Bacteria Absorption-Based Mn₂P₂O₇–Carbon@Reduced Graphene Oxides for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes

Abstract

The development of freestanding flexible electrodes with high capacity and long cycle-life is a central issue for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Here, we use bacteria absorption of metallic Mn(2+) ions to in situ synthesize natural micro-yolk-shell-structure Mn2P2O7-carbon, followed by the use of vacuum filtration to obtain Mn2P2O7-carbon@reduced graphene oxides (RGO) papers for LIBs anodes. The Mn2P2O7 particles are completely encapsulated within the carbon film, which was obtained by carbonizing the bacterial wall. The resulting carbon microstructure reduces the electrode-electrolyte contact area, yielding high Coulombic efficiency. In addition, the yolk-shell structure with its internal void spaces is ideal for sustaining volume expansion of Mn2P2O7 during charge/discharge processes, and the carbon shells act as an ideal barrier, limiting most solid-electrolyte interphase formation on the surface of the carbon films (instead of forming on individual particles). Notably, the RGO films have high conductivity and robust mechanical flexibility. As a result of our combined strategies delineated in this article, our binder-free flexible anodes exhibit high capacities, long cycle-life, and excellent rate performance.

Bacterium, Fungus, and Virus Microorganisms for Energy Storage and Conversion

“…Early studies on the bacterium derivatives come down to almost all of the electrochemical fields, including lithium‐ion batteries, sodium‐ion batteries, lithium–air batteries, and electrocatalysis. In this section, we will review the typical bacteria and their carbonization derivatives (e.g., Pd/PdAu/Ag/Au, SnO 2 /Fe 3 O 4 , Ni 12 P 5 , and Mn 2 P 2 O 7 ) to illustrate their potentials in the fields of electrochemical areas.…”

“…i) Optical photograph, j) SEM image, and k–n) TEM–HRTEM images of a Mn 2 P 2 O 7 ‐carbon@RGO paper after annealing. (i–n) Reproduced with permission . Copyright 2016, American Chemical Society.…”

An Artificial Solid Electrolyte Interphase with High Li‐Ion Conductivity, Mechanical Strength, and Flexibility for Stable Lithium Metal Anodes

“…[18,19] Third, the SEI layer has to be flexible enough to accommodate the ineligible interface fluctuation during battery cycling without repeated breakdown/repair. [1][2][3] Due to its highest theoretical specific energy (3860 mAh g −1 ), low density (0.534 g cm −3 ), and the lowest electrochemical potential (−3.040 V vs standard hydrogen electrode), a Li metal anode has long been considered the "Holy Grail" of battery chemistry. However, native SEI can hardly meet all the requirements, which necessitates the rational design of artificial SEI.…”

“…Nevertheless, the protective effects often wear off after prolonged battery operations. [1][2][3] Due to its highest theoretical specific energy (3860 mAh g −1 ), low density (0.534 g cm −3 ), and the lowest electrochemical potential (−3.040 V vs standard hydrogen electrode), a Li metal anode has long been considered the "Holy Grail" of battery chemistry. Inadequate thickness or compositional control of the coatings may lead to compromised SEI homogeneity and more importantly, given the limited Li-ion conductivity or poor flexibility of the coating materials, the cracking of the artificial SEI layers during cycling will induce even greater inhomogeneity on Li metal surface, exacerbating dendrite growth and side reactions.…”

Graphene Nanoribbons on Highly Porous 3D Graphene for High‐Capacity and Ultrastable Al‐Ion Batteries

“…Previously, we reported that Al-ion batteries operate through intercalation/deintercalation of AlCl 4 − Efficient large-scale electric-energy-storage systems have always attracted extensive attention in the world. [1][2][3][4][5] In the past several decades, various promising energy-storage devices such as metal-ion batteries, [6][7][8] metal-air batteries, [9,10] and metalsulfides batteries [11][12][13] have been developed. Metal-ion batteries, especially Li-ion batteries (LIBs), are most attractive, owing to their high energy density.…”