Synthesis and Characterization of New Composite Materials for Cathodes in Batteries

Abstract

Over the past decades, the revolution of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has been conquering the energy storage market in a tremendous rate. Due to their high-power output and superior energy density, LIBs have been used in most modern applications such as smart phones, electric vehicles and so on. However, the drawbacks of LIBs regarding to safety and cost are still the barrier for batteries application which impede the advancement of battery in the future. Therefore, innovative and new battery types are under research and development, and one of these types is Magnesium-ions batteries (MIBs). By using magnesium ions instead of lithium ions, we can lower the price for batteries as well as ensure the safety of the batteries while it is operating. The performance of batteries replies on active materials which are always the intention and goals for scientist to find and develop new alternatives. Polyoxometalates (POMs) have received a lot of interest due to their outstanding redox activity and molecular level tunability, from which POMs can have multiple reversible electron transfer processes. Vanadium-based POMs, known as POVs, are of special interest because of the low atomic weight of vanadium, compared with molybdenum- or tungstenbased POMs, and their more pronounced redox-activity. Even though many researches in structural designs gradually increase, the main challenges of POVs such as low thermal and stability in solvents still remain and that cause difficulties for POVs in battery application. In this work, a conducting polymer is used to support POVs by making a composite material which then is the active materials for the battery. The attempt of combining MIBs and novel POVs compounds is explored and new structures of POVs are made and suggested for further improvement for MIBs in report.