Chinese scientists have achieved a significant breakthrough in battery technology. Led by Li Xianfeng and Fu Qiang from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the team has developed a high-energy-density aqueous battery using halogen multi-electron transfer.
Traditional lithium-ion batteries offer high energy storage but come with safety concerns due to flammable organic electrolytes. Aqueous batteries, on the other hand, utilize water as the solvent, significantly enhancing safety. However, they typically suffer from lower energy density.
In their latest study published in Nature Energy, the researchers introduced a multielectron transfer cathode based on bromine and iodine. This innovation achieved a specific capacity of over 840 ampere-hour per liter. By employing a mixed halogen solution of iodide and bromide ions as the electrolyte, the team facilitated electron transfer from iodide ions to elemental iodine and then to iodate.
Furthermore, by pairing the cathode with metallic cadmium to form a complete battery, they reached an impressive energy density of up to 1,200 watt-hour per liter. The formation of a bromide intermediate during the charging and discharging process optimized the reaction, enhancing the kinetics and reversibility of the electrochemical reaction.
This pioneering study opens new avenues for the design of high-energy-density aqueous batteries, potentially expanding their applications in the power battery sector.
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Chinese researchers develop high-energy-density aqueous battery
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