The Anion-Cation Relay Battery Prototype

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Conventional metal-ion batteries (MIBs) and dual-ion batteries (DIBs) primarily utilize either cations or anions.
• Existing battery technologies face limitations in achieving both high energy density and rapid charge/discharge rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and demonstrate the concept of an anion-cation relay battery (ACRB).
• To explore the potential of ACRBs for high-specific-energy and large-rate grid-scale energy storage.

Main Methods:

• Development of non-aqueous rechargeable batteries employing relay insertion/extraction chemistry for both anions and cations at the cathode.
• Utilizing commercial Li/Na/K plates as anodes and free-standing few-layered graphitic carbon (FLGC) membranes as cathodes.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated impressive overall cell performance in proof-of-concept ACRBs.
• Achieved a reversible capacity of approximately 300 mAh g⁻¹ at 100 mA g⁻¹.
• Exhibited a service life exceeding 23,000 cycles with minimal decay (≈0.0013% per cycle).
• Reported a cathode energy density of approximately 370 Wh kg⁻¹ at ≈27 kW kg⁻¹.

Conclusions:

• The anion-cation relay battery (ACRB) fully utilizes both ion types, offering a promising strategy for advanced energy storage.
• ACRB technology presents a potential solution to limitations in MIBs and DIBs.
• This approach may pave the way for cost reductions in commercial lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).