Carbon Shell Design Reduces Shuttle Effect in Thermal Battery Cathodes
- Transition metal fluorides are widely regarded as promising cathode materials because of their high theoretical voltages and excellent thermal stability.Though, in real batteries, these materials tend to dissolve...
- Wang Song and Zhu Yongping from the Institute of Process Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a new approach to suppressing the shuttle effect in...
- The team's study focused on thermal batteries-a type of battery that operates at 350-550 °C-with findings published in Advanced Science.
Illustration of size selective transmission of ions between electrolyte and cathode enabled by sub-nanoporous interface. Credit: XU Mengfan
Transition metal fluorides are widely regarded as promising cathode materials because of their high theoretical voltages and excellent thermal stability.Though, in real batteries, these materials tend to dissolve and migrate within the electrolyte during operation-a phenomenon frequently enough called the “shuttle effect”-causing active material loss, declining capacity, and long-term structural damage.
New approach to suppressing shuttle effect
To address this problem, a research team led by Profs. Wang Song and Zhu Yongping from the Institute of Process Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a new approach to suppressing the shuttle effect in transition metal fluoride cathodes.
The team’s study focused on thermal batteries-a type of battery that operates at 350-550 °C-with findings published in Advanced Science.
Innovative carbon shell design and results
Using an ion-sieving concept to achieve selective confinement,the researchers constructed a covalent organic framework (COF)-derived carbon shell with uniform sub-nanometer (0
Researchers have developed a novel cathode material for cobalt fluoride (CoF2) thermal batteries, achieving enhanced performance through selective confinement within a sub-nanoporous interface derived from a covalent organic framework (COF). This delve into materials science addresses limitations in existing CoF2 battery technology, specifically issues related to electrolyte corrosion and limited cycle life.
The team, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, engineered a COF-derived interface that selectively confines the CoF2, preventing direct contact with the electrolyte. This isolation mitigates corrosion and improves the battery’s stability.The resulting cathode demonstrates significantly improved discharge capacity and cycling performance compared to conventional CoF2 cathodes.
It’s important to note that thermal batteries, unlike conventional batteries, are activated by heat rather than chemical reactions. They are crucial in applications requiring high reliability and long shelf life, such as military and aerospace systems. Improving the performance of CoF2 thermal batteries is thus a meaningful advancement in these fields.
This research presents a comprehensive guide to utilizing COF-derived interfaces for enhancing the performance of metal fluoride thermal battery cathodes. The resulting material’s structure and properties are intricately woven into a tapestry of improved electrochemical performance.
In conclusion,this innovative approach offers a promising pathway for developing more efficient and durable CoF2 thermal batteries,perhaps expanding their applications in demanding environments.
More information: Mengfan Xu et al, Selective Confinement by a COF‐Derived Sub‐Nanoporous Interface for High‐Performance cof2thermal Battery Cathodes, advanced Science (2026). DOI: 10.1002/advs.202521241
Provided by Chinese Academy of Sciences