Metal Halides for High-Capacity Energy Storage

High-capacity electrochemical energy storage systems are more urgently needed than ever before with the rapid development of electric vehicles and the smart grid. The most efficient way to increase capacity is to develop electrode materials with low molecular weights. The low-cost metal halides are theoretically ideal cathode materials due to their advantages of high capacity and redox potential. However, their cubic structure and large energy barrier for deionization impede their rechargeability. Here, the reversibility of potassium halides, lithium halides, sodium halides, and zinc halides is achieved through decreasing their dimensionality by the strong pi-cation interactions between metal cations and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Especially, the energy densities of KI-, KBr-, and KCl-based materials are 722.2, 635.0, and 739.4 Wh kg(-1), respectively, which are higher than those of other cathode materials for potassium-ion batteries. In addition, the full-cell with 2D KI/rGO as cathode and graphite as anode demonstrates a lifespan of over 150 cycles with a considerable capacity retention of 57.5%. The metal halides-based electrode materials possess promising application prospects and are worthy of more in-depth researches.

Automated summary

High-capacity electrochemical energy storage systems are urgently needed for electric vehicles and smart grids. Developing electrode materials with low molecular weights is the most efficient way to increase capacity. Metal halides are theoretically ideal cathode materials, but their rechargeability is hindered by their cubic structure and large energy barrier. By reducing their dimensionality with reduced graphene oxide (rGO), reversibility is achieved for potassium halides, lithium halides, sodium halides, and zinc halides. Metal halides-based electrode materials show promising application prospects and deserve further research.