Issue 9, 2019

Room-temperature liquid metal and alloy systems for energy storage applications

Abstract

Liquid metals (LM) and alloys that feature inherent deformability, high electronic conductivity, and superior electrochemical properties have attracted considerable research attention, especially in the energy storage research field for both portable devices and grid scale applications. Compared with high temperature LM systems requiring rigorous thermal management and sophisticated cell sealing, room temperature LMs, which can maintain the advantageous features of liquids without external energy input, are emerging as promising alternatives to build advanced energy storage devices. Moreover, compared with high-temperature liquid metal alternatives, RT-LMs are free of thermal management, corrosion, and sealing issues. In this perspective, we summarize recent advances, analyze current challenges, and provide prospects of the RT-LM systems as electrodes for rechargeable batteries. Starting with an introduction of LM systems and their features, we present the status of the development of liquid metal anodes. Theoretical and experimental explorations of mechanisms including phase equilibria, wetting behavior, and alloy deposition behavior in a battery using liquid metal electrodes (LME) are provided to guide the battery design. Taking Na–K alkali metal alloys and Ga-based fusible alloys as two model LME systems, different battery designs are presented along with mechanistic discussions on cathode dependence, interfacial chemistry, and the multi-cation effect. In addition, other possible battery designs, major challenges, and possible opportunities for further developments of the RT LM-based energy storage systems are also discussed in the end.

Graphical abstract: Room-temperature liquid metal and alloy systems for energy storage applications

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
28 máj 2019
Accepted
28 jún 2019
First published
28 jún 2019

Energy Environ. Sci., 2019,12, 2605-2619

Room-temperature liquid metal and alloy systems for energy storage applications

X. Guo, L. Zhang, Y. Ding, J. B. Goodenough and G. Yu, Energy Environ. Sci., 2019, 12, 2605 DOI: 10.1039/C9EE01707K

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