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<div><div><div><p>Potassium-ion batteries (KIB) are a promising complementary technology to lithium-ion batteries because of the comparative abundance and affordability of potassium. Currently, the most promising KIB chemistry consists of a potassium manganese hexacyanoferrate (KMF) cathode, a Prussian blue analog, and a graphite anode (723Whl−1 and 359Whkg−1 at 3.6V). No electrolyte has yet been formulated that is concurrently stable at the high operating potential of KMF (4.02V vs K+/K) and compatible with K+ intercalation into graphite, currently the most critical hurdle to adoption. Here we combine a KMF cathode and a graphite anode with a KFSI in Pyr1,3FSI ionic liquid electrolyte for the first time and show unprecedented performance. We use high-throughput techniques to optimize the KMF morphology for operation in this electrolyte system, achieving 119 mA h g−1 at 4 V vs K+/K and a coulombic efficiency >99.3%. In the same ionic liquid electrolyte graphite shows excellent electrochemical performance and we demonstrate reversible cycling by operando XRD. These results are a significant and essential step forward towards viable potassium-ion batteries.</p></div></div></div>

Growth in the Li-ion battery market continues to accelerate, driven by increasing need for economic energy storage in the electric vehicle market. Electrode manufacture is the first main step in production and in an industry dominated by slurry casting, much of the manufacturing process is based on trial and error, know-how and individual expertise. Advancing manufacturing science that underpins Li-ion battery electrode production is critical to adding value to the electrode manufacturing value chain. Overcome the current barriers in the electrode manufacturing requires advances in material innovation, manufacturing technology, in-line process metrology and data analytics to improve cell performance, quality, safety and process sustainability. In this roadmap we present where fundamental research can impact advances in each stage of the electrode manufacturing process from materials synthesis to electrode calendering. We also highlight the role of new process technology such as dry processing and advanced electrode design supported through electrode level, physics-based modelling. To compliment this, the progresses in data driven models of full manufacturing processes is reviewed. For all the processes we describe, there is a growing need process metrology, not only to aid fundamental understanding but also to enable true feedback control of the manufacturing process. It is our hope this roadmap will contribute to this rapidly growing space and provide guidance and inspiration to academia and industry.

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