Lithium metal batteries based on Li metal anodes coupled with conversion-type cathodes have emerged to meet the demands of next-generation energy storage technology for large-scale application of powerful electromobility systems such as electric vehicles and all-electric aircraft.

Among conversion-type cathodes, iron trifluoride (FeF₃) is considered a promising candidate because it can offer an extremely high energy density of 1947 Wh/kg (based on a theoretical capacity of 712 mAh/g with a thermodynamic potential of ~2.73 V) via three electron transfer. Different from molecule cathodes (e.g., S₈ and O₂), FeF3 can effectively mitigate the loss of cathode active species and the occurrence of anode side reactions caused by the difficulty of reaction-zone confinement.

Characterization of solid-liquid F-transport channels enabled by the anion receptor of TPFPB [IMAGE: SIC]

However, the intrinsic solid-solid conversion of fluoride is sluggish during repeated splitting and re-bonding of metal-fluorine moieties. In particular for Li-driven fluoride conversion, heterogeneous precipitation and coverage of insulating lithium fluoride (LiF) on the whole electrode surface impedes the internal chemical reaction between active fluoride and lithium, causing large voltage hysteresis and low available capacity.

A research team led by Professor Li Chilin from the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics (SIC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has recently made progress in conversion-type lithium-fluoride batteries.

In view of the sluggish kinetics and poor reversibility of lithium-fluorine conversion reactions, they proposed a novel solid-liquid fluorine conversion mechanism enabled by a fluoride anion receptor of tris (pentafluorophenyl) borane (TPFPB) to promote the dissociation of inert lithium fluoride and provide a facile “fluorine transport channel” at multiphase interfaces via the formation of solvated F-intermediates. The construction of a solid-liquid channel could bypass tough solid-solid conversion and upgrade the fluoride conversion kinetics, achieving sustained cycling of conversion-type lithium-fluoride batteries with high capacity and energy efficiency.

The related result is published in Science Advances (2021, 7, eabj1491) under the title “Construction of solid-liquid fluorine transport channels to enable highly reversible conversion cathodes”.

Schematic illustration of the preparation process of iron oxyfluorides via the thermal-induced self-oxygen penetration method and the phase conversion mechanism of iron oxyfluorides [IMAGE: SIC]

The effect of solid-liquid F-transport channels on promoting the electrochemical performance of FeO_0.3F_1.7 and FeO_0.7F_1.3 cathodes [IMAGE: SIC]

TPFPB has an electron-deficient boron center, which exhibits a strong attraction to electron-rich fluorine. TPFPB with F-binding affinity favorably promotes LiF splitting, and enables the F-state transformation from the solid LiF lattice to the solvated [TPFPB-F]- intermediate. For the Li-driven Fe-F conversion system, the dissolved F- tends to react with the oxidized Fe species in the reconversion process. The construction of a solid-liquid fluorine channel not only improves the original rough solid-solid contact, but also kinetically promotes the F-sublattice conversion from Li-F to Fe-F structure, as indicated by the evidently reduced reaction energy barrier of the LiF-Fe system.

Additionally, the research team developed a thermal-induced self-oxygen penetration method for the structure optimization of fluoride cathodes. Two kinds of iron (oxy) fluoride composites (denoted as FeO_0.3F_1.7 and FeO_0.7F_1.3) were synthesized via sequential hydroxylation/dehydroxylation of hydrated iron fluoride under annealing treatment. The O doping in fluoride regulates the phase evolution pathway and introduces a stable second-generation parent phase of rock salt in the confined voltage region for conversion reaction.

Benefiting from the construction of facile round-trip F/Li-transport pathways and the optimization of fluoride structures, FeO_0.3F_1.7 and FeO_0.7F_1.3 cathodes enable a sustained conversion reaction with energy efficiency approaching 80 percent, high-capacity retention of 472 and 484 mAh/g after 100 cycles, and superior rate capability with reversible capacities of 271 and 320 mAh/g at 2 A/g. Their energy densities are achieved at 1100 Wh/kg for FeO_0.3F_1.7 and 700 Wh/kg for FeO_0.7F_1.3 under the power densities of 220 and 4300 W/kg, respectively. The key finding of solid-liquid fluorine channels provides an effective strategy to develop fluorine-conversion battery systems with high energy density.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. & Professor Li Chilin

E-mail: chilinli@mail.sic.ac.cn

Shanghai Institute of Ceramics (SIC),

Chinese Academy of Sciences

Source: Shanghai Institute of Ceramics (SIC),

Chinese Academy of Sciences