Recent Advances in Battery Science and Technology - Chemistry of

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Editorial pubs.acs.org/cm

Recent Advances in Battery Science and Technology

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With high potentially usable capacity and the readily available materials, the Li−S battery system, where S8 is the cathode (converting on full discharge to Li2S) and the anode is Li, shows as much promise as it presents challenges. In contrast to more conventional systems (for example the LiCoO2 cathodes and Li-intercalated graphite anodes), the cathode is neither electronically nor ionically conducting in the charged or discharged states. A further challenge arises from polysulfide intermediates formed during the discharge process being soluble in the electrolytes. All of this suggests a need for fundamental science and technology related to these material systems.19−24 In the area of new cathodes for Li- and Na-ion batteries are the goals of achieving higher potentials, faster operating rates, and greater sustainability (i.e., organic materials). All of these have been investigated, from the fundamental and applications viewpoint, in references 25−28. And finally, references 29 and 30 discuss new advances and insights in anode materials based on Ge and Si. We hope that readers interested in battery research, whether experts, newcomers, or students and educationists, will find this virtual collection of 30 publications useful. Thanks for reading.

he current era is frequently and justifiably referred to as the silicon age or as the age of information. Recent years have seen the added twist that users in this era expect the information to be readily available at all times and at all places. The information age has morphed into the age of portable information. In enabling this age of portable information, one could argue that lithium-ion batteries have played a central, starring role. This is a matter of pride to the many practitioners of chemistry, engineering, and materials science of electrochemical energy storage that enabled the revolution in high energy-density electrochemical energy storage. It is worth considering that if we were to attempt to power our modern electronics with technologies predating lithium-ion batteries, we would very likely be going about our everyday lives with little pull-carts following us to carry the significantly heavier and bulkier older technologies such as lead-acid batteries. Lithium-ion-based portable power is also bringing about a new revolution in transportation. Of equal impending importance is grid-scale power storage as we increasingly attempt to replace more traditional power generation with intermittent renewables such as solar photovoltaics. The community at large clearly recognizes the need to push new advances in battery science and technology while building on current successes. This virtual issue (http://pubs.acs.org/ page/vi/2015/batteries.html) is a compilation of 30 relevant articles that have appeared since 2013 in three different ACS journals: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Chemistry of Materials, and The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. Lithiumion is by no means the only technology explored in these publications. Clearly, the domain of research is thriving, and ACS journals are leading the way. The selection of articles reflects a combination of what is seen as impactful, opening up new directions, or providing deep and important insights. The materials and systems addressed include cathodes, anodes, electrolytes, and related materials. References 1−7 are reviews and perspectives including descriptions of ion conducting membranes by Kreuer,2 the use of highly electronegative groups such as sulfate to increase the voltage of cathodes by Rousse and Tarascon,3 and the use of high-throughput screening methods to accelerate the discovery of new electrolyte materials by Cheng et al.6 There has been a great deal of recent interest in the use of O2 as a high-energy density, high-voltage cathode in alkali batteries, and these are considered in references 8−12. These systems, while displaying great promise, are also rife with challenges including the instability of most electrolytes and other organic matter under operating conditions. In this regard, the articles by McCloskey et al.10 and Amanchukwu et al.12 are particularly insightful. Also very current at the present time is the search for new, safer electrolyte systems.13−18 In particular, it is widely understood that effective solid electrolyte systems may enable a range of higher energy density, safer battery technologies. The new studies range from composite gels,13 to chalcogenides,14,15 to the now ubiquitous garnets,16 new predictions,17 and systems for flow batteries.18 © XXXX American Chemical Society

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Ram Seshadri, Associate Editor, Chemistry of Materials Kristin Persson, Associate Editor, Chemistry of Materials Prashant V. Kamat, Deputy Editor, The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters Yiying Wu, Associate Editor, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces AUTHOR INFORMATION

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Views expressed in this editorial are those of the author and not necessarily the views of the ACS.

