Rational Designs for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries with Low Electrolyte/Sulfur Ratio

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are considered a promising next-generation energy storage device owing to their high theoretical energy density. However, their overall performance is limited by several critical issues such as lithium polysulfide (PS) shuttles, low sulfur utilization, and unstable Li metal anodes. Despite recent huge progress, the electrolyte/sulfur ratio (E/S) used is usually very high (≥20 µL mg⁻¹), which greatly reduces the practical energy density of devices. To push forward LSBs from the lab to the industry, considerable attention is devoted to reducing E/S while ensuring the electrochemical performance. To date, however, few reviews have comprehensively elucidated the possible strategies to achieve that purpose. In this review, recent advances in low E/S cathodes and anodes based on the issues resulting from low E/S and the corresponding solutions are summarized. These will be beneficial for a systematic understanding of the rational design ideas and research trends of low E/S LSBs. In particular, three strategies are proposed for cathodes: preventing PS formation/aggregation to avoid inadequate dissolution, designing multifunctional macroporous networks to address incomplete infiltration, and utilizing an imprison strategy to relieve the adsorption dependence on specific surface area. Finally, the challenges and future prospects for low E/S LSBs are discussed.     

不锈钢上激光熔敷涂层结构特征与质量研究

采用5kW连续CO2激光器对经等离子喷涂的NiCoCrAlY结合层和ZrO2陶瓷层进行二次重熔处理，并利用金相显微镜、扫描电镜、电子探针和显微硬度计对激光熔敷涂层进行了显微结构、元素分布以及显微硬度观察与测试，结果表明：多道搭接工艺能降低熔敷涂层气孔率，ZrO2陶瓷层稀释度低，与基体结合完好，并观察到NiCoCrAlY合金层中存在明显的对流图案，加入了TiO2-Al-Ti添加剂的ZrO2陶瓷层激光重熔后得到了无裂纹的定向生长柱状晶，并且呈现一次枝晶平均间距为2．3μm的表层和平均间距为3．8μm的次表层结构。     

The dynamic evolution of aggregated lithium dendrites in lithium metal batteries

Lithium (Li) metal anodes promise an ultrahigh theoretical energy density and low redox potential,thus being the critical energy material for next-generation batteries.Unfortunately,the formation of Li den-drites in Li metal anodes remarkably hinders the practical applications of Li metal anodes.Herein,the dynamic evolution of discrete Li dendrites and aggregated Li dendrites with increasing current densities is visualized by in-situ optical microscopy in conjunction with ex-situ scanning electron microscopy.As revealed by the phase field simulations,the formation of aggregated Li dendrites under high current den-sity is attributed to the locally concentrated electric field rather than the depletion of Li ions.More specif-ically,the locally concentrated electric field stems from the spatial inhomogeneity on the Li metal surface and will be further enhanced with increasing current densities.Adjusting the above two factors with the help of the constructed phase field model is able to regulate the electrodeposited morphology from aggregated Li dendrites to discrete Li dendrites,and ultimately columnar Li morphology.The methodol-ogy and mechanistic understanding established herein give a significant step toward the practical appli-cations of Li metal anodes.     

Noise characterization of surface processes of the Li/organic electrolyte interface

The processes occurring in aprotic electrolyte on a lithium electrode in the steady state conditions and under polarization are studied using the method of electrochemical noise characterization. The evidence of the electro-chemical noise measurements on polarized lithium electrodes indicates that the discharge of lithium ions under cathodic polarization, as well as lithium anodic dissolution, is localized under the passive film rather than on its surface. An increase in the polarizing current results in local breakdown of the film; in this case, the electrochemical process emerges on the electrode surface affecting the character of potential fluctuations. The intensity of electrochemical noise significantly increases in the course of cathodic polarization with high currents. The reason is that lithium metal crystals, which are formed under the passive film, perforate the film, and dendrites grow on its surface. The method shows the dependence of electrochemical noise intensity on the nature of the electrolyte and establishes the correlation between the stability of the lithium electrode in the course of cycling and the intensity of fluctuations. This offers an opportunity of using the method of electrochemical noise for screening organic electrolytes for lithium batteries.     

