Iron anode‐based aqueous electrochemical energy storage devices: Recent advances and future perspectives

Abstract

The ever-growing demands for green and sustainable power sources for applications in grid-scale energy storage and portable/wearable devices have enabled the continual development of advanced aqueous electrochemical energy storage (EES) systems. Aqueous batteries and supercapacitors made of iron-based anodes are one of the most promising options due to the remarkable electrochemical features and natural abundance, pretty low cost and good environmental friendliness of ferruginous species. Though impressive advances in developing the state-of-the-art ferruginous anodes and designing various full-cell aqueous devices have been made, there still remain key issues and challenges on the way to practical applications, which urgently need discussing to put forwards possible solutions. In this review, rather than focusing on the detailed methods to optimize the iron anode, electrolyte, and device performance, we first give a comprehensive review on the charge storage mechanisms for ferruginous anodes in different electrolyte systems, as well as the newly developed iron-based aqueous EES devices. The deep insights, involving the inherent failure mechanisms and corresponding modification/optimization strategies toward iron anodes for the development of high-performance aqueous EES devices, will then be discussed. The advances in applying iron-based aqueous EES devices for emerging fields such as flexible/wearable electronics and functionalized building materials will be further outlined. Last, future research trends and perspectives for maximizing the potential of current iron anodes and devices as well as exploiting brandnew iron-based aqueous EES systems are put forward.

NaSICON: A promising solid electrolyte for solid‐state sodium batteries

“…Driven by the ever-increasing global concerns that arise from the use of fossil fuels, tremendous efforts have been devoted to the development of clean and efficient energy conversion and storage technologies. [1][2][3][4][5] Owing to their high energy and power densities, lithium-ion batteries have been the energy storage system of choice for many devices spanning from portable electronics to electric vehicles. [6][7][8] However, the rising lithium costs and limited resources may limit their application in the field of large-scale energy storage systems in near future.…”

Polycrystalline Prussian White Aggregates as a High-Rate and Long-Life Cathode for High-Temperature Sodium-Ion Batteries

“…To meet the ever-increasing demand for electric vehicles and grid-scale electric energy storage, advanced cost-effective energy storage systems are highly desired. − Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), with their evident advantage of abundant resources and low cost, are emerging as a potential electrochemical energy storage device, especially for large-scale applications. − In addition, a SIB needs to provide high energy density, high power density, and stable cycling over a wide temperature range (−25 °C ≤ T ≤ 70 °C). − Prussian white (PW) cathode materials, with a typical molecular formula of Na 2 FeFe­(CN) 6 , have been proven to show high theoretical capacity (∼170 mAh g –1 ), negligible volume variations upon cycling, and favorable high rate performance at ambient temperatures. , The large and abundant interstitial sites for Na + ion storage effectively alleviate the stress–strain caused by the intercalation/deintercalation process of Na + ions, resulting in a stable host structure upon extensive cycling . Furthermore, the three-dimensional ion transport pathways, rigid and open frameworks, and the weak interaction between the host skeleton and Na + ensure fast ion transfer kinetics even at subzero temperatures .…”

Nitrogen-doped hollow carbon nanoboxes in zwitterionic polymer hydrogel electrolyte for superior quasi-solid-state zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors

“…Developing high-performance and safe energy storage technologies is of importance to meet the growing energy demand for the booming electronics industry including portable electronics, automobiles, and smart buildings. [1][2][3][4] Thanks to the inherently high capacity (820 mA h g À1 ) and appropriate electrochemical potential (À0.76 V vs. SHE) of the Zn anode, as well as the earth-abundance and environmental safety of both the Zn anode and carbon cathode, considerable research has been invested in economical and highly safe zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZHSCs). 5,6 Specically, the rapid ion adsorption/desorption process on the capacitor-type carbon cathode and the reversible ion deposition/stripping process on the battery-type Zn anode enable excellent energy and power outputs for ZHSCs, respectively.…”