The Kang/He research group, led by Tsinghua SIGS professors Kang Feiyu and He Yanbing, published their findings in Nature Communications on September 18. The paper, titled “Cross-linked beta alumina nanowires with compact gel polymer electrolyte coating for ultra-stable sodium metal battery,” reveals the transport mechanism of solid-liquid hybrid sodium ions and the importance of composite electrolytes in constructing a stable sodium metal battery.
The research group developed cross-linked beta alumina nanowires that create a transportation channel for solid-liquid hybrid NA ions when combined with a gel polymer electrolyte. These nanowires promote uniform Na deposition, inhibit Na dendrite growth and side reactions, improve thermal stability and increase battery life, making Na battery technology more competitive for energy storage applications. This technique may also be applicable to lithium, potassium, and other metal batteries.
This project was completed with the assistance of researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China, the U.S. Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory, the Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Metals, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Tianjin University, and Xiamen University. It was supported by the National Key Research Program, National Natural Science Foundation of China; the Guangdong Pearl River Talents Program; the Shenzhen Technical Plan Project; and the U. S. Department of Energy.
Schematic of Na batteries using nanowires with gel polymer electrolytes (ANs-GPE) and glass fiber with gel polymer electrolytes (GFs-GPE). ANs-GPE, in comparison, create solid–liquid hybrid Na-ion transportation channels that contribute to uniform Na deposition.
In the past five years, the Kang/He research group has focused on solid electrolyte lithium ion batteries, making important discoveries in improving battery stability and efficiency, and greatly promoting the practical development of solid-state batteries.
Article link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-11960-w
