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Design Principles and Applications of Next‐Generation High‐Energy‐Density Batteries Based on Liquid Metals
Author(s) -
Guo Xuelin,
Ding Yu,
Yu Guihua
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.202100052
Subject(s) - materials science , battery (electricity) , energy density , energy storage , liquid metal , alkali metal , renewable energy , electrochemistry , organic radical battery , nanotechnology , engineering physics , electrochemical energy storage , process engineering , electrode , supercapacitor , metallurgy , electrical engineering , power (physics) , thermodynamics , engineering , chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
Increasing need for the renewable energy supply accelerated the thriving studies of Li‐ion batteries, whereas if the high‐energy‐density Li as well as alkali metals should be adopted as battery electrodes is still under fierce debate for safety concerns. Recently, a group of low‐melting temperature metals and alloys that are in liquid phase at or near room‐temperature are being reported for battery applications, by which the battery energy could be improved without significant dendrite issue. Besides the dendrite‐free feature, liquid metals can also promise various high‐energy‐density battery designs on the basis of unique materials properties. In this review, the design principles for liquid metals‐based batteries from mechanical, electrochemical, and thermodynamical aspects are provided. With the understanding of the theoretical basis, currently reported relevant designs are summarized and analyzed focusing on the working mechanism, effectiveness evaluation, and novel application. An overview of the state‐of‐the‐art liquid metal battery developments and future prospects is also provided in the end as a reference for further research explorations.