A Porous Network of Bismuth Used as the Anode Material for High-Energy-Density Potassium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) are plagued by a lack of materials for reversible accommodation of the large-sized K⁺ ion. Herein we present, the Bi anode in combination with the dimethoxyethane-(DME) based electrolyte to deliver a remarkable capacity of ca. 400 mAh g^-1 and long cycle stability with three distinct two-phase reactions of Bi↔ KBi₂ ↔K₃ Bi₂ ↔K₃ Bi. These are ascribed to the gradually developed three-dimensional (3D) porous networks of Bi, which realizes fast kinetics and tolerance of its volume change during potassiation and depotassiation. The porosity is linked to the unprecedented movement of the surface Bi atoms interacting with DME molecules, as suggested by DFT calculations. A full KIB of Bi//DME-based electrolyte//Prussian blue of K_0.72 Fe[Fe(CN)₆ ] is demonstrated to present large energy density of 108.1 Wh kg^-1 with average discharge voltage of 2.8 V and capacity retention of 86.5 % after 350 cycles.

Keywords: bismuth; cycle stability; dimethoxyethane-based electrolyte; energy density; potassium-ion batteries.