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Application of Nanomaterials in Solid-State Energy Storage Materials and Batteries

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A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy and Catalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2024) | Viewed by 16955

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Dr. Zhaoqiang Li

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Guest Editor

Laboratory of Beam Technology and Energy Materials, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100091, China
Interests: solid-state batteries; energy storage and conversion; oxygen electrocatalysis; metal-air batteries
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Zhibao Huo

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Guest Editor

College of Oceanography and Ecological Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
Interests: energy conversion; solid-state; catalyst
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Qiang Pang

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Guest Editor

School of Science, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
Interests: energy conversion; solid-state; catalyst
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is widely anticipated that the demand for electrical energy storage will escalate in the next few years. In order to unlock the huge potential of current lithium-ion batteries, in the nascent decarbonized revolution for the electric vehicle market and renewable electricity grids in the coming decade, innovations in safer, more affordable and energy-dense battery assembly are required. Therefore, research on developing all solid-state lithium batteries has been accelerating.

This Special Issue of Nanomaterials is planned to cover all aspects of solid-state batteries, from the principle to their design and manufacturing, and further, their applications. We also ask that you spread the information about this Special Issue to researchers whose interests concern solid-state batteries. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Nanoscale materials and nanotechnology in solid-state batteries;
Composite solid-state electrolytes and electrodes;
Nanostructures and nanomaterials in solid-state battery integration.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Zhaoqiang Li
Dr. Zhibao Huo
Dr. Qiang Pang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

solid-state batteries
nanomaterials
solid electrolytes
battery integration
solid interface chemistry

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 8934 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Structural, Electronic and Vibrational Properties of B₂₄N₂₄ Nanocapsules: Novel Anodes for Magnesium Batteries

by Domenico Corona, Francesco Buonocore, Friedhelm Bechstedt, Massimo Celino and Olivia Pulci

Nanomaterials 2024, 14(3), 271; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14030271 - 26 Jan 2024

Viewed by 816

Abstract

We report on DFT-TDDFT studies of the structural, electronic and vibrational properties of

B_{24} N_{24}

nanocapsules and the effect of encapsulation of homonuclear diatomic halogens (

C l_{2}

B r_{2}

and

I_{2}

) and chalcogens ( [...] Read more.

We report on DFT-TDDFT studies of the structural, electronic and vibrational properties of

B_{24} N_{24}

nanocapsules and the effect of encapsulation of homonuclear diatomic halogens (

C l_{2}

B r_{2}

and

I_{2}

) and chalcogens (

S_{2}

and

S e_{2}

) on the interaction of the

B_{24} N_{24}

nanocapsules with the divalent magnesium cation. In particular, to foretell whether these BN nanostructures could be proper negative electrodes for magnesium-ion batteries, the structural, vibrational and electronic properties, as well as the interaction energy and the cell voltage, which is important for applications, have been computed for each system, highlighting their differences and similarities. The encapsulation of halogen and chalcogen diatomic molecules increases the cell voltage, with an effect enhanced down groups 16 and 17 of the periodic table, leading to better performing anodes and fulfilling a remarkable cell voltage of 3.61 V for the iodine-encapsulated system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials in Solid-State Energy Storage Materials and Batteries)

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10 pages, 5199 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carbon Nanowalls as Anode Materials with Improved Performance Using Carbon Nanofibers

by Kangmin Kim, Chris Yeajoon Bon, Junghyun Kim, Jang Myoun Ko and Wonseok Choi

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(19), 2622; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13192622 - 22 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 830

Abstract

In this paper, a new synthesis of carbon nanofibers (CNFs)/carbon nanowalls (CNWs) was performed to improve the characteristics of anode materials of lithium-ion batteries by using the advantages offered by CNWs and CNFs. Among the carbon-based nanomaterials, CNWs provide low resistance and high specific surface area. CNFs have the advantage of being stretchable and durable. The CNWs were grown using a microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) system with a mixture of methane (CH₄) and hydrogen (H₂) gases. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and N,N-Dimethyl Formamide (DMF) were stirred to prepare a solution and then nanofibers were fabricated using an electrospinning method. Heat treatment in air was then performed using a hot plate for stabilization. In addition, heat treatment was performed at 800 °C for 2 h using rapid thermal annealing (RTA) to produce CNFs. A field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) was used to confirm surface and cross-sectional images of the CNFs/CNWs anode materials. Raman spectroscopy was used to examine structural characteristics and defects. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and constant current charge/discharge tests were performed to analyze the electrical characteristics. The synthesized CNFs/CNWs anode material had a CV value in which oxidation and reduction reactions were easily performed, and a low Rct value of 93 Ω was confirmed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials in Solid-State Energy Storage Materials and Batteries)

