Rational design of efficient electrode-electrolyte interfaces for solid-state energy storage using ion soft landing.

ABSTRACT: The rational design of improved electrode-electrolyte interfaces (EEI) for energy storage is critically dependent on a molecular-level understanding of ionic interactions and nanoscale phenomena. The presence of non-redox active species at EEI has been shown to strongly influence Faradaic efficiency and long-term operational stability during energy storage processes. Herein, we achieve substantially higher performance and long-term stability of EEI prepared with highly dispersed discrete redox-active cluster anions (50?ng of pure ?0.75?nm size molybdenum polyoxometalate (POM) anions on 25??g (?0.2 wt%) carbon nanotube (CNT) electrodes) by complete elimination of strongly coordinating non-redox species through ion soft landing (SL). Electron microscopy provides atomically resolved images of a uniform distribution of individual POM species soft landed directly on complex technologically relevant CNT electrodes. In this context, SL is established as a versatile approach for the controlled design of novel surfaces for both fundamental and applied research in energy storage.

SUBMITTER: Prabhakaran V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4844687 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature