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Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage Technologies 2018

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2018) | Viewed by 25164

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Hee-Je Kim

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Guest Editor

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
Interests: solar power generation system and energy storage System; next generation solar cell and super-capacitor; laser and sensor applications; remote control by smart-phone
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Huilin Pan

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Guest Editor

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
Interests: battery materials; electrolytes; energy storage technologies; underlying reaction mechanisms in battery systems; high energy and low cost energy storage solutions; lithium-sulfur and aqueous zinc batteries

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Energy storage technologies are highly desired for our modern lives. Electrochemical batteries are among of the most promising solutions due to their high flexibility, energy and power. The current state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries have been a great success in portable electronic devices, electronic vehicles and smart grids. However, the breakthroughs in low cost and high energy storage materials and new energy storage devices are still highly important to promote various applications for battery technologies. In addition, a deep understanding of the underlying reaction mechanisms using advanced in situ and ex situ characterizations are also of great importance for both fundamental and practical applications of energy storage technologies. This Special Issue calls for papers on topics related to electrochemical energy storage materials, chemistries, and electrocatalysis.

Prof. Dr. Hee-Je Kim
Dr. Huilin Pan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

energy storage battery
material and chemistry
advanced characterizations
electrocatalysis

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 3560 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cracks Formation in Lithium-Rich Cathode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries during the Electrochemical Process

by Tao Cheng, Zhongtao Ma, Run Gu, Riming Chen, Yingchun Lyu, Anmin Nie and Bingkun Guo

Energies 2018, 11(10), 2712; https://doi.org/10.3390/en11102712 - 11 Oct 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3604

Abstract

The lithium-rich Li[Li_0.2Ni_0.13Mn_0.54Co_0.13]O₂ nanoplates were synthesized using a molten-salt method. The nanoplates showed an initial reversible discharge capacity of 233 mA·h·g⁻¹, with a fast capacity decay. The morphology and micro-structural change, after different cycles, were studied by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to understand the mechanism of the capacity decay. Our results showed that the cracks generated from both the particle surface and the inner, and increased with long-term cycling at 0.1 C rate (C = 250 mA·g⁻¹), together with the layered to spinel and rock-salt phase transitions. These results show that the cracks and phase transitions could be responsible for the capacity decay. The results will help us to understand capacity decay mechanisms, and to guide our future work to improve the electrochemical performance of lithium-rich cathode materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage Technologies 2018)

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5 pages, 2094 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Li-B Alloy as an Anode Material for Stable and Long Life Lithium Metal Batteries

by Qiang Liu, Sisi Zhou, Cong Tang, Qiaoling Zhai, Xianggong Zhang and Rui Wang

Energies 2018, 11(10), 2512; https://doi.org/10.3390/en11102512 - 21 Sep 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5106

Abstract

Rechargeable Li metal batteries have attracted lots of attention because they can achieve high energy densities. However, the commercialization of rechargeable Li metal batteries is delayed because Li dendrites may be generated during the batteries’ electrochemical cycles, which may cause severe safety issues. In this research, a Li-B alloy is investigated as an anode for rechargeable batteries instead of Li metal. Results show that the Li-B alloy has better effects in suppressing the formation of dendritic lithium, reducing the interface impedance and improving the cycle performance. These effects may result from the unique structure of Li-B alloy, in which free lithium is embedded in the Li₇B₆ framework. These results suggest that Li-B alloy may be a promising anode material applicable in rechargeable lithium batteries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage Technologies 2018)

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10 pages, 2221 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Boosting the Power-Generation Performance of Micro-Sized Al-H₂O₂ Fuel Cells by Using Silver Nanowires as the Cathode

by Heng Zhang, Yang Yang, Tianyu Liu and Honglong Chang

Energies 2018, 11(9), 2316; https://doi.org/10.3390/en11092316 - 03 Sep 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3261

Abstract

Micro-sized fuel cells represent one of the pollution-free devices available to power portable electronics. However, the insufficient power output limits the possibility of micro-sized fuel cells competing with other power sources, including supercapacitors and lithium batteries. In this study, a novel aluminum-hydrogen peroxide fuel cell is fabricated using uniform silver nanowires with diameters of 0.25 µm as the catalyst at the cathode side. The Ag nanowire solution is prepared via a polyol method, and mixed uniformly with Nafion and ethanol to enhance the adhesion of Ag nanowires. We carry out electrochemical tests, including cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and Tafel polarization, to characterize the performance of this catalyst in H₂O₂ reduction. The Ag nanowires exhibit a high effectiveness and durability while catalyzing the reduction of H₂O₂ with a low impedance. The micro-sized Al-H₂O₂ fuel cell equipped with Ag nanowires delivers a power density of 43 W·m⁻² under a low concentration of H₂O₂ (0.1 M), which is substantially higher than the previously reported devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage Technologies 2018)

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10 pages, 2225 KiB

Open AccessArticle

SnSb Alloy Blended with Hard Carbon as Anode for Na-Ion Batteries

by Ying Ching Lu, Nikolay Dimov, Shigeto Okada and Thi Hang Bui

Energies 2018, 11(6), 1614; https://doi.org/10.3390/en11061614 - 20 Jun 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5302

Abstract

SnSb binary alloys blended with reduced graphene oxide (SnSb/RGO) or mixtures of SnSb/RGO with hard carbon (SnSb/RGO+HC) were tested as anode materials for sodium-ion batteries. The presence of hard carbon in the SnSb/RGO+HC blend improves its cycle efficiency and rate performance substantially. The synergy between the SnSb/RGO and the hard carbon phase is explained by the buffer action of the hard carbon, preventing SnSb interparticle agglomeration during the repeated recharge cycles. The feasibility of SnSb alloy anode for sodium-ion batteries was confirmed in full cell configuration vs. Na₃V₂(PO₄)₂F₃ cathode. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage Technologies 2018)

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Review

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41 pages, 10277 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Application of Operando X-ray Diffractometry in Various Aspects of the Investigations of Lithium/Sodium-Ion Batteries

by Wen Zhu, Yuesheng Wang, Dongqiang Liu, Vincent Gariépy, Catherine Gagnon, Ashok Vijh, Michel L. Trudeau and Karim Zaghib

Energies 2018, 11(11), 2963; https://doi.org/10.3390/en11112963 - 01 Nov 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 6992

Abstract

The main challenges facing rechargeable batteries today are: (1) increasing the electrode capacity; (2) prolonging the cycle life; (3) enhancing the rate performance and (4) insuring their safety. Significant efforts have been devoted to improve the present electrode materials as well as to develop and design new high performance electrodes. All of the efforts are based on the understanding of the materials, their working mechanisms, the impact of the structure and reaction mechanism on electrochemical performance. Various operando/in-situ methods are applied in studying rechargeable batteries to gain a better understanding of the crystal structure of the electrode materials and their behaviors during charge-discharge under various conditions. In the present review, we focus on applying operando X-ray techniques to investigate electrode materials, including the working mechanisms of different structured materials, the effect of size, cycling rate and temperature on the reaction mechanisms, the thermal stability of the electrodes, the degradation mechanism and the optimization of material synthesis. We demonstrate the importance of using operando/in-situ XRD and its combination with other techniques in examining the microstructural changes of the electrodes under various operating conditions, in both macro and atomic-scales. These results reveal the working and the degradation mechanisms of the electrodes and the possible side reactions involved, which are essential for improving the present materials and developing new materials for high performance and long cycle life batteries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage Technologies 2018)

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