Disciplinary intercross refers to interdisciplinary or cross-disciplinary research activities. The knowledge system deriving from the research result constitutes interdisciplinary science. Supported by the JLU Funding Program on Interdisciplinary Scientific Research Group and JLU Interdisciplinary Integration and Innovation Program, SMAE’s Prof. Liu Chunbao, Prof. Du Fei of the College of Physics, and others recently gave full play to interdisciplinary advantages and made new progress in electrode interface protection and modification of potassium-ion batteries. The relevant paper entitled “Hydration Enables Air-Stable and High-Performance Layered Cathode Materials for both Organic and Aqueous Potassium-Ion Batteries” was published in the famous academic journalAdvanced Functional Materials(2022, IF: 19.925), with SMAE’s Prof. Liu Chunbao and Prof. Du Fei and Prof. Xie Yu of the College of Physics as co-corresponding authors.
This research proposed a simple and universal multifunctional hydration strategy which comprehensively improved both the air stability and electrochemical performance of potassium-based layered oxide cathode. Intrinsic structural characteristics of the material are used to skillfully introduce water molecules into the alkali metal layer. The amount of water molecules embedded is adjusted by changing the reaction time, so as to obtain new potassium-based layered oxide cathode materials. This strategy provides a new solution to the air stability of layered materials, reduces the preparation cost of cathode materials for potassium-ion batteries, and enhances the competitiveness of potassium-ion batteries in the next generation of large-scale energy storage system.
In this research, Liu Chunbao’s team proposed cross-scale simulation integrating micromolecular dynamics and macro-multi-physics field coupling. It visually revealed the electric field distribution and ion shuttle effect on the surface of anode and cathode materials, which is of great guiding significance for developing new electrode materials that can effectively inhibit dendrite and side reactions.
