Cathode | EPFL Graph Search

thumb|Cathode en cuivre La cathode d'un appareil passif parcouru par un courant continu est l'électrode d'où, en sens conventionnel, sort le courant (en courant électronique, électrode où entrent les électrons). Par exemple, pour une diode, c'est l'électrode reliée au pôle négatif du générateur. Pour une pile électrique faisant office de générateur, c'est l'électrode positive. Dans une électrolyse active en chimie, avec apport d'énergie électrique, la cathode est par définition là où sont contraints (par le champ électrique) de se diriger les ions positifs ou cations. En chimie
La cathode est le siège de la réduction, que l'on qualifie alors de réduction cathodique. Dans une pile électrique qui débite, elle correspond à la borne positive (+) et dans le cas d'un électrolyseur, à la borne négative du générateur extérieur (l'électrolyse peut être vue comme la réaction inverse de celle qui se produit naturellement dans une pile, d'où l'inversion des polarités). Ces deux fon

Interspace and Vacancy Modulation: Promoting the Zinc Storage of an Alcohol-Based Organic-Inorganic Cathode in a Water-Organic Electrolyte

Yong Li, Kangning Zhao

Expanding interspace and introducing vacancies are desired to promote the mobility of Zn ions and unlock the inactive sites of layered cathodes. However, this two-point modulation has not yet been achieved simultaneously in vanadium phosphate. Here, a strategy is proposed for fabricating an alcohol-based organic-inorganic hybrid material, VO1-xPO4 center dot 0.56C(6)H(14)O(4), to realize the conjoint modulation of the d-interspace and oxygen vacancies. Peculiar triglycol molecules with an inclined orientation in the interlayer also boost the improvement in the conversion rate of V5+ to V4+ and the intensity of the P-O bond. Their synergism can ensure steerable adjustment for intercalation kinetics and electron transport, as well as realize high chemical reactivity and redox-center optimization, leading to at least 200% increase in capacity. Using a water-organic electrolyte, the designed Zn-ion batteries with an ultrahigh-rate profile deliver a long-term durability (fivefold greater than pristine material) and an excellent energy density of approximate to 142 Wh kg(-1) (including masses of cathode and anode), thereby substantially outstripping most of the recently reported state-of-the-art zinc-ion batteries. This work proves the feasibility to realize the two-point modulation by using organic intercalants for exploiting high-performance new 2D materials.

WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH2022

Ageing of porous carbon electrodes

Manxi Zhu

Ultracapacitors, also called electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLC) or supercapacitors, may improve the performance of conventional electrolytic capacitors in terms of specific energy, or improve the performance of rechargeable batteries in terms of specific power when combined with respective device. However, the application of ultracapacitors faces the problem of ageing – the deterioration of capacity and increase of equivalent series resistance of the system. This thesis intends to elucidate ageing mechanisms of ultracapacitors based on activated carbon electrodes with tetrafluoroborate in acetonitrile as electrolyte. Multi-method experimental investigations are presented which allow to obtain a comprehensive picture of ageing. Ultracapacitors were electrochemically aged under various conditions by applying voltages and temperatures close to the actual operation conditions. The influences of ageing on the electrodes were investigated by structural and chemical characterization. Gas volumetric measurement (porosimetry) and Raman spectroscopy were applied to follow the structural changes; elemental analysis, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA, XPS) and attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR) were applied for chemical composition analysis. It was found that the changes of both structure and chemical composition, which occur on aged anodes and cathodes, are asymmetric. Aged anodes showed more significant changes such as stronger decrease of pore volume and specific area, and more complex chemical species. Chemically bound nitrogen species were found only on aged anodes, but not on fresh electrodes and aged cathodes. Based on the experimental results, several mechanisms for ageing are suggested. The functionalities in activated carbons play an important role for ageing. Various oxygen-containing functional groups can take part in the reactions. A higher amount of functionalities means that more electroactive sites can be found on the graphene sheets in activated carbons to promote electrochemical reactions. Thus one can assume that less functional groups in activate carbons would be preferable for the stability of ultracapacitors. Ageing tests were carried out on individual components of the electrodes, mainly on activated carbon powders and conductive carbon additives. Observations are consistent with those on assembled electrodes. It turned out that the activated carbons from synthetic resin precursors, which have fewer oxygen functional groups, suffer less from ageing than those from natural precursors with more oxygen functional groups. A similar phenomenon was also observed on the conductive agents.

EPFL2006

Ageing of porous carbon electrodes

Manxi Zhu

EPFL2006