An ultra-low concentration electrolyte with fluorine-free bulky anions for stable potassium metal batteries

Potassium metal battery is a promising alternative to Li-ion battery for large-scale energy storage due to the abundant potassium resources and high energy density. However, it suffers from rapid capacity fading and safety issues due to the uncontrolled dendrite growth. Herein, we design a fluorine-free ultra-low concentration electrolyte (ULCE) with the super bulky [BPh4](-) anions for stable potassium metal battery. In this special electrolyte, the migration rate of K+ in the electrolyte is about six times faster than that of the [BPh4](-) anions because of the super bulky structure of the [BPh4](-) anions, thus resulting in a high K+ transference number of 0.76. This high transference number can effectively make up for the deficiency of K+ in ULCE for ensuring the normal operation of the potassium metal battery. In addition, the improved transference number can also promote the uniform distribution of K+ flux on the surface of the K metal anode, resulting in uniform K deposition. As a result, this electrolyte achieves a high K plating/stripping Coulombic efficiency of 92.6% over 200 cycles and a stable discharging/charging for 100 cycles under the full battery configuration (K used as the anode and perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride used as the cathode).

Automated summary

Potassium metal battery is a promising alternative for large-scale energy storage, but suffers from capacity fading and safety issues. A newly designed electrolyte with super bulky [BPh4](-) anions is able to improve potassium ion migration and transference number, solving the instability problem of the battery. Additionally, the electrolyte promotes uniform distribution of potassium flux on the metal anode, improving potassium deposition efficiency and battery cycle life.