Engineering Triple‐Phase Interfaces around the Anode toward Practical Alkali Metal–Air Batteries

Abstract

Alkali metal–air batteries (AMABs) promise ultrahigh gravimetric energy densities, while the inherent poor cycle stability hinders their practical application. To address this challenge, most previous efforts were devoted to advancing the air cathodes with high electrocatalytic activity. Recent studies have underlined the solid–liquid–gas triple‐phase interface around the anode can play far more significant roles than previously acknowledged by the scientific community. Besides the bottlenecks of uncontrollable dendrite growth and gas evolution in conventional alkali metal batteries, the corrosive atmospheric gases, intermediate oxygen species, and redox mediators in AMABs cause more severe anode corrosion and structural collapse, posing greater challenges to the stabilization of the anode triple‐phase interface. This work aims to provide a timely perspective on the anode interface engineering for durable AMABs. Taking the Li–air battery as a typical example, we have a critical review of the latest developed anode stabilization strategies, including formulating novel electrolytes to build protective interphases and alleviate corrosive attacks, fabricating advanced anodes to improve their anti‐corrosion capability, and designing functional separator to shield the corrosive species. Finally, we highlight the remaining scientific and technical issues from the prospects of anode interface engineering, particularly materials system engineering, for the practical use of AMABs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

High-Performance CoCu–N–C/Mo2TiC2–NH4 Catalysts toward the Oxygen Reduction Reaction for Alkaline Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

“…As shown in Figure c,d, after 10 000 cycles, the half-slope potential of CoCu–N–C/Mo 2 TiC 2 –NH 4 catalyst only lost 2 mV, while an 11 mV decrease was observed for Pt/C. This better stability of the CoCu–N–C catalyst may be attributed to the strong interaction between the active particles and the support. , …”