Constructing Phase-Transitional NiS_x@Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Cathode Material with High Rate Capability and Cycling Stability for Alkaline Zinc-Based Batteries

Abstract

Alkaline zinc-based batteries are becoming promising candidates for green and economical energy-storage systems, thanks to their low cost and high energy density. The exploitation of the stable cathode materials with high rate capability and cycling stability is crucial for their further development. Herein, a series of NiS x coated with nitrogen-doped carbon (denoted as NiS x @NC) compounds (x = 0.5–1.0) are synthesized using the facile single-source precursor method. Benefiting from the unique phase-transitional NiS x @NC with high activity and enhanced conductivity from the well-balanced conductive metal nickel and carbon layer, the alkaline zinc–nickel batteries with a phase-transitional NiS x @NC cathode deliver a high capacity of 148 mA h g–1 at a high current density of 100 mA cm–2 and demonstrate a long lifespan of over 500 cycles with a high capacity retention of 98.8%. This work provides a significant guideline for the structural design and optimization of nickel-based materials in alkaline energy-storage devices.

Core‐shell Ni/NiO heterostructures as catalytic cathodes enabling high‐performance zinc bromine flow batteries

“…[18][19][20] One effective strategy to improve the kinetics of GFs is to introduce catalytic materials on carbon fibers. [21][22][23][24][25] For example, Li and colleagues prepared a 3D hierarchical composite electrode anchored with TiN nanorod arrays for bromine-based flow batteries, which could operate in a record-high current density of 160 mA cm −2 . [26] Ulaganathan and colleagues reported Pt@GF electrodes to get an enhancement of bromine kinetics.…”

Hybrid Nano-Phase Ion/Electron Dual Pathways of Nickel/Cobalt–Boride Cathodes Boosting Intercalation Kinetics for Alkaline Batteries

“…By now, plenty of research studies have reported that alkaline batteries exhibit relatively low specific capacity and poor cycling stability, which is ascribed to the low conductivity and unstable structure of nickel-based oxide and hydroxide cathode materials, such as Ni­(OH) 2 and NiO. ,− Numerous studies have been carried out to improve the intrinsic conductivity of nickel-based cathodes, such as sulfides, selenides, and phosphides, even conductive organic ligand incorporation. − Nowadays, nickel-based borides have become popular because of their relatively high conductivity and environmentally friendly nature; however, research studies have mainly focused on electrocatalytic water splitting. − As alternative to noble metal electrocatalysts, nickel-based borides exhibit long-term durability in an alkaline medium, which has aroused researchers’ interest in the development of alkaline battery energy storage. ,, The semiconductive property of nickel-based borides prompts electron transfer easily, resulting in fast kinetics during the electrochemical reaction. − For the intercalation-type battery material, intrinsic conductivity and electrolyte ion-shuttling diffusion are the two most important factors that have a great effect on the reaction kinetics of active materials. − In our previous report, the naphthalene dicarboxylate acid ligand pillared a Ni/Co layer in the NiCo metal–organic framework (MOF) to form ion intercalation/de-intercalation channels. This verified that the ion-shuttling channel enlarged linearly with the larger pillaring layer space. ,, However, more organic ligands introduced would render low conductivity, leading to slow chemical reaction kinetics. , …”

Multilayered NiMo/CoMn/Ni Cathodic Electrodes with Enhanced Activity and Stability toward Alkaline Water Electrolysis

“…In the electrocatalytic reaction of hydrogen evolution, it can be paired with the 1s orbital of the hydrogen atom to form a Ni–H adsorption bond with moderate strength and excellent hydrogen evolution catalytic performance . Therefore, nickel-based cathodic electrodes have become the research focus of alkaline water electrolysis cathodic electrodes, , such as NiLa (with an overpotential at 10 mA/cm 2 : 136 mV), NiW (with an overpotential at 10 mA/cm 2 : 38 mV), NiCo (with an overpotential at 10 mA/cm 2 : 54 mV), NiFe (with an overpotential at 10 mA/cm 2 : 64 mV), NiMo (with an overpotential at 10 mA/cm 2 : 30 mV), and so on. Among them, Ni 4 Mo electrodes have the best HER performance, but their stability is poor .…”