Development of Electrolytes towards Achieving Safe and High‐Performance Energy‐Storage Devices: A Review

Abstract

Increasing interest in flexible/wearable electronics, clean energy, electrical vehicles, and so forth is calling for advanced energy‐storage devices, such as high‐performance lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs), which can not only store energy efficiently and safely, but also possess additional properties, such as good mechanical properties to bear deformations or even to be used as structural components. These expectations first indicate the directions, but also raise new challenges for the advancement of energy materials. As one of the critical components in LIBs, the electrolyte connecting the two electrodes is vital for achieving the desired performances in batteries. In this Review, the developments of various liquid electrolytes (organic, ionic liquid, and aqueous electrolytes), solid electrolytes (solid polymer and inorganic solid), as well as gel electrolytes is briefly summarized and discussed. For each type of electrolyte, the challenging issues and possible solutions are discussed. In particular, safety, ionic conductivity, and contact/interface issues are emphasized. Finally, from a composite point of view, strategies for the development of high‐performance electrolytes with all‐round properties are proposed.

Design Considerations for Unconventional Electrochemical Energy Storage Architectures

“…[ 8 ] Since there have been many recent developments dealing with novel electrolyte compositions, types and formulations, a short classifi cation is provided to help further understand the electrolyte integration limitations. [ 8,[60][61][62][63][64][65] • Liquid electrolytes. [ 66,67 ] These are made of a Li salt dissolved into an organic solvent.…”

A hybrid solid electrolyte for flexible solid-state sodium batteries

“…Na possesses several advantages including low cost, natural abundance, and low resource toxicity. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] Ceramic solid electrolytes such as Na-b 00 -Al 2 O 3 and NASICON (Na 3 Zr 2 Si 2 PO 12 ) have several potential advantages, including a wide electrochemical window (45 V), high thermal stability, no leakage or pollution, high ionic conductivity (410 À4 S cm À1 ) with a high cation transference number (t E 1), high resistance to shocks and vibrations, and the potential for easy miniaturization. In addition, the voltage and cycling stability of Na electrode materials are competitive with those of Li electrode materials.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5] However, currently reported organic liquid electrolytes for use in Na batteries do not properly satisfy both the cathode and anode requirements, as high-performance electrochemical properties must be obtained. 16 To take advantage of the properties of both ceramics and polymers, an ion-conducting ceramic and a polymer composite has been considered as a potential electrolyte, which can provide improved ionic conductivity and cation transference number with high flexibility and suitable mechanical strength. The safety issues related to the use of conventional combustible organic electrolytes are of great concern in large batteries for vehicle or grid applications.…”

Fundamental Consideration for Electrochemical Engineering of Supercapattery

“…It is worth mentioning that in a recently reported molten salt based rechargeable battery, both the negative and positive electrodes were liquid metals. 29,30 The third type of electrode is composed of two parts, an inert electronic conductor as the current collector on which is loaded an electrochemically active material. This type is most widely used in commercial rechargeable batteries, such as the copper/graphite negative electrode and lithium cobalt oxide/aluminium positive electrode in lithium ion battery.…”