Group IVA Element (Si, Ge, Sn)‐Based Alloying/Dealloying Anodes as Negative Electrodes for Full‐Cell Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Abstract

To satisfy the increasing energy demands of portable electronics, electric vehicles, and miniaturized energy storage devices, improvements to lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) are required to provide higher energy/power densities and longer cycle lives. Group IVA element (Si, Ge, Sn)‐based alloying/dealloying anodes are promising candidates for use as electrodes in next‐generation LIBs owing to their extremely high gravimetric and volumetric capacities, low working voltages, and natural abundances. However, due to the violent volume changes that occur during lithium‐ion insertion/extraction and the formation of an unstable solid electrolyte interface, the use of Group IVA element‐based anodes in commercial LIBs is still a great challenge. Evaluating the electrochemical performance of an anode in a full‐cell configuration is a key step in investigating the possible application of the active material in LIBs. In this regard, the recent progress and important approaches to overcoming and alleviating the drawbacks of Group IVA element‐based anode materials are reviewed, such as the severe volume variations during cycling and the relatively brittle electrode/electrolyte interface in full‐cell LIBs. Finally, perspectives and future challenges in achieving the practical application of Group IVA element‐based anodes in high‐energy and high‐power‐density LIB systems are proposed.

Atomistic Mechanisms of Mg Insertion Reactions in Group XIV Anodes for Mg-Ion Batteries

“…However, Mg ion diffusivities in X anodes follow the same trend as those of Li ones (DLi (Si) < DLi (Ge) < DLi (Sn)). This is controlled by the intrinsic material properties such as ionic radii and stiffness of the host Si, Ge and Sn anodes [55][56]. Given the measured Li diffusivities in Si of the order of 10 -13~1 0 -12 cm 2 /s,[57][58][59] our simulation results show that Mg atoms in Ge and Sn have similar diffusivities (~10 -14 -10 -13 cm 2 /s) to Li in Si within the difference of one order of magnitude, while Mg atoms in Si have much lower diffusivities (~10 -17 cm 2 /s) than Li in Si by 3 orders of magnitude.…”

Integrated Anode Electrode Composited Cu–Sn Alloy and Separator for Microscale Lithium Ion Batteries

“…Owing to the high theoretical capacity of 992 mA·h·g −1 (Li 22 Sn 5 ), low platform potential (0.3–0.6 V) and low cost, Sn-based anode electrodes have been researched widely as one of the most promising anode electrodes for microscale lithium ion batteries (LIBs) [10,11,12,13,14,15]. However, the fast capacity decay caused by the severe volume expansion effect (about 300%) and the pulverization-induced loss of active material has limited the practical application of Sn-based anodes.…”

Stabilization of Sn Anode through Structural Reconstruction of a Cu–Sn Intermetallic Coating Layer

“…based on the alloying mechanism with lithium ions (Li + ), are regarded as promising candidates because of their ultra-high theoretical capacity (990-4200 mAh g −1 ) and improved performance associated with limited Li dendrite formation at appropriate operation voltage. [9][10][11] In particular, Sn-based materials have attracted a great research interest with their merits of abundant resources, low cost, and high electrical conductivity. [10][11][12][13] Nevertheless, the rapid capacity decay caused by the huge volume change during the lithiation/delithiation cycling of Sn-based anodes always has been the primary obstacle for their industrial applications.…”

“…[9][10][11] In particular, Sn-based materials have attracted a great research interest with their merits of abundant resources, low cost, and high electrical conductivity. [10][11][12][13] Nevertheless, the rapid capacity decay caused by the huge volume change during the lithiation/delithiation cycling of Sn-based anodes always has been the primary obstacle for their industrial applications. [12,13] To take up 4.…”