Elsevier

Nano Energy

Universal low-temperature and template-costless synthesis of sponge-like porous micron-sized elemental materials for high-performance lithium/potassium storage

Highlights

•

A universal depression-temperature and template-complimentary strategy to fabricate sponge-like porous elements was developed.

•

Sponge-like porous elements give high gravimetric/volumetric capacities and long stable lifespans for Li/Yard storage.

•

The formation mechanism and in expansion mechanism of porous Te were revealed.

•

The simple and scalable method could be extended to fabricate numerous other porous materials.

Abstract

Interconnected porous micron-sized materials can effectively enhance the ion transfer kinetics and structural stability, thus improving their rate capability and long-term lifespan, and maintaining high volumetric operation, only developing a universal and low-temperature method for the big-scale synthesis of porous materials remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we develop a universal depression-temperature and template-free strategy to fabricate a serial of sponge-similar, interconnected porous micron-sized elements (e.g., Se, Te, Sb) through HtwoO2-assisted water bath. The germination mechanism of porous structure is demonstrated, originating from the non-homogeneous and continuous corrosion due to the preferential intergranular corrosion of polycrystalline particles and the soluble reaction products that practice not passivate the corrosion interface. The as-obtained sponge-like porous elements present big reversible gravimetric and volumetric capacities and long stable lifespans. Specifically, the porous Te electrode delivers a high reversible capacity of 392.vii mAh g−ane (volumetric capacity: 1531.5 mAh cm−3) with 93.5% utilization ratio of agile materials at 0.1 A g−1 and a long-stable lifespan with 500 cycles at ane.0 A g−1 in Li-Te batteries. Besides, in-situ TEM and ex-situ SEM observations demonstrate a pocket-size volume expansion and strong structural robustness of porous Te during cycling, stemming from its inwards expansion machinery and 3D stable interconnected porous structure. This piece of work demonstrates a simple and universal strategy to pattern sponge-like porous materials for energy storage and catalysis, etc.

Graphical Abstract

A universal, low-temperature and template-free water-bath strategy to fabricate a serial of sponge-similar porous elemental materials (p-Te, p-Se, and p-Sb) was developed. The formation mechanism of porous structure was also explored. Owing to the complimentary volume, interconnected porous channel, and potent structural robustness, the porous chemical element electrodes delivered a superior lithium/potassium storage operation and cycling stability.

ga1
  1. Download : Download loftier-res epitome (249KB)
  2. Download : Download full-size prototype

Keywords

Sponge-like porous structure

Universal synthesis

Template-free strategy

Lithium-ion batteries

Electrochemical energy storage

Junlu Zhu is a Ph.D. student at School of Materials and Energy in Guangdong University of Engineering science. His nowadays research mainly focuses on the synthesis of porous electrode materials for rechargeable batteries.

Eleven Liu joined in Prof. Yunyong Li'southward grouping as a Main'southward degree candidate at Guangdong University of Technology since September 2020. His nowadays research direction is mainly to prepare porous structured electrode materials for high-performance potassium ion batteries.

Wei Wang is currently Ph.D candidate at Guangdong University of Applied science. His present research direction is mainly to gear up MXene-based electrode materials for rechargeable batteries.

Zhonggang Liu is currently a Ph.D candidate at Guangdong University of Engineering science. His present research direction is mainly to fix high-density nanostructured electrode materials for high-performance lithium/sodium batteries.

Liguo Yue is a Ph.D candidate at Guangdong University of Technology. His present reseaech direction is mainly focus on the electrode/electrolyte blueprint inquiry of energy storage devices.

Weiliang Zhou is a Principal Candidate at Guangdong University of Technology. His present research direction is mainly to gear up loftier-density Mxene-based electrode materials for rechargeable batteries.

Ligong Zhao is a Ph.D candidate at Wuhan University. His current research focuses on the utilize of in-situ electron microscopy to study the construction and backdrop of energy materials.

He Zheng is an Associate Professor in Wuhan Academy, China. He has long been engaged in the inquiry of ultrastructural label of solid materials, using advanced spherical abnormality correction and in-situ electron microscopy techniques, and combined with first-principle calculations to carry out systematic and in-depth research on the atomic-scale label, evolution and regulation of structural defects in micro- and nano-scale materials with important applications in the field of energy conversion and storage.

Jianbo Wang is a Luojia Distinguished Professor in Schoolhouse of Physics and Technology and the Establish for Advanced Studies, and the Director of the Heart for Electron Microscopy in Wuhan University, Prc. He obtained his Ph.D degree from Wuhan University in 2001. He visited CRMC2-CNRS and ESRF (European Synchrotron Radiations Facility) in French republic during 1999–2000 and Juelich Enquiry Center in German language during 2000–2001. His research interests include the static and dynamic atomistic microstructural characterization of materials and related calculations.

Dr. Yunyong Li is currently a Professor in School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong Academy of Technology. He received his Ph.D degree in Materials Physics and Chemistry from Sun Yat-sen Academy in 2014. He as a visiting scholar studied in University of Maryland at Higher Park from Aug. 2018 to Aug. 2019. As first/corresponding author and co-author, he has published over 50 peer-reviewed papers in Adv. Mater., Nano Lett., ACS Nano, Nano Free energy, Pocket-sized, etc. His current research interests mainly focus on the novel free energy storage materials for the applications in lithium-sulfur batteries and lithium/sodium ion batteries.

View full text

© 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.