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RELATED READINGS

(1) Yu, H.; Zhou, H. High-Energy Cathode Materials (Li2MnO3− LiMO2) for Lithium-Ion Batteries. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2013, 4, 1268− 1280. (2) Kreuer, K.-D. Ion Conducting Membranes for Fuel Cells and Other Electrochemical Devices. Chem. Mater. 2014, 26, 361−380. (3) Rousse, G.; Tarascon, J. M. Sulfate-Based Polyanionic Compounds for Li-Ion Batteries: Synthesis, Crystal Chemistry, and Electrochemistry Aspects. Chem. Mater. 2014, 26, 394−406. (4) Song, T.; Hu, L.; Paik, U. One-Dimensional Silicon Nanostructures for Li Ion Batteries. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2014, 5, 720−731. (5) Erickson, E. M.; Ghanty, C.; Aurbach, D. New Horizons for Conventional Lithium Ion Battery Technology. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2014, 5, 3313−3324. (6) Cheng, L.; Assary, R. S.; Qu, X.; Jain, A.; Ong, S. P.; Rajput, N. N.; Persson, K.; Curtiss, L. A. Accelerating Electrolyte Discovery for Energy Storage with High-Throughput Screening. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2015, 6, 283−291.

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DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b02350 Chem. Mater. XXXX, XXX, XXX−XXX

Chemistry of Materials

Editorial

(7) Yang, C.-P.; Yin, Y.-X.; Guo, Y.-G. Elemental Selenium for Electrochemical Energy Storage. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2015, 6, 256−266. (8) Lu, Y.-C.; Shao-Horn, Y. Probing the Reaction Kinetics of the Charge Reactions of Nonaqueous Li−O2 Batteries. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2013, 4, 93−99. (9) Viswanathan, V.; Nørskov, J. K.; Speidel, A.; Scheffler, R.; Gowda, S.; Luntz, A. C. Li−O2 Kinetic Overpotentials: Tafel Plots From Experiment and First-Principles Theory. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2013, 4, 556−560. (10) McCloskey, B. D.; Valery, A.; Luntz, A. C.; Gowda, S. R.; Wallraff, G. M.; Garcia, J. M.; Mori, T.; Krupp, L. E. Combining Accurate O2 and Li2O2 Assays to Separate Discharge and Charge Stability Limitations in Nonaqueous Li−O2 Batteries. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2013, 4, 2989−2993. (11) Ren, X.; Lau, K. C.; Yu, M.; Bi, X.; Kreidler, E.; Curtiss, L. A.; Wu, Y. Understanding Side Reactions in K−O2 Batteries for Improved Cycle Life. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2014, 6, 19299−19307. (12) Amanchukwu, C. V.; Harding, J. R.; Shao-Horn, Y.; Hammond, P. T. Understanding the Chemical Stability of Polymers for Lithium− Air Batteries. Chem. Mater. 2015, 27, 550−561. (13) Wong, D. H. C.; Vitale, A.; Devaux, D.; Taylor, A.; Pandya, A. A.; Hallinan, D. T.; Thelen, J. L.; Mecham, S. J.; Lux, S. F.; Lapides, A. M.; Resnick, P. R.; Meyer, T. J.; Kostecki, R. M.; Balsara, N. P.; DeSimone, J. M. Phase Behavior and Electrochemical Characterization of Blends of Perfluoropolyether, Poly(Ethylene Glycol), and a Lithium Salt. Chem. Mater. 2015, 27, 597−603. (14) Brant, J. A.; Massi, D. M.; Holzwarth, N. A. W.; MacNeil, J. H.; Douvalis, A. P.; Bakas, T.; Martin, S. W.; Gross, M. D.; Aitken, J. A. Fast Lithium Ion Conduction in Li2SnS3: Synthesis, Physicochemical Characterization, and Electronic Structure. Chem. Mater. 2015, 27, 189−196. (15) Kim, S. K.; Mao, A.; Sen, S.; Kim, S. Fast Na-Ion Conduction in a Chalcogenide Glass−Ceramic in the Ternary System Na2Se− Ga2Se3−GeSe2. Chem. Mater. 2014, 26, 5695−5699. (16) Zeier, W. G.; Zhou, S.; Lopez-Bermudez, B.; Page, K.; Melot, B. C. Dependence of the Li-Ion Conductivity and Activation Energies on the Crystal Structure and Ionic Radii in Li6MLa2Ta2O12. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2014, 6, 10900−10907. (17) Emly, A.; Kioupakis, E.; Van der Ven, A. Phase Stability and Transport Mechanisms in Antiperovskite Li3OCl and Li3OBr Superionic Conductors. Chem. Mater. 2013, 25, 4663−4670. (18) Chen, D.; Hickner, M. A.; Agar, E.; Kumbur, E. C. Optimized Anion Exchange Membranes for Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2013, 5, 7559−7566. (19) Xu, T.; Song, J.; Gordin, M. L.; Sohn, H.; Yu, Z.; Chen, S.; Wang, D. Mesoporous Carbon−Carbon Nanotube−Sulfur Composite Microspheres for High-Areal-Capacity Lithium−Sulfur Battery Cathodes. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2013, 5, 11355−11362. (20) Cuisinier, M.; Cabelguen, P.-E.; Evers, S.; He, G.; Kolbeck, M.; Garsuch, A.; Bolin, T.; Balasubramanian, M.; Nazar, L. F. Sulfur Speciation in Li−S Batteries Determined by Operando X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2013, 4, 3227−3232. (21) Agostini, M.; Hassoun, J.; Liu, J.; Jeong, M.; Nara, H.; Momma, T.; Osaka, T.; Sun, Y.-K.; Scrosati, B. A Lithium-Ion Sulfur Battery Based on a Carbon-Coated Lithium-Sulfide Cathode and an Electrodeposited Silicon-Based Anode. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2014, 6, 10924−10928. (22) See, K. A.; Jun, Y.-S.; Gerbec, J. A.; Sprafke, J. K.; Wudl, F.; Stucky, G. D.; Seshadri, R. Sulfur-Functionalized Mesoporous Carbons as Sulfur Hosts in Li−S Batteries: Increasing the Affinity of Polysulfide Intermediates to Enhance Performance. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2014, 6, 10908−10916. (23) Yu, X.; Manthiram, A. Highly Reversible Room-Temperature Sulfur/Long-Chain Sodium Polysulfide Batteries. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2014, 5, 1943−1947. (24) Meini, S.; Elazari, R.; Rosenman, A.; Garsuch, A.; Aurbach, D. The Use of Redox Mediators for Enhancing Utilization of Li2S Cathodes for Advanced Li−S Battery Systems. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2014, 5, 915−918.