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10 pages, 5237 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Barium Titanate/Gadolinium Ferrite: A New Material Composite to Store Energy

by Clara Baivier, Imen Hammami, Ratiba Benzerga, Manuel P. F. Graça and Luís C. Costa

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(13), 1955; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13131955 - 27 Jun 2023

Viewed by 902

Abstract

This work investigates the dielectric properties of barium titanate/gadolinium ferrite ceramic composites, with different concentrations of each material. Our objective was to increase the storage ability of this material, finding a compromise between high permittivity and low dielectric losses. A two-step sintering procedure was used in the preparation of the composites to attain the desired results. Their morphological, structural and electrical properties were tested using scanning electron microscopy, X-Ray powder diffraction and impedance spectroscopy, respectively. Dielectric characterizations were performed on the frequency band of 100 Hz–1 MHz and for different temperatures (180–380 K). The best compromise between barium titanate and gadolinium ferrite in the composition was calculated in order to obtain a potential material for electrical energy storage. The sample with 25% gadolinium ferrite presented the best results. The dielectric constant reached values of the order of 2000, at 1 kHz and 340 K. It was also important not to have very high losses, and this was confirmed by the calculated loss tangent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials in Solid-State Energy Storage Materials and Batteries)

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14 pages, 5906 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rational Construction of C@Sn/NSGr Composites as Enhanced Performance Anodes for Lithium Ion Batteries

by Guanhua Yang, Yihong Li, Xu Wang, Zhiguo Zhang, Jiayu Huang, Jie Zhang, Xinghua Liang, Jian Su, Linhui Ouyang and Jianling Huang

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(2), 271; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13020271 - 9 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1378

Abstract

As a potential anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), metal tin shows a high specific capacity. However, its inherent “volume effect” may easily turn tin-based electrode materials into powder and make them fall off in the cycle process, eventually leading to the reduction of the specific capacity, rate and cycle performance of the batteries. Considering the “volume effect” of tin, this study proposes to construct a carbon coating and three-dimensional graphene network to obtain a “double confinement” of metal tin, so as to improve the cycle and rate performance of the composite. This excellent construction can stabilize the tin and prevent its agglomeration during heat treatment and its pulverization during cycling, improving the electrochemical properties of tin-based composites. When the optimized composite material of C@Sn/NSGr-7.5 was used as an anode material in LIB, it maintained a specific capacity of about 667 mAh g⁻¹ after 150 cycles at the current density of 0.1 A g⁻¹ and exhibited a good cycle performance. It also displayed a good rate performance with a capability of 663 mAh g⁻¹, 516 mAh g⁻¹, 389 mAh g⁻¹, 290 mAh g⁻¹, 209 mAh g⁻¹ and 141 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 A g⁻¹, 0.2 A g⁻¹, 0.5 A g⁻¹, 1 A g⁻¹, 2 A g⁻¹ and 5 A g⁻¹, respectively. Furthermore, it delivered certain capacitance characteristics, which could improve the specific capacity of the battery. The above results showed that this is an effective method to obtain high-performance tin-based anode materials, which is of great significance for the development of new anode materials for LIBs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials in Solid-State Energy Storage Materials and Batteries)

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9 pages, 2756 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Vanadium Hexacyanoferrate as a High-Capacity and High-Voltage Cathode for Aqueous Rechargeable Zinc Ion Batteries

by Shijing Zhang, Qiang Pang, Yuqing Ai, Wei He, Yao Fu, Mingming Xing, Ying Tian and Xixian Luo

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(23), 4268; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12234268 - 30 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1616

Abstract

Prussian blue analogs (PBAs) are widely used as electrode materials for secondary batteries because of their cheapness, ease of synthesis, and unique structural properties. Nevertheless, the unsatisfactory capacity and cyclic stability of PBAs are seriously preventing their practical applications. Here, vanadium hexacyanoferrate (VHCF) is successfully prepared and used as a cathode for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). When using 3 M Zn(CF₃SO₃)₂ as the electrolyte, a high capacity of ~230 mA h g⁻¹ and a high voltage of ~1.2 V can be achieved. The XRD result and XPS analysis indicate that the outstanding Zn²⁺ storage capability is due to the presence of dual electrochemical redox centers in VHCF (Fe²⁺ ⇋ Fe³⁺ and V⁵⁺ ⇋ V⁴⁺ ⇋ V³⁺). However, the battery shows a short cycle life (7.1% remaining capacity after 1000 cycles) due to the dissolution of VHCF. To elongate the cycle life of the battery, a high-concentration hybrid electrolyte is used to reduce the activity of water molecules. The improved battery exhibits an impressive capacity of 235.8 mA h g⁻¹ and good capacity retention (92.9%) after 1000 cycles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials in Solid-State Energy Storage Materials and Batteries)

