Issue 81, 2021

Interfacial processes in electrochemical energy systems

Abstract

Electrochemical energy systems such as batteries, water electrolyzers, and fuel cells are considered as promising and sustainable energy storage and conversion devices due to their high energy densities and zero or negative carbon dioxide emission. However, their widespread applications are hindered by many technical challenges, such as the low efficiency and poor long-term cyclability, which are mostly affected by the changes at the reactant/electrode/electrolyte interfaces. These interfacial processes involve ion/electron transfer, molecular/ion adsorption/desorption, and complex interface restructuring, which lead to irreversible modifications to the electrodes and the electrolyte. The understanding of these interfacial processes is thus crucial to provide strategies for solving those problems. In this review, we will discuss different interfacial processes at three representative interfaces, namely, solid–gas, solid–liquid, and solid–solid, in various electrochemical energy systems, and how they could influence the performance of electrochemical systems.

Graphical abstract: Interfacial processes in electrochemical energy systems

Article information

Article type
Feature Article
Submitted
31 Mar 2021
Accepted
16 Aug 2021
First published
16 Aug 2021

Chem. Commun., 2021,57, 10453-10468

Author version available

Interfacial processes in electrochemical energy systems

M. Wang and Z. Feng, Chem. Commun., 2021, 57, 10453 DOI: 10.1039/D1CC01703A

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