We are currently in the midst of a race to discover and develop new battery materials capable of providing high energy-density at low cost. By combining a high-performance Si electrode architecture with a room temperature ionic liquid electrolyte, here we demonstrate a highly energy-dense lithium-ion cell with an impressively long cycling life, maintaining over 75% capacity after 500 cycles. Such high performance is enabled by a stable half-cell coulombic efficiency of 99.97%, averaged over the first 200 cycles. Equally as significant, our detailed characterization elucidates the previously convoluted mechanisms of the solid-electrolyte interphase on Si electrodes. We provide a theoretical simulation to model the interface and microstructural-compositional analyses that confirm our theoretical predictions and allow us to visualize the precise location and constitution of various interfacial components. This work provides new science related to the interfacial stability of Si-based materials while granting positive exposure to ionic liquid electrochemistry.

High-energy-density FeS2 cathodes en-abled by a bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (TFSI-) anion-based room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) electrolyte are demonstrated. A TFSI-based ionic liquid (IL) significantly mitigates polysulfide dissolution, and therefore the parasitic redox shuttle mechanism, that plagues sulfur-based electrode chemistries. FeS2 stabilization with a TFSI(-) -based IL results in one of the highest energy density cathodes, 542 W h kg(-1) (normalized to cathode composite mass), reported to date.

Sensors have become integral part of our lives. Electrochemical sensors are the oldest and the most commercially used sensors. Biomass carbonization by pyrolysis and hydrothermal methods are discussed as a cost-effective strategy for fabrication of electrodes for electrochemical sensing applications. Porosity and surface area along with graphitic nature of bio derived carbon materials greatly affects the performance of electrochemical sensors. Various techniques are used to improve the surface properties so as to enhance the electrocatalytic behavior of working electrodes. Synthetic and bioderived carbon materials are compared for their electrochemical sensing applications.

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