Research progress in liquid metal batteries based on lithium negative electrodes

doi:10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2023.0613

Abstract

Abstract:

Liquid metal batteries have significant advantages in the field of large-scale power grid energy storage due to their low cost, easy assembly and expansion, and the ability to effectively avoid dendritic growth and electrode structure deformation during the charging and discharging processes. This article provides a systematic overview of the working principle, advantages and disadvantages, selection principles of battery materials (including electrodes and electrolytes), and the recent research progress on the electrode materials for liquid metal batteries, which focuses on introducing key material systems for liquid metal batteries using lithium as the negative electrode, such as the Li‖Te system, Li‖Bi system, Li‖Sb system, Li‖Sb-X (X=Pb, Sn) system, and Li‖Bi X (X=Sn, Pb) system. The electrochemical energy storage properties, safety, cycling stability, and performance improvement strategies of the above material systems were primarily analyzed, and the advantages and disadvantages of the above material systems in large-scale energy storage applications were evaluated and compared. Moreover, the problems and technical challenges faced by Li-based liquid metal batteries in molten salt electrolytes, high-temperature sealing and corrosion protection, and thermal management of batteries were reviewed. Finally, the main development directions of positive and negative electrode materials for liquid metal batteries were prospected. Comprehensive analysis shows that liquid metal batteries based on Li negative electrodes offer several advantages, such as low melting point, low cost, high Coulombic efficiency, and high discharge voltage.

Key words: lithium negative electrode, liquid metal batteries, electrochemical energy storage, key material

CLC Number:

TM 911

Kun ZENG, Xiaoyan ZHENG, Huiling GONG, Bo ZOU, Kai CHEN, Zhongna YAN. Research progress in liquid metal batteries based on lithium negative electrodes[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2024, 13(1): 299-310.

Figures/Tables 8

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Table 1

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电极	电解质组成	比例(摩尔比)	熔点/℃	密度/(g/cm³)	电导率/(S/cm)	参考文献
Li	LiCl-KCl	41∶59	353			[24]
	LiCl-LiF	70∶30	501	1.8		[24-25]
	LiF-LiCl-LiI	20∶50∶30	430			[26]
	LiF-LiCl-LiBr	22∶31∶47	443	2.7	3.0	[26]
	LiBr-KBr	60∶40	320			[27-28]
	LiF-LiBr-KBr	3∶63∶34	312			[27-28]
Na	NaF-NaCl-NaI	15∶32∶53	530	2.54	1.7～2.0	[29]
Na	NaOH-NaI	80∶20	220			[30]
Ca	LiCl-NaCl-CaCl₂	38∶27∶35	450	1.85	2.6	[31-32]
Ca	LiCl-NaCl-CaCl₂-BaCl₂	29∶20∶35∶16	390	2.24	1.8	[31]
Zn	ZnCl₂	100	292			[33]
Zn	ZnCl₂-KCl	50∶50	230			[34-36]

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