article · Nano Research
Photo-rechargeable lithium-ion batteries combine solar energy harvesting and electrical storage within a single device, addressing intermittency issues associated with solar power. Achieving effective performance relies on dual-function electrodes that concurrently capture light and store lithium. A system using defective black titanium dioxide, prepared via lithium reduction, has been demonstrated as a photoanode. The material demonstrates photo response across the full solar spectrum. Under light exposure at a current density of 1 A g-1, the battery achieves a 46.4 percent capacity enhancement, reflecting an energy conversion efficiency of 4.4 percent. At a lower operating current of 20 mA g-1, illumination raises the initial cycle capacity from approximately 230 to roughly 349 mAh g-1, subsequently stabilising at 310 mAh g-1. This stable capacity nears the theoretical limit of 335 mAh g-1 for titanium dioxide electrodes.
Solar energy is naturally intermittent, requiring separate generation and storage systems that often reduce efficiency. By merging solar harvesting directly into a battery electrode, this approach simplifies energy capture and storage. Overcoming the traditional storage capacity limits of titanium dioxide brings integrated, light-assisted power devices closer to practical feasibility.
This work represents early-stage materials research aimed at integrated solar-charging energy systems. It could eventually enable manufacturers of off-grid electronics, remote sensors, and portable devices to incorporate self-charging battery technology. However, commercial viability remains distant, requiring further development to scale the defective titanium dioxide synthesis and test long-term cell stability under operational conditions.
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New generation of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) integrating solar energy conversion and storage is emerging, as they could solve the fluctuation problem in the utilization of solar energy. Photo-rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (PR-LIBs) are ideal devices for such target, in which solar energy is converted into electricity and stored in LIB. In order to achieve the high performance of PR-LIB, it is crucial to develop dual-function electrode materials that can synergistically capture solar energy and store lithium. Herein, we present photo-rechargeable lithium-ion batteries using defective black TiO2 as photoanode prepared by lithium reduction. The photoanode exhibits excellent photo response in full solar spectrum with a capacity enhancement of 46.4% under illumination, corresponding to the energy conversion efficiency of 4.4% at the current density of 1 A·g−1. When illumination is applied at 20 mA·g−1, the battery capacity increases from ∼ 230 in dark to ∼ 349 mAh·g−1 at the first cycle, and then stabilizes at 310 mAh·g−1, approaching the theoretical value of 335 mAh·g−1 of TiO2 electrode material. This finding provides thoughts for breaking the capacity limitations in TiO2 and paves the way for powering LIBs by solar illumination.
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DOI: 10.1007/s12274-023-6062-7
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