Researchers at Tokyo University of Science have conducted experiments to understand solid-electrolyte interphases (SEI) in aqueous potassium-ion batteries. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, potassium-ion batteries are safer and use abundant materials.
One significant challenge in high-voltage aqueous batteries is preventing hydrogen evolution at the negative electrode.
In lithium batteries, SEI helps stabilize the electrodes, but its role in potassium-ion batteries has been less explored.
Powering a greener tomorrow with Potassium batteries
Lithium-ion batteries have been widely used for electronic devices and vehicles, but concerns about their environmental impact and lithium availability have driven the search for alternatives like potassium-ion batteries.
These promising alternatives can use a water-in-salt electrolyte (WISE), offering improved thermal and chemical stability.
To address the hydrogen evolution challenge, researchers used scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and operando electrochemical mass spectrometry (OEMS). They observed real-time SEI formation during potassium-ion battery operation.
The SEI formed a passivating layer in WISE, similar to lithium batteries, which helped suppress hydrogen evolution, ensuring stable performance and durability. However, at higher voltages, the SEI layer was incomplete, leading to hydrogen evolution.
In conclusion, these findings highlight the need to enhance SEI formation in future aqueous batteries to overcome challenges in potassium-ion battery technology.
Professor Shinichi Komaba, the research leader, clarified;
“While our results reveal interesting details on the properties and stability of SEI found in one particular WISE, we should also focus on reinforcing the SEI network to achieve improved battery functionality.”
“These techniques provide a powerful means for tracking the development, coverage, ion transfer, and stability of SEI and can easily be adapted for various electrolytes and electrodes.”
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Meet 21-year-old Nigerian prodigy who generates electricity from stone
Meanwhile, on today’s episode on things you don’t see every day, netizens were shown a 21-year-old Nigerian prodigy who generates electricity from stone.
In the video covered by Wowneche on YouTube, the young lad claimed to be the second person to discover electricity in Nigeria.
As opposed to the first person who generated electricity from Kainji dam, the boy took the unrouted path of generating power from a stone.
