Nano-Micro Letters, Volume. 16, Issue 1, 255(2024)
Interpenetrated Structures for Enhancing Ion Diffusion Kinetics in Electrochemical Energy Storage Devices
The architectural design of electrodes offers new opportunities for next-generation electrochemical energy storage devices (EESDs) by increasing surface area, thickness, and active materials mass loading while maintaining good ion diffusion through optimized electrode tortuosity. However, conventional thick electrodes increase ion diffusion length and cause larger ion concentration gradients, limiting reaction kinetics. We demonstrate a strategy for building interpenetrated structures that shortens ion diffusion length and reduces ion concentration inhomogeneity. This free-standing device structure also avoids short-circuiting without needing a separator. The feature size and number of interpenetrated units can be adjusted during printing to balance surface area and ion diffusion. Starting with a 3D-printed interpenetrated polymer substrate, we metallize it to make it conductive. This substrate has two individually addressable electrodes, allowing selective electrodeposition of energy storage materials. Using a Zn//MnO2 battery as a model system, the interpenetrated device outperforms conventional separate electrode configurations, improving volumetric energy density by 221% and exhibiting a higher capacity retention rate of 49% compared to 35% at temperatures from 20 to 0 °C. Our study introduces a new EESD architecture applicable to Li-ion, Na-ion batteries, supercapacitors, etc.
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Xinzhe Xue, Longsheng Feng, Qiu Ren, Cassidy Tran, Samuel Eisenberg, Anica Pinongcos, Logan Valdovinos, Cathleen Hsieh, Tae Wook Heo, Marcus A. Worsley, Cheng Zhu, Yat Li. Interpenetrated Structures for Enhancing Ion Diffusion Kinetics in Electrochemical Energy Storage Devices[J]. Nano-Micro Letters, 2024, 16(1): 255
Category: Research Articles
Received: Apr. 25, 2024
Accepted: Jun. 28, 2024
Published Online: Jan. 23, 2025
The Author Email: Worsley Marcus A. (worsley1@llnl.gov), Zhu Cheng (zhu6@llnl.gov), Li Yat (yatli@ucsc.edu)