Membrane-Free Alkali Metal-Iodide Battery with a Molten Salt

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Juhan Lee - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Gleidys Monrrabal-Marquez - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Martins Sarma - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Tobias Lappan - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Yvonne Jasmin Hofstetter - , Chair of Emerging Electronic Technologies (gB/IFW and cfaed), Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Pavel Trtik - , Paul Scherrer Institute (Author)
  • Steffen Landgraf - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Wenjin Ding - , German Aerospace Center (DLR) (Author)
  • Sumit Kumar - , German Aerospace Center (DLR) (Author)
  • Yana Vaynzof - , Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed), Chair of Emerging Electronic Technologies (gB/IFW and cfaed), Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Norbert Weber - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Tom Weier - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)

Abstract

Batteries with liquid metal electrodes are attractive candidates for sustainable energy-storage applications due to low manufacturing cost and high recyclability. These batteries should be developed for lower operating temperature, higher cell voltage, and membrane-free cell configuration. Herein, a new type of a membrane-free cell relying on liquid alkali metals and iodide is demonstrated. As a proof-of-concept study, membrane-free alkali metal-iodide (A-AI) batteries are constructed by a facile cell assembly introducing current collectors, LiI–LiCl–KI–CsI salt mixture, and an insulator without relying on solid-state mediums for separating electrolytes. For the initial assembly, no active electrode materials are required since they are naturally formed during battery operation. Despite the unoptimized cell construction, the membrane-free A-AI batteries show promising electrochemical performance such as a reliable stability for 250 cycles. The cells are able to handle a high current density and show a relatively low self-discharge rate, which implies the possibility of an iodine-concentrated layer at the bottom of the cell. This is further supported by postmortem analyses using neutron radiography. X-ray photoemission spectroscopy is performed to identify the changes in the iodine concentration in the cell.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number2300051
Number of pages12
JournalEnergy technology
Volume11
Issue number7
Publication statusPublished - 7 Apr 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

WOS 000963931500001

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • alkali metal-iodide batteries, liquid metal electrodes, low-temperature molten salts, membrane-free energy storage, neutron radiography, Membrane-free energy storage, Neutron radiography, Liquid metal electrodes, Low-temperature molten salts, Alkali metal-iodide batteries