Real- time tracking of electron transfer at catalytically active interfaces in lithium- ion batteries

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Li, Hongsen; Hu, Zhengqiang; Zuo, Fengkai; Li, Yuhao; Liu, Minhui; Liu, Hengjun; Li, Yadong; Li, Qiang; Ding, Yu; Wang, Yaqun; Zhu, Yue; Yu, Guihua; Maier, Joachim; Cui, Yi
• 署名单位: Qingdao University; University of Texas System; University of Texas Austin; University of Texas System; University of Texas Austin; Nanjing University; Shandong University of Science & Technology; Max Planck Society
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-10501
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2320030121
• 发表日期: 2024-02-13
• 关键词: magnetic measurements; storage; origin; cells

摘要

Transition metals and related compounds are known to exhibit high catalytic activities in various electrochemical reactions thanks to their intriguing electronic structures. What is lesser known is their unique role in storing and transferring electrons in battery electrodes which undergo additional solid - state conversion reactions and exhibit substantially large extra capacities. Here, a full dynamic picture depicting the generation and evolution of electrochemical interfaces in the presence of metallic nanoparticles is revealed in a model CoCO3/Li battery via an in situ magnetometry technique. Beyond the conventional reduction to a Li2CO3/Co mixture under battery operation, further decomposition of Li2CO3 is realized by releasing interfacially stored electrons from its adjacent Co nanoparticles, whose subtle variation in the electronic structure during this charge transfer process has been monitored in real time. The findings in this work may not only inspire future development of advanced electrode materials for next- generation energy storage devices but also open up opportunities in achieving in situ monitoring of important electrocatalytic processes in many energy conversion and storage systems.