Electrolytes with Micelle-Assisted Formation of Directional Ion Transport Channels for Aqueous Rechargeable Batteries with Impressive Performance

oleh: Yanmin Lu, Fengxiang Zhang, Xifeng Lu, Haihui Jiang, Wei Hu, Libin Liu, Ligang Gai

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2022-06-01

Deskripsi

Low-cost and ecofriendly electrolytes with suppressed water reactivity and raised ionic conductivity are desirable for aqueous rechargeable batteries because it is a dilemma to decrease the water reactivity and increase the ionic conductivity at the same time. In this paper, Li<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>–Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>–sodium dodecyl sulfate (LN-SDS)-based aqueous electrolytes are designed, where: (i) Na<sup>+</sup> ions dissociated from SDS increase the charge carrier concentration, (ii) DS<sup>−</sup>/SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup> anions and Li<sup>+</sup>/Na<sup>+</sup> cations are capable of trapping water molecules through hydrogen bonding and/or hydration, resulting in a lowered melting point, (iii) Li<sup>+</sup> ions reduce the Krafft temperature of LN-SDS, (iv) Na<sup>+</sup> and SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup> ions increase the low-temperature electrolyte ionic conductivity, and (v) SDS micelle clusters are orderly aggregated to form directional ion transport channels, enabling the formation of quasi-continuous ion flows without (r.t.) and with (≤0 °C) applying voltage. The screened LN-SDS is featured with suppressed water reactivity and high ionic conductivity at temperatures ranging from room temperature to −15 °C. Additionally, NaTi<sub>2</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3</sub>‖LiMn<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> batteries operating with LN-SDS manifest impressive electrochemical performance at both room temperature and −15 °C, especially the cycling stability and low-temperature performance.