(25) Liu, Z.; Hu, Y.-Y.; Dunstan, M. T.; Huo, H.; Hao, X.; Zou, H.; Zhong, G.; Yang, Y.; Grey, C. P. Local Structure and Dynamics in the Na Ion Battery Positive Electrode Material Na3V2(PO4)2F3. Chem. Mater. 2014, 26, 2513−2521. (26) Park, K.-Y.; Park, I.; Kim, H.; Lim, H.-D.; Hong, J.; Kim, J.; Kang, K. Anti-Site Reordering in LiFePO4: Defect Annihilation on Charge Carrier Injection. Chem. Mater. 2014, 26, 5345−5351. (27) Melot, B. C.; Scanlon, D. O.; Reynaud, M.; Rousse, G.; Chotard, J.-N.; Henry, M.; Tarascon, J.-M. Chemical and Structural Indicators for Large Redox Potentials in Fe-Based Positive Electrode Materials. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2014, 6, 10832−10839. (28) Gottis, S.; Barrès, A.-L.; Dolhem, F.; Poizot, P. Voltage Gain in Lithiated Enolate-Based Organic Cathode Materials by Isomeric Effect. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2014, 6, 10870−10876. (29) Lim, L. Y.; Liu, N.; Cui, Y.; Toney, M. F. Understanding Phase Transformation in Crystalline Ge Anodes for Li-Ion Batteries. Chem. Mater. 2014, 26, 3739−3746. (30) Liu, X.-R.; Deng, X.; Liu, R.-R.; Yan, H.-J.; Guo, Y.-G.; Wang, D.; Wan, L.-J. Single Nanowire Electrode Electrochemistry of Silicon Anode by in Situ Atomic Force Microscopy: Solid Electrolyte Interphase Growth and Mechanical Properties. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2014, 6, 20317−20323.

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DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b02350 Chem. Mater. XXXX, XXX, XXX−XXX