Boosting low-temperature sodium/potassium storage performance of Bi via novel electrochemical milling process. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, B.; Yang, H.; Feng, Y.; Zeng, S.; Tan, L.; Xu, R.; Wang, L.; Hu, R.; Yu, Y.
• Is Part Of: Materials today energy. Volume 20(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: 3D interconnected porous channels -- Sodium/potassium-ion batteries -- Potassium-ion hybrid capacitors -- Bismuth (Bi); Energy development -- Periodicals; Energy industries -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Energy policy -- Periodicals; Energy development; Energy industries; Energy policy; Power resources; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtener.2020.100627
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2468-6069

Abstract

Abstract: The development of low-temperature (Low-T) sodium/potassium-ion batteries (NIBs/KIBs) with both high power density and high energy density is essential for critical applications (i.e. defense, aerospace). However, it is greatly challenged to realize high-performance electrode material because of the extremely sluggish desolvation of the charge carrier (Na + /K + ) at Low-T. Here, we exploit a mechanism implicitly occurring in sodium batteries during cycling to develop it into a top-down method in the synthesis of electrode materials with ultrasmall particle size and pronounced nanoporosity associated with unprecedented electrochemical properties at Low-T. Taking bismuth (Bi) as an example, we demonstrate this novel electrochemical milling process (EMP) to prepare ultrasmall-sized Bi nanoparticles embedded in a three-dimensional (3D) porous carbon framework (EMP-Bi@3DCF) that shows excellent both sodium/potassium storage performance at −20 °C. The ultrasmall sized Bi nanoparticles (~10 nm) via EMP and 3D interconnected porous channels reduce the diffusion path of electron/ion, realizing the ultrafast kinetics process at Low-T. The EMP-Bi@3DCF anodes demonstrate superior rate performances (190 mAh g −1 at 5 A g −1 for NIBs and 233 mAh g −1 at 20 A g −1 for KIBs) and long cycle life (205 mAh g −1 after 2, 000 cycles at 10 A g −1 for KIBs) at −20 °C. Furthermore, when used as potassium-ion hybrid capacitors (PIHCs), the EMP-Bi@3DCF exhibits a distinctly better performance than the previously reported PIHCs at Low-T. This work offers a new top-down method to fabricate high-performance electrode materials for both NIBs and KIBs at Low-T. Graphical abstract: The size of Bi particles in 3DCF decreases to ~10 nm via electrochemical milling process. The obtained EMP-Bi@3DCF electrode delivers superior Low-T Na storage properties. Image 1