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12 pages, 3294 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Oxygen Vacancies in Bismuth Tantalum Oxide to Anchor Polysulfide and Accelerate the Sulfur Evolution Reaction in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

by Chong Wang, Jian-Hao Lu, An-Bang Wang, Hao Zhang, Wei-Kun Wang, Zhao-Qing Jin and Li-Zhen Fan

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(20), 3551; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12203551 - 11 Oct 2022

Viewed by 1511

Abstract

The shuttling effect of soluble lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and the sluggish conversion kinetics of polysulfides into insoluble Li₂S₂/Li₂S severely hinders the practical application of Li-S batteries. Advanced catalysts can capture and accelerate the liquid–solid conversion of polysulfides. Herein, we try to make use of bismuth tantalum oxide with oxygen vacancies as an electrocatalyst to catalyze the conversion of LiPSs by reducing the sulfur reduction reaction (SRR) nucleation energy barrier. Oxygen vacancies in Bi₄TaO₇ nanoparticles alter the electron band structure to improve instinct electronic conductivity and catalytic activity. In addition, the defective surface could provide unsaturated bonds around the vacancies to enhance the chemisorption capability with LiPSs. Hence, a multidimensional carbon (super P/CNT/Graphene) standing sulfur cathode is prepared by coating oxygen vacancies Bi₄TaO_7−x nanoparticles, in which the multidimensional carbon (MC) with micropores structure can host sulfur and provide a fast electron/ion pathway, while the outer-coated oxygen vacancies with Bi₄TaO_7−x with improved electronic conductivity and strong affinities for polysulfides can work as an adsorptive and conductive protective layer to achieve the physical restriction and chemical immobilization of lithium polysulfides as well as speed up their catalytic conversion. Benefiting from the synergistic effects of different components, the S/C@Bi₃TaO_7−x coin cell cathode shows superior cycling and rate performance. Even under a high level of sulfur loading of 9.6 mg cm⁻², a relatively high initial areal capacity of 10.20 mAh cm⁻² and a specific energy density of 300 Wh kg⁻¹ are achieved with a low electrolyte/sulfur ratio of 3.3 µL mg⁻¹. Combined with experimental results and theoretical calculations, the mechanism by which the Bi₄TaO₇ with oxygen vacancies promotes the kinetics of polysulfide conversion reactions has been revealed. The design of the multiple confined cathode structure provides physical and chemical adsorption, fast charge transfer, and catalytic conversion for polysulfides. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials in Solid-State Energy Storage Materials and Batteries)

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16 pages, 4293 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Synergistic Effect of MoS₂ and NiS on the Electrical Properties of Iron Anodes for Ni-Fe Batteries

by Hongwei Tang, Mengyue Liu, Lingna Kong, Xiaoyan Wang, Yue Lei, Xige Li, Yan Hou, Kun Chang and Zhaorong Chang

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(19), 3472; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12193472 - 4 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1391

Abstract

In this paper, a series of Fe₃O₄/MoS₂/NiS composite electrodes were synthesized by a simple coprecipitation method. The influence of different ratio additives (MoS₂ and NiS) on the performance of iron anodes for Ni-Fe batteries was systematically investigated. In this paper, the mixed alkaline solution of 6 mol/L NaOH and 0.6 mol/L LiOH was used as electrolyte, and sintered Ni(OH)₂ was used as counterelectrode. The experimental results show that the MoS₂ and NiS additives can effectively eliminate the passivation phenomena in iron electrodes, reduce the electrode polarization, and increase the reversibility capacity. As a result, the Fe₃O₄/MoS₂/NiS composite electrodes exhibit a high specific capacity, good rate performance, and long cycling stability. Especially, the Fe₃O₄/MoS₂ (5%)/NiS (5%) electrode with a suitable ratio of additives can provide excellent electrochemical performance, with high discharge capacities of 657.9 mAh g⁻¹, 639.8 mAh g⁻¹, and 442.1 mAh g⁻¹ at 600 mA g⁻¹, 1200 mA g⁻¹, and 2400 mA g⁻¹, respectively. This electrode also exhibits good cycling stability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials in Solid-State Energy Storage Materials and Batteries)

