Perovskite frameworks for metal-ion and metal-air batteries

Introduction:

'Energy’ remains the key challenge in the 21st century, where generation and storage forms two key components. Efficient energy storage and conversion can be addressed practically and economically by electrochemical means, where rechargeable batteries, water electrolyser and metal-air batteries rule the roost. With the progress in batteries, equal importance is given to simultaneous development of cathode (+ve electrode), anode (-ve electrode), and electrolytes. The graphite (carbon) anodes are limited by low-voltage of operation prone to solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation and limited capacity (~372 mAh/g) and it could not be used in Na batteries due to the larger Na+ radii. Consequently, the development of high capacity, stable, and affordable anode is absolutely critical for the commercialization of these technologies. Moving away from graphite, various intercalation (e.g., Ti- and V-based materials), conversion (e.g., metal oxides, fluorides, nitrides), and alloying (e.g., Si, Pb, Bi-based systems) type anode materials are widely investigated. Therefore our work probes the perovskite family as an anode material and electrocatalysts for rechargeable batteries and metal-air batteries respectively.