electrolyte containing a high concentration of lithium salt leads to a substantially enhanced battery performance because of suppressed formation of lithium dendrites on the lithium metal anodes.

  • Liumin Suo
  • , Yong-Sheng Hu
  •  & Liquan Chen

• Article | 12 February 2013

  Aromatic porous-honeycomb electrodes for a sodium-organic energy storage device

  A huge demand for lithium batteries necessitates more affordable alternatives. Sakaushi et al. describe rechargeable sodium batteries containing organic electrodes with a porous-honeycomb structure that are comparable to lithium batteries and capable of over 7,000 cycles.

  • Ken Sakaushi
  • , Eiji Hosono
  •  & Jürgen Eckert

• Article | 08 January 2013

  Sulphur–TiO₂ yolk–shell nanoarchitecture with internal void space for long-cycle lithium–sulphur batteries

  The practical performance of lithium–sulphur batteries is lower than expected because of polysulphide dissolution into the electrolyte over time. Sehet al. show that a yolk–shell nanoarchitecture is able to encapsulate sulphur cathode materials efficiently and thus allows over 1,000 charge/discharge cycles.

  • Zhi Wei Seh
  • , Weiyang Li
  •  & Yi Cui

• Article | 06 November 2012

  Lithium–sulphur batteries with a microporous carbon paper as a bifunctional interlayer

  The practical performance of lithium sulphide batteries is much less than their predicted performance because redox products dissolve over time. Su and Manthiram show that microporous carbon membranes inserted between cathode and separator localize soluble polysulphide species and improve battery cycling characteristics.

  • Yu-Sheng Su
  •  & Arumugam Manthiram

• Article | 23 October 2012

  A high-rate and long cycle life aqueous electrolyte battery for grid-scale energy storage

  The integration of volatile renewable energy sources into the electrical power grid will require a significant increase in electrical storage capacity. Here a new type of safe, fast, inexpensive and long-life aqueous electrolyte battery is reported, which may aid the development of increased grid capacity.

  • Mauro Pasta
  • , Colin D. Wessells
  •  & Yi Cui

• Article | 26 June 2012

  An ultrafast nickel–iron battery from strongly coupled inorganic nanoparticle/nanocarbon hybrid materials

  Fast rechargeable batteries made from low-cost and abundant electrode materials are attractive for energy storage. Wanget al. develop an ultrafast Ni–Fe battery with carbon/inorganic hybrid electrodes in which the charge and discharge rates are nearly 1,000-fold higher than traditional Ni–Fe batteries.

  • Hailiang Wang
  • , Yongye Liang
  •  & Hongjie Dai

• Article
  22 May 2012 | Open Access

  Superionic glass-ceramic electrolytes for room-temperature rechargeable sodium batteries

  Rechargeable solid-state batteries are promising sources of energy for a range of applications. Hayashiet al. examine the electrochemistry of solid-state sodium batteries, and present an electrolyte that operates at room temperature.

  • Akitoshi Hayashi
  • , Kousuke Noi
  •  & Masahiro Tatsumisago

• Article | 22 November 2011

  Copper hexacyanoferrate battery electrodes with long cycle life and high power

  Batteries that operate at high power and cycling efficiencies could facilitate the development of large-scale energy storage systems. Wessellset al.report a metal–organic framework electrode that operates in an inexpensive aqueous electrolyte with excellent capacity retention over a very large number of cycles.

  • Colin D. Wessells
  • , Robert A. Huggins
  •  & Yi Cui

• Article | 01 November 2011

  A high-rate long-life Li₄Ti₅O₁₂/Li[Ni_0.45Co_0.1Mn_1.45]O₄ lithium-ion battery

  Advanced rechargeable lithium-ion batteries have potential applications in the renewable energy and sustainable road transport fields. Junget al. have developed a lithium battery that uses pre-existing concepts but has highly competitive energy densities, life span and cycling properties.

  • Hun-Gi Jung
  • , Min Woo Jang
  •  & Bruno Scrosati

• Article
  23 August 2011 | Open Access

  Reverse electrowetting as a new approach to high-power energy harvesting

  High-power mechanical energy harvesting could be an alternative to batteries, but efficient energy conversion technology has been missing. Here, a novel mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion method is described that is based on reverse electrowetting and is uniquely suited for high-power energy harvesting.

  • Tom Krupenkin
  •  & J. Ashley Taylor

• Article
  09 August 2011 | Open Access

  Structure and compatibility of a magnesium electrolyte with a sulphur cathode

  Magnesium is an ideal rechargeable battery anode material, but coupling it with a low-cost sulphur cathode, requires a non-nucleophilic electrolyte. Kimet al. prepare a non-nucleophilic electrolyte from hexamethyldisilazide magnesium chloride and aluminium trichloride, and show its compatibility with a sulphur cathode.

  • Hee Soo Kim
  • , Timothy S. Arthur
  •  & John Muldoon

• Article | 24 May 2011

  Stabilizing lithium–sulphur cathodes using polysulphide reservoirs

  Lithium–sulphur batteries may achieve higher energy densities than conventional lithium-ion cells, but the dissolution of sulphur intermediates is a continuing challenge. Here this problem is overcome using a cathode with a mesoporous structure that is able to accommodate intermediate polysulphide anions.

  • Xiulei Ji
  • , Scott Evers
  •  & Linda F. Nazar