About this Research Topic
In the past decade, lithium-ion batteries have emerged as an exciting development in the field of energy storage devices, resulting in the large-scale application of lithium-ion batteries from small portable electronic devices to large power systems such as hybrid electric vehicles. However, the maximum energy density of current lithium-ion batteries with intercalation/deintercalation chemistry is insufficient to meet the demands of new market areas such as electric vehicles.
Because of the remarkably high theoretical energy output, metal-air batteries represent a promising source of power for next-generation electronics, electrical transportation, and energy storage in smart grids. While the cell configuration of conventional rechargeable batteries is a closed system, the novel characteristic of metal-air batteries is their open cell structure. Compared to the traditional battery structure, this feature gives metal-air chemistry several advantages. The most prominent advantage of metal-air batteries is the combination of a metal anode with high energy density (metal is replaceable), an electrolyte, and an air electrode with open structure to draw cathode active materials (i.e. oxygen) from air. The used metal can be Zn, Al, Mg, and so on, which have the advantage of low cost and abundant reserves. Secondarily, as the metal-air battery is charged, the metal is electrodeposited onto the anode and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) occurs on the cathode; the reverse occurs when the metal-air battery is discharged, i.e. metal is dissolved from the anode and the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) occurs on the cathode. Alloying or surface modification of the anode could suppress the related side reactions and dendrite growth, while the addition of an electrocatalyst on the air electrode can reduce the energy barrier and accelerate reaction kinetics, both of which can improve the reaction reversibility and electrochemical performance of these promising metal-air chemistries.
The aim of this Research Topic is to cover promising, recent, and novel research trends in achieving efficient electrochemical reactions for metal-air chemistries, with multiple optimizations in terms of chemical composition, micro-nanostructure engineering, surface chemistry, and interfacial compatibility. Authors are welcome to submit original research articles, reviews, and mini-reviews.
Because of the remarkably high theoretical energy output, metal-air batteries represent a promising source of power for next-generation electronics, electrical transportation, and energy storage in smart grids. While the cell configuration of conventional rechargeable batteries is a closed system, the novel characteristic of metal-air batteries is their open cell structure. Compared to the traditional battery structure, this feature gives metal-air chemistry several advantages. The most prominent advantage of metal-air batteries is the combination of a metal anode with high energy density (metal is replaceable), an electrolyte, and an air electrode with open structure to draw cathode active materials (i.e. oxygen) from air. The used metal can be Zn, Al, Mg, and so on, which have the advantage of low cost and abundant reserves. Secondarily, as the metal-air battery is charged, the metal is electrodeposited onto the anode and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) occurs on the cathode; the reverse occurs when the metal-air battery is discharged, i.e. metal is dissolved from the anode and the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) occurs on the cathode. Alloying or surface modification of the anode could suppress the related side reactions and dendrite growth, while the addition of an electrocatalyst on the air electrode can reduce the energy barrier and accelerate reaction kinetics, both of which can improve the reaction reversibility and electrochemical performance of these promising metal-air chemistries.
The aim of this Research Topic is to cover promising, recent, and novel research trends in achieving efficient electrochemical reactions for metal-air chemistries, with multiple optimizations in terms of chemical composition, micro-nanostructure engineering, surface chemistry, and interfacial compatibility. Authors are welcome to submit original research articles, reviews, and mini-reviews.
Keywords: Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR), Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER), Bifunctional Electrocatalysis, Reversible anodic reaction, Metal-air electrochemistry, Electrode/electrolyte interface
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