Recently, the latest research achievement "Identifying the Role of Lewis-base Sites for the Chemistry in Lithium-Oxygen Batteries" by Professor Long Jianping's research group from the College of Materials and Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology (CDUT) has been published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, an international top journal in chemistry (Impact Factor: 16.6, TOP journal, Nature Index journal). This is the first time that CDUT has published research results as the first author and first corresponding author in this authoritative journal and marks international counterparts' recognition of CDUT in the field of high-energy-density secondary battery electrode materials. As one of the world's top journals in the field of chemistry, Angewandte Chemie has a strong academic influence. The publication of the research achievement is of great significance for continuously enhancing CDUT's international academic influence in the field of chemistry.
The development of new battery systems with ultra-high energy density has become a "new battleground" in the energy storage market competition, the key of which lies in the innovation of electrode materials. The above research, by constructing a metal-organic framework positive electrode material containing Lewis-base sites, significantly improved the discharge capacity, charge/discharge polarization voltage and cycling stability of lithium-oxygen batteries, and revealed for the first time the crucial role and mechanism of action of Lewis-base sites in promoting the charge and discharge chemistry of lithium-oxygen batteries: (1) Lewis-base sites can act as electron donors, to promote the activation of O2/Li2O2 during battery discharge/charge and accelerate the reaction kinetics of the battery; (2) Lewis-base sites can effectively capture Li+ during battery discharge, to weaken the positive electrode surface's adsorption of LiO2 intermediate, greatly promote the solvation process of LiO2 intermediate and ultimately transform the surface adsorption growth mechanism of Li2O2 into a solution-mediated growth mechanism. This research achievement has great theoretical and practical significance for guiding the rational construction of electrocatalysts featuring Lewis-acid/base dual centers in this battery system. This research was jointly completed by Zhao Chuan, a master's student in the Class of 2020, Yan Zhongfu, a master's student in the Class of 2021, and Zhou Bo, a doctoral student in the Class of 2020, under the supervision of Professor Long Jianping.
It is learned that Professor Long Jianping's research group targets the urgent demand in the current power battery market for new-generation high-energy-density, long-cycle-life and high-safety batteries, focuses on the key fundamental scientific issues related to high-energy-density secondary metal batteries, including negative electrode protection for lithium/zinc metal batteries, electrolyte optimization for secondary metal batteries, regulation of negative electrode/electrolyte interface, and positive electrode design for metal-air batteries, and is committed to revealing the charge and discharge chemical processes and surface and interface micro-mechanisms of action of electrode materials and electrolytes in secondary metal batteries, so as to promote the large-scale application of high-energy-density secondary metal batteries. Over the past three years, the research group has published more than 60 academic papers in international top journals such as Angew. Chem. Int. Edit., Energy Environ. Sci., Energy Storage Mater., Adv. Energy Mater. and ACS Nano, with four included in ESI highly cited papers and one included in ESI hot papers, and with total citations exceeding 3,300 (Google Scholar) and an H-index of 34. The research group has also been granted 14 invention patents.
Figure 1. Diagram of Mechanism of Action of Lewis-base Sites in Battery Chemistry
Figure 2. Influence of Lewis-base Sites on the Reaction Kinetics of Lithium-Oxygen Batteries
Figure 3. Influence of Lewis-base Sites on the Deposition of Discharge Products of Lithium-Oxygen Batteries
Further reading: Founded in 1888, Angewandte Chemie is the official flagship journal of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and is published by Wiley-VCH. As an international authoritative journal in the field of chemistry, it exclusively reports highly original and important research achievements in chemical science research and has extensive influence in the field of global chemistry research.
