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Reversible Multiple Cation Storage in High-Entropy MXenes for Durable Seawater Batteries
Yanzeng Ge1, Shuyan Lei1, Baoquan Liu1
1State Key Laboratory of Tropic Ocean Engineering Materials and Materials Evaluation, Hainan Provincial Key Lab of Fine Chem, Hainan University, Haikou, China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|July 24, 2026
Summary
High-entropy MXenes enable rechargeable seawater batteries to store multiple ions, overcoming seawater electrolyte challenges. This breakthrough offers stable, durable energy storage solutions for diverse applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Sustainable Energy
Background:
- Rechargeable seawater batteries (SWBs) are promising for sustainable energy storage due to abundant, safe seawater electrolytes.
- Challenges exist in reversibility and stability with seawater's multiple cations and conventional materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a high-entropy strategy to enhance MXene electrochemical activity for multi-cation storage in seawater.
- To investigate the mechanism behind the high-entropy effect in MXenes for seawater batteries.
Main Methods:
- High-entropy strategy applied to MXene materials.
- Mechanistic studies to understand ion transport and structural stability.
- Construction and testing of a proof-of-concept SWB using MXene anode and polytriphenylamine cathode.
Main Results:
- High-entropy MXene exhibits a 'cocktail effect,' accelerating ion kinetics and stabilizing structure.
- Reversible storage of Na+, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ ions with zero-strain characteristic achieved.
- Demonstrated SWB with 155 mAh g-1 capacity, excellent rate capability, and >11000 cycles durability at 25°C.
- SWB maintained functionality at -30°C.
Conclusions:
- The high-entropy strategy unlocks MXenes' potential for multi-cation storage in SWBs.
- This approach provides fundamental insights into high-entropy materials and offers a new avenue for advanced SWB electrode design.
- Developed SWB demonstrates high performance and wide operating temperature range.
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