Rising Demand for Advanced Energy Solutions
LSBs, utilizing lithium as the anode and sulfur as the cathode, encounter challenges such as the “shuttle effect,” leading to capacity fading and poor performance. Various strategies like cathode composites and solid-state electrolytes have been employed, but trade-offs have hindered further development.
Overcoming Challenges: The Role of Metal Nanoclusters
In a groundbreaking collaborative study published in the journal Small on August 25, 2023, a team led by Professor Yuichi Negishi of Tokyo University of Science (TUS) unveils the potential of platinum-doped gold nanoclusters (Au24Pt(PET)18) as a high-efficiency electrocatalyst in LSBs. The study, co-authored by Assistant Professor Saikat Das from TUS and Professors Deyan He and Dequan Liu from Lanzhou University, China, introduces innovative solutions.
The researchers develop composites of Au24Pt(PET)18 and graphene nanosheets, creating a battery separator that accelerates electrochemical kinetics in LSBs. Prof. Negishi highlights the impressive results, demonstrating enhanced capacity and cycling stability. The battery exhibits a high reversible specific capacity of 1535.4 mA h g−1 for the first cycle at 0.2 A g−1 and an exceptional rate capability of 887 mA h g−1 at 5 A g−1. Even after 1000 cycles at 5 A g−1, the capacity retained is 558.5 mA h g−1.
Unveiling Promising Results: Metal Nanoclusters’ Impact on Sustainability
These findings underscore the advantages of metal nanoclusters in LSBs, including improved energy density, longer cycle life, enhanced safety features, and reduced environmental impact. Prof. Negishi envisions broader applications in electric vehicles, portable electronics, and renewable energy storage. The study also hints at the potential for all-solid-state LSBs with novel functionalities, offering a glimpse into a future of cost-efficient and sustainable energy storage devices. This breakthrough may inspire the application of metal nanoclusters in other sustainable energy storage systems.
Source: miragenews.com
