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Interconnected Two‐dimensional Arrays of Niobium Nitride Nanocrystals as Stable Lithium Host
Author(s) -
Xiao Xu,
Yao Wei,
Tang Jun,
Liu Chuanfang,
Lian Ruqian,
Urbankowski Patrick,
Anayee Mark,
He Shijie,
Li Jianmin,
Wang Hao,
Gao Yu,
Wei Yingjin,
Gogotsi Yury
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
batteries and supercaps
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2566-6223
DOI - 10.1002/batt.202000186
Subject(s) - materials science , anode , cathode , electrolyte , nitride , lithium (medication) , faraday efficiency , nanocrystal , mesoporous material , metal , cobalt , iron nitride , niobium nitride , chemical engineering , transition metal , nickel , capacity loss , nanotechnology , electrode , metallurgy , chemistry , medicine , biochemistry , engineering , layer (electronics) , endocrinology , catalysis
The cycle life of rechargeable lithium (Li)‐metal batteries is mainly restrained by dendrites growth on the Li‐metal anode and fast depletion of the electrolyte. Here, we report on a stable Li‐metal anode enabled by interconnected two‐dimensional (2D) arrays of niobium nitride (NbN) nanocrystals as the Li host, which exhibits a high Coulombic efficiency (>99 %) after 500 cycles. Combining theoretical and experimental analysis, it is inferred that this performance is due to the intrinsic properties of interconnected 2D arrays of NbN nanocrystals, such as thermodynamic stability against Li‐metal, high Li affinity, fast Li + migration, and Li + transport through the porous 2D nanosheets. Coupled with a lithium nickel–manganese–cobalt oxide cathode, full Li‐metal batteries were built, which showed high cycling stability under practical conditions – high areal cathode loading ≥4 mAh cm −2 , low negative/positive ( N/P ) capacity ratio of 3, and lean electrolyte weight to cathode capacity ratio of 3 g Ah −1 . Our results indicate that transition metal nitrides with a rationally designed structure may alleviate the challenges of developing dendrite‐free Li‐metal anodes.