Credit: Guodong Chen et al.
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have discovered that incorporating molecular iodine (I2) into SOCl2 battery electrolyte allows for more efficient charging and increases energy discharge rates. The discovery could make Li-SOCl2 batteries more practical for energy storage in the future.
The research, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, found that I2 could be used as a dual-function catalyst by generating new redox couples as intermediates during the charge and discharge processes.
"I2 can speed electron transfer and improve energy charge and discharge rates while maintaining the high energy density associated with Li-SOCl2 batteries,” said Prof. DONG Shanmu, co-corresponding author of the study. By improving the energy transfer kinetics the researchers not only improved the energy release rate but also made the batteries rechargeable in the process.
"Our work successfully sets the precedent of using one catalyst to alter the intermediates for two processes, both discharge and charge, which is a new method that realizes reversible SOCl2 chemistry during cycling,” said Prof. CUI Guanglei, co-corresponding author of the study.
"In the next phase of development, we will focus on developing new redox mediators or catalysts that efficiently improve battery charging and discharging and obtaining an in-depth analysis of the reaction mechanisms and limiting factors in charging batteries without additives,” said CHEN Guodong, first author of the study. “In the end, our goal is to develop a rechargeable battery with a wide temperature operating range as well as high-energy and high-power density.”