The electrochemical performance of melt-spun C14-Laves type TiZr-based alloy

The main objective of the present work is to study the effect of rapid solidification on the electrochemical performance of Zr-based Laves type alloy with a nominal composition Ti₁₂Zr_21.5V₁₀Cr_7.5Mn_8.1Co₈Ni_32.2Al_0.4Sn_0.3. The samples were prepared from the as-cast arc melted buttons by melt spinning at different copper wheel rotation speeds of 5, 16.5, 33, and 100 Hz, which are equivalent to linear speeds of 6.3, 21, 41, and 62.8 m s⁻¹ respectively using a cooling wheel with a diameter of 20 cm. The phase composition and morphology of the ribbons were analyzed by X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The microstructural changes of the ribbons induced by the variations in the wheel rotation speed were found to be closely related to the electrochemical performances. High discharge capacities exceeding 400 mAh∙g⁻¹ were achieved for the melt spun samples during the measurements at low current densities. Furthermore, melt spun casting performed at the highest wheel rotation speed of 100 Hz resulted in the best rate performance of the alloy. As this alloy has the smallest crystallite size, this resulted in the shortest H atoms diffusion distances, and thus increased the efficient H diffusion rate and improved the electrochemical performance.     

Synthesis and electrochemical performance of V2O5/NaV6O15 nanocomposites as cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries

V₂O₅/NaV₆O₁₅ nanocomposites were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method using VO₂(B) nanoarrays as the precursor. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, and galvanostatic charge−discharge test were used to evaluate the structures, morphologies and electrochemical performance of samples, respectively. The results show that the nanocomposites are composed of one-dimensional nanobelts, preserving the morphology of the precursor well, and the hydrothermal reaction time has a significant effect on the phase contents and electrochemical performance of the composites. Compared with pure V₂O₅, V₂O₅/NaV₆O₁₅ nanocomposites exhibit enhanced electrochemical performance as cathode for sodium-ion batteries. It should be ascribed to the synergistic effect between V₂O₅ with high capacity and NaV₆O₁₅ with good cycling performance, and the introduced massive interfacial areas which can provide additional ion storage sites and improve the electronic and ionic conductivities.     

An operational high temperature thermal energy storage system using magnesium iron hydride

Metal hydrides have been demonstrated as energy storage materials for thermal battery applications. This is due to the high energy density associated with the reversible thermochemical reaction between metals and hydrogen. Magnesium iron hydride (Mg₂FeH₆) is one such material that has been identified as a thermal energy storage material due to its reversible hydrogenation reaction at temperatures between 400 and 600 °C. This study demonstates an automated thermal battery prototype containing 900 g of Mg₂FeH₆ as the thermal energy storage material with pressurised water acting as the heat transfer fluid to charge and discharge the battery. The operating conditions of the system were optimised by assessing the ideal operating temperature, flow rate of the heat transfer fluid, and hydrogen pressures. Overall, excellent cyclic energy storage reversibility was demonstrated between 410 and 450 °C with a maximum energy capacity of 1650 kJ which is 87% of the theoretical value (1890 kJ).     

TiO2 nanoparticle embedded nitrogen doped electrospun helical carbon nanofiber-carbon nanotube hybrid anode for lithium-ion batteries

TiO₂ nanoparticles decorated nitrogen (N) doped helical carbon nanofiber (CNF)-carbon nanotube (CNT) hybrid material is prepared by low-cost electrospinning technique followed by hydrothermal method. Morphological investigations establish helical structure of CNFs with hierarchical growth of CNTs around CNFs. The hybrid material shows a high specific surface area of 295.17 m² g^?1 with nanoporous structure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies establish Ti–O–C/Ti–C bond mediated charge transfer channel between TiO₂ nanoparticles and carbon structures with the success of N doping in CNFs. The electrospun hybrid material delivered high reversible charge capacities of 316 mAh g^?1 (100th cycle) and 244 mAh g^?1 (100th cycle) at a current density of 75 mA g^?1 and 186 mA g^?1 respectively. The charge capacities obtained for different applied current densities are higher than the conventional graphitic microporous microbeads anode. Results indicate that the hybrid material reported here shows high performance compare to graphite for LIBs.     

Investigation of Nafion series membranes on the performance of iron‐chromium redox flow battery

To boost the performance of the iron‐chromium redox flow battery (ICRFB), opting an appropriate proton exchange membrane (PEM) as the core component of ICRFB is of great importance. For the purpose, in this paper, various widely adopted commercial Nafion membranes with a different thickness of 50 μm (Nafion 212, N212), 126 μm (N115), and 178 μm (N117) are chosen for the sake of evaluating the influence of membrane thickness on the ICRFB single‐cell performance. Physicochemical properties, electrolyte utilization, cell efficiency, long‐term cycling stability, and the self‐discharge process of ICRFBs based on a series of Nafion membranes are contrasted comprehensively. The cycling test of ICRFBs is carried out under the current density range of 40 to 120 mA/cm² for the charge‐discharge process. As a result of the good equilibrium of membrane resistance and electro‐active species permeability, Nafion 212 membrane exhibits the highest electrolyte utilization and energy efficiency during the operation, accompanied by the lowest overpotential. In the final part, the selection of Nafion membrane thickness was optimized on the basis of single‐cell performance and the overall cost of the system.     

