Issue 2, 2021

Engineering nanoreactors for metal–chalcogen batteries

Abstract

Metal–chalcogen batteries (MCBs) are promising alternatives to the commonly used lithium-ion batteries, because they can provide remarkable capacities while using cheaper and more versatile electrodes. Nevertheless, the rational design and controllable synthesis of electrode materials is still a great challenge. The essential functions of MCB electrodes include: (1) electrical conduction, (2) cathode species encapsulation, (3) intermediate species immobilization, (4) cathode redox reaction acceleration and (5) anode species stabilization. Design of nanoreactors for MCBs has been proven as a highly feasible strategy for integrating some or all of these features into an individual electrode material, to be used in these batteries. In this review, the concept and features of nanoreactors are firstly introduced. Afterwards, we present the major synthetic strategies for constructing nanoreactors with different morphologies and dimensions. Next, we present the main functions of MCBs and how they can be imparted upon the electrode nanostructures via nanoreactor design and engineering. The follow-up section reviews examples of typical nanoreactors for applications in MCBs. Finally, the perspectives and future directions are discussed in this exciting field of research.

Graphical abstract: Engineering nanoreactors for metal–chalcogen batteries

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
19 Oct 2020
Accepted
06 Jan 2021
First published
07 Jan 2021

Energy Environ. Sci., 2021,14, 540-575

Engineering nanoreactors for metal–chalcogen batteries

Y. Boyjoo, H. Shi, Q. Tian, S. Liu, J. Liang, Z. Wu, M. Jaroniec and J. Liu, Energy Environ. Sci., 2021, 14, 540 DOI: 10.1039/D0EE03316B

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements