Highly efficient interface stabilization for ambient-temperature quasi-solid-state sodium metal batteries

Journal Article · 13 January 2022 · Chemical Engineering Journal

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.134679 · OSTI ID:1866250

Li, Yang ^[1]; Halacoglu, Selim ^[2]; Shreyas, Varun ^[2]; Arnold, William ^[2]; Guo, Xiaolin ^[2]; Dou, Qianqian ^[2]; Jasinski, Jacek B. ^[2]; Narayanan, Badri ^[2]; Wang, Hui ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Louisville, KY (United States); University of Louisville
2. Univ. of Louisville, KY (United States)

Solid-state sodium (Na) batteries (SSSBs) using sulfide-based solid electrolytes (SSEs) hold tremendous promise due to their high theoretical specific capacity, enhanced safety and abundant resources. However, detrimental interfacial issues between SSEs and Na metal present a major challenge to the advancement of sulfide-based SSSBs. To address interfacial issues, we demonstrate an efficient approach by incorporating an ionic liquid electrolyte ((PYR/Na)TFSI) as interlayer to stabilize the Na metal/SSE interface. The presence of the (PYR/Na)TFSI interlayer enables the formation of a stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) to prevent the harmful reactions and inhibit Na dendrites. Combination of ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that this stable SEI is largely composed of reduced products of TFSI^-, such as NaF and CF₃. As a result, the symmetric cells exhibited stable Na plating/striping cycling for 300 h at 0.1 mA cm^-2. In addition, FeS2||Na quasi-solid-state batteries delivered an impressive specific capacity of over 300 mAh g^-1 under the current density of 20 mA g^-1 at room temperature. Under a higher current density (100 mA g^-1), such batteries performed with long-term cycling stability and maintained a specific capacity of around 103 mAh g^-1 after 330 cycles. This work demonstrates the novel perspective of using an ionic liquid interlayer to address interfacial issues, contributing to the advancement of high-performance SSSBs for the next-generation energy storage systems.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Louisville, KY (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0021257
• OSTI ID: 1866250
• Journal Information: Chemical Engineering Journal, Journal Name: Chemical Engineering Journal Vol. 434; ISSN 1385-8947
• Publisher: ElsevierCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English