Experimental investigation on the effect of ambient pressure on thermal runaway and fire behaviors of lithium‐ion batteries

To investigate the impacts of ambient pressure on thermal runaway and fire behaviors of lithium‐ion battery (LIB), experimental measurement and theoretical analysis with serial conditions are conducted at two altitudes. The well‐designed experimental equipment and operating conditions have enabled the accurate evaluation of ambient pressure effects. Results show that the first abrupt temperature change in Hefei (ambient pressure 100.8 kPa) is higher than that in Lhasa (64.3 kPa). The difference in ambient pressure at two altitudes leads to different relief valve crack temperature and time. The average burning rate in Hefei is larger than that in Lhasa, and the estimated pressure effect factor is quite different for detailed pack conditions and varies within the range of 0.083‐1.39. The ambient pressure has a greater effect on the heat release rate and total heat release than the mass loss, and the effective combustion heat under the low pressure is lower than that in normal condition. This work can provide more comprehensive and useful data for the safety management of LIBs at low pressure environments.     

Electrochemical performance and modeling of lithium‐sulfur batteries with varying carbon to sulfur ratios

Lithium‐sulfur batteries have attracted much research interest because of their high theoretical energy density and low‐cost raw materials. While the electrodes are composed of readily available materials, the processes that occur within the cell are complex, and the electrochemical performance of these batteries is very sensitive to a number of cell processing parameters. Herein, a simple electrochemical model will be used to predict, with quantitative agreement, the electrochemical properties of lithium‐sulfur cathodes with varying carbon to sulfur ratios. The discharge capacity and the polarization were very similar for the lowest sulfur loadings, while above 23.2 wt% sulfur the gravimetric capacity dropped significantly, and there was an increase in the cell polarization. In addition, a transition in the electrode morphology, from well dispersed to aggregated sulfur at the surface, will be reflected in the change in a critical model parameter demonstrating the sensitivity and functionality of even this simple model in predicting complex behavior in the lithium‐sulfur cells.     

Experimental research on temperature rise and electric characteristics of aluminum air battery under open‐circuit condition for new energy vehicle

Due to lack of systematic research on open‐circuit voltage (OCV) and electrolyte temperature rise characteristics of aluminum air battery, in order to explore the influential factors on the OCV and electrolyte temperature rise of aluminum air battery, in this paper, for the first time, we studied the effects of different ambient temperature conditions, different concentrations of NaOH and KOH electrolyte, and pure aluminum and aluminum alloy on the OCV and electrolyte temperature rise of aluminum air battery. Results show that the OCV of aluminum air battery is obviously affected by ambient temperature conditions, electrolyte concentration, and different anode materials. The OCV range is 1.5 to 1.8 V at 0°C under different KOH‐electrolyte concentrations when aluminum alloy is used as anode material; with the increase of ambient temperature, the OCV will rise, and the range is 1.8 to 1.95 V. The working process of aluminum air battery is accompanied by the phenomenon of heat release, and the temperature rise range of electrolyte will not exceed 7°C when aluminum alloy is used as the anode material; however, the highest temperature of the electrolyte can reach 100°C when pure aluminum is used as the negative electrode material. The results of this study will provide theoretical guidance for designing aluminum air batteries and identifying their optimal operating conditions.     

Introducing the energy efficiency map of lithium‐ion batteries

The charge, discharge, and total energy efficiencies of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) are formulated based on the irreversible heat generated in LIBs, and the basics of the energy efficiency map of these batteries are established. This map consists of several constant energy efficiency curves in a graph, where the x‐axis is the battery capacity and the y‐axis is the battery charge/discharge rate (C‐rate). In order to introduce the energy efficiency map, the efficiency maps of typical LIB families with graphite/LiCoO₂, graphite/LiFePO₄, and graphite/LiMn₂O₄ anode/cathode are generated and illustrated in this paper. The methods of usage and applications of the developed efficiency map are also described. To show the application of the efficiency map, the effects of fast charging, nominal capacity, and chemistry of typical LIB families on their energy efficiency are studied using the generated maps. It is shown how energy saving can be achieved via energy efficiency maps. Overall, the energy efficiency map is introduced as a useful tool for engineers and researchers to choose LIBs with higher energy efficiency for any targeted applications. The developed map can be also used by energy systems designers to obtain accurate efficiency of LIBs when they incorporate these batteries into their energy systems.     

Design and analysis of an aging‐aware energy management system for islanded grids using mixed‐integer quadratic programming

The rapid increase of renewable energy sources made coordinated control of the distributed and intermittent generation units a more demanded task. Matching demand and supply is particularly challenging in islanded microgrids. In this study, we have demonstrated a mixed‐integer quadratic programming (MIQP) method to achieve efficient use of sources within an islanded microgrid. A unique objective function involving fuel consumption of diesel generator, degradation in a lithium‐ion battery energy storage system, carbon emissions, load shifting, and curtailment of the renewable sources is constructed, and an optimal operating point is pursued using the MIQP approach. A systematic and extensive methodology for building the objective function is given in a sequential and explicit manner with an emphasis on a novel model‐based battery aging formulation. Performance of the designed system and a sensitivity analysis of resulting battery dispatch, diesel generator usage, and storage aging against a range of optimization parameters are presented by considering real‐world specifications of the Semakau Island, an island in the vicinity of Singapore.