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12 pages, 5419 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Sputtering Coating of Lithium Fluoride Film on Lithium Cobalt Oxide Electrodes for Reducing the Polarization of Lithium-Ion Batteries

by Shasha Qu, Wenbin Wu, Yunfan Wu, Yanping Zhuang, Jie Lin, Laisen Wang, Qiulong Wei, Qingshui Xie and Dong-Liang Peng

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(12), 3393; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11123393 - 14 Dec 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3159

Abstract

Lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) is the most widely used cathode materials in electronic devices due to the high working potential and dense tap density, but the performance is limited by the unstable interfaces at high potential. Herein, LiF thin film is sputtered on the surface of LCO electrodes for enhancing the electrochemical performance and reducing the voltage polarization. The polarization components are discussed and quantified by analyzing the relationship between electrochemical polarization and charger transfer resistance, as well as that between concentration polarization and Li-ion diffusion coefficients. In addition, the decreased charge transfer resistance, increased lithium-ion diffusion coefficients, and stabilized crystal structure of LiF-coated LCO are confirmed by various electrochemical tests and in-situ XRD experiments. Compared to that of pristine LCO, the capacity and cycling performance of LiF-coated LCO is improved, and the overpotential is reduced upon cycling. This work provides reference for quantifying the various polarization components, and the strategy of coating LiF film could be applied in developing other analogous cathode materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials in Solid-State Energy Storage Materials and Batteries)

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Review

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21 pages, 7038 KiB

Open AccessReview

Advances in WO₃-Based Supercapacitors: State-of-the-Art Research and Future Perspectives

by Giacometta Mineo, Elena Bruno and Salvo Mirabella

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(8), 1418; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13081418 - 20 Apr 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2462

Abstract

Electrochemical energy storage devices are one of the main protagonists in the ongoing technological advances in the energy field, whereby the development of efficient, sustainable, and durable storage systems aroused a great interest in the scientific community. Batteries, electrical double layer capacitors (EDLC), and pseudocapacitors are characterized in depth in the literature as the most powerful energy storage devices for practical applications. Pseudocapacitors bridge the gap between batteries and EDLCs, thus supplying both high energy and power densities, and transition metal oxide (TMO)-based nanostructures are used for their realization. Among them, WO₃ nanostructures inspired the scientific community, thanks to WO₃’s excellent electrochemical stability, low cost, and abundance in nature. This review analyzes the morphological and electrochemical properties of WO₃ nanostructures and their most used synthesis techniques. Moreover, a brief description of the electrochemical characterization methods of electrodes for energy storage, such as Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Galvanostatic Charge–Discharge (GCD), and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) are reported, to better understand the recent advances in WO₃-based nanostructures, such as pore WO₃ nanostructures, WO₃/carbon nanocomposites, and metal-doped WO₃ nanostructure-based electrodes for pseudocapacitor applications. This analysis is reported in terms of specific capacitance calculated as a function of current density and scan rate. Then we move to the recent progress made for the design and fabrication of WO₃-based symmetric and asymmetric supercapacitors (SSCs and ASCs), thus studying a comparative Ragone plot of the state-of-the-art research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials in Solid-State Energy Storage Materials and Batteries)

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35 pages, 5887 KiB

Open AccessReview

Metal Oxide Nanosheet: Synthesis Approaches and Applications in Energy Storage Devices (Batteries, Fuel Cells, and Supercapacitors)

by Arnob Das, Susmita Datta Peu, Md. Sanowar Hossain, Md Abdul Mannan Akanda, Mostafa M. Salah, Md Muzaffer Hosen Akanda, Mahbubur Rahman and Barun K. Das

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(6), 1066; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13061066 - 16 Mar 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2387

Abstract

In recent years, the increasing energy requirement and consumption necessitates further improvement in energy storage technologies to obtain high cycling stability, power and energy density, and specific capacitance. Two-dimensional metal oxide nanosheets have gained much interest due to their attractive features, such as composition, tunable structure, and large surface area which make them potential materials for energy storage applications. This review focuses on the establishment of synthesis approaches of metal oxide nanosheets (MO nanosheets) and their advancements over time, as well as their applicability in several electrochemical energy storage systems, such as fuel cells, batteries, and supercapacitors. This review provides a comprehensive comparison of different synthesis approaches of MO nanosheets, as well their suitability in several energy storage applications. Among recent improvements in energy storage systems, micro-supercapacitors, and several hybrid storage systems are rapidly emerging. MO nanosheets can be employed as electrode and catalyst material to improve the performance parameters of energy storage devices. Finally, this review outlines and discusses the prospects, future challenges, and further direction for research and applications of metal oxide nanosheets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials in Solid-State Energy Storage Materials and Batteries)

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