一种能够抑制锂枝晶的锂金属电池电解液润湿性添加剂

将氟代有机溶剂2,2,3,3-四氟丙基甲基丙烯酸酯(TFPMA)作为双功能添加剂引入碳酸酯电解液体系,考察了TFPMA质量分数对增大润湿性的影响.采用交流阻抗、恒流充放电等测试了添加TFPMA后的锂金属电池性能.采用SEM和XPS表征了循环后的锂金属电极表面.结果表明,1.0％(质量分数,下同)TFPMA的添加使电解液与隔膜间的接触角从54°降至44°,内阻从6.15Ω降至1.94Ω,Li-LiFePO4电池在5 C电流密度下的比容量从66 mA·h/g提升至80 mA·h/g,1 C电流密度下的恒电流循环在100圈时还保持99％以上的库仑效率.TFPMA还促进了Li+的均匀沉积和优良固体电解质界面膜的形成,抑制了锂枝晶,电解液添加了1.0％TFPMA后,Li-Cu电池可以循环100圈以上,而库仑效率没有发生较大下降.循环后电极的SEM图表明,添加了1.0％TFPMA电解液的锂金属负极表面沉积更加平整,有较少的锂枝晶生成.     

Microstructures and evolution mechanism of highly undercooled Ni-Pb hypermonotectic alloy

The microstructures and evolution mechanism of the undercooled Ni-20%Pb(molar fraction) alloy were investigated systematically by high undercooling solidification technique. The experiment results indicate that the morphology of α-Ni phase and the distribution of Pb element in undercooled Ni-20% Pb alloys change with the in-crease of undercooling. The main evolution mechanisms of α-Ni are dendrite remelting and recrystallization. Pb phase in the microstructure of Ni-20% Pb hypermonotectic alloy originates from L2 phase separated from the parent melt during the cooling process through immiscible gap and L2 phase formed at the temperature of monotectic trans-formation. The solubility of Ph element in α-Ni phase under high undercooling condition is up to 5.83% which is ob-viously higher than that under equilibrium solidification condition. The real reason that causes the solubility difference is distinct solute trapping.     

Critical Review of Fluorinated Electrolytes for High-Performance Lithium Metal Batteries

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs), due to their ultra-high energy density, are attracting tremendous attentions. However, their commercial application is severely impeded by poor safety and unsatisfactory cycling stability, which are induced by lithium dendrites, side reactions, and inferior anodic stability. Electrolytes, as the indispensable and necessary components in lithium metal batteries, play a crucial role in regulating the electrochemical performance of LMBs. Recently, the fluorinated electrolytes are widely investigated in high-performance LMBs. Thus, the design strategies of fluorinated electrolytes are thoroughly summarized, including fluorinated salts, fluorinated solvents, and fluorinated additives in LMBs, and insights of the fluorinated components in suppressing lithium dendrites, improving anodic stability and cycling stability. Finally, an outlook with several design strategies and challenges will be proposed for novel fluorinated electrolytes.     

Hydrofluoric Acid-Removable Additive Optimizing Electrode Electrolyte Interphases with Li+ Conductive Moieties for 4.5 V Lithium Metal Batteries

High-voltage lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are capable to achieve the increasing energy density. However, their cycling life is seriously affected by unstable electrolyte/electrode interfaces and capacity instability at high voltage. Herein, a hydrofluoric acid (HF)-removable additive is proposed to optimize electrode electrolyte interphases for addressing the above issues. N, N-dimethyl-4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl) aniline (DMPATMB) is used as the electrolyte additive to induce PF₆⁻ decomposition to form a dense and robust LiF-rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) for suppressing Li dendrite growth. Moreover, DMPATMB can help to form highly Li⁺ conductive Li₃N and LiBO₂, which can boost the Li⁺ transport across SEI and cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI). In addition, DMPATMB can scavenge traced HF in the electrolyte to protect both SEI and CEI from the corrosion. As expected, 4.5 V Li|| LiNi_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2O₂ batteries with such electrolyte deliver 145 mAh g⁻¹ after 140 cycles at 200 mA g⁻¹. This work provides a novel insight into high-voltage electrolyte additives for LMBs.     

Study on the preparation and microstructure of a single-crystal hollow turbine blade

This paper studied the structural design of a ceramic core and a blade, ceramic core localization, shell preparation, casting process, core leaching technology, and the heat treatment process of a single-crystal hollow turbine blade. The results show that the single-crystal structure solidification sequence of the blade platform is consistent with the cooling sequence and the pulling-out direction of the blade. The primary dendrites were obviously enlarged with the increase of the blade thickness owing to the change in the local cooling rate. Besides, the γ′ phase had a high uniform size distribution ranging from 0.40 to 0.60?µm after heat treatment, and the cubic degree was more homogeneous in comparison with the as-cast microstructure, which are favorable for the superalloy structure. Moreover, γ′ phase size gradually increased and its quantity gradually reduced owing to the increase of the wall thickness in the growth direction.