A rechargeable iodine-carbon battery that exploits ion intercalation and iodine redox chemistry

Abstract

Graphitic carbons have been used as conductive supports for developing rechargeable batteries. However, the classic ion intercalation in graphitic carbon has yet to be coupled with extrinsic redox reactions to develop rechargeable batteries. Herein, we demonstrate the preparation of a free-standing, flexible nitrogen and phosphorus co-doped hierarchically porous graphitic carbon for iodine loading by pyrolysis of polyaniline coated cellulose wiper. We find that heteroatoms could provide additional defect sites for encapsulating iodine while the porous carbon skeleton facilitates redox reactions of iodine and ion intercalation. The combination of ion intercalation with redox reactions of iodine allows for developing rechargeable iodine–carbon batteries free from the unsafe lithium/sodium metals, and hence eliminates the long-standing safety issue. The unique architecture of the hierarchically porous graphitic carbon with heteroatom doping not only provides suitable spaces for both iodine encapsulation and cation intercalation but also generates efficient electronic and ionic transport pathways, thus leading to enhanced performance.

A Stimulus‐Responsive Zinc–Iodine Battery with Smart Overcharge Self‐Protection Function

“…As prospective alternatives for Li‐ion batteries, rechargeable zinc‐iodine aqueous batteries (ZIABs) are emerging for large‐scale energy storage systems because of high theoretical capacities and energy densities (around 169 mAh g −1 and 220 Wh kg −1 based on the total mass of active cathode and anode materials), abundant raw materials, environmental friendliness, non‐flammable aqueous electrolytes, and simplified battery packaging technology in air. [ 25–34 ] However, ZIABs suffer from the serious overcharge problem due to the close redox potentials of Zn stripping/platting and hydrogen (H 2 ) evolution. [ 35–38 ] For example, a recent pressure sensor analysis of Zn anode in a slightly acidic electrolyte (pH = 4.57) manifested the side reaction rate of H 2 evolution up to 3 × 10 −7 moles per cycle.…”

A Dual‐Stimuli‐Responsive Sodium‐Bromine Battery with Ultrahigh Energy Density

“…Compared to sulfur and oxygen, halogens (Br 2 and I 2 ) have reversible electrochromic window and excellent reversible redox reactions at high potentials . Thus, halogens have been demonstrated in various rechargeable batteries, e.g., Li//I 2 battery, Zn//I 2 battery, Al//I 2 battery, Na//I 2 battery, Zn//Br 2 battery, and Mg//Br 2 . However, these state‐of‐the‐art rechargeable batteries fail to be simultaneously endowed with both multi‐stimuli‐responsive properties and high energy densities owing to the complexity and compatibility of battery architectures .…”

Carbon-Based Metal-Free Electrocatalysis for Energy Conversion, Energy Storage, and Environmental Protection

“…Reprinted with permission from Ref. [197], Copyright 2017, Nature Group aligned SWCNT array also displayed a high conversion efficiency of 5.5%, comparable to 5.6% obtained with a Pt-based DSSC tested under the same conditions [195]. In addition, carbon catalysts comprised of CNTs coated onto a flexible graphene paper achieved 83% conversion efficiency of that of a Pt electrode [196].…”

“…Inspired by the excellent electrocatalytic activities induced by heteroatom-doping for metal-air batteries [25,202] and its significant effects on enhancing capacity and cycling stability of Na/Li-ion batteries [203], Lu et al [197] used hierarchical porous N,P-co-doped carbon matrixes as hosts for I 2 loading in I 2 -based batteries (Fig. 10e).…”

“…However, the development of economically efficient and highly conducting iodine-based cathodes with stable and high iodine loading is challenging [197]. Several carbon hosts, including carbon black [198], nanoporous carbon [199], vertically aligned carbon nanotubes [200], and porous carbon microtubes [201], have been employed to load I 2 for Li-I 2 batteries.…”