Single-Atom Catalysts as Conductive Additives

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are gaining traction as conductive additives in battery electrodes due to their unparalleled catalytic activity and atomic efficiency. SACs anchored on nitrogen-doped graphene have demonstrated exceptional electrical conductivity (>10^4 S/cm) and catalytic activity for polysulfide conversion in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. A recent study in Science Advances reported that SACs reduced the charge transfer resistance by 80%, leading to a significant improvement in energy density (>500 Wh/kg).

The unique electronic structure of SACs enables them to act as dual-functional additives, enhancing both ionic and electronic transport within the electrode. For example, SACs based on transition metals like cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) have been shown to facilitate lithium-ion diffusion with activation energies as low as 0.2 eV, compared to >0.5 eV for conventional carbon black additives. This property is particularly beneficial for high-rate applications such as electric vehicles, where fast charging is essential.

Moreover, SACs exhibit remarkable stability under harsh electrochemical conditions, with negligible degradation over 1000 cycles at high current densities (>5 C). This stability is attributed to the strong metal-nitrogen coordination bonds that prevent agglomeration and leaching of active sites. Recent research has also explored the use of SACs in solid-state batteries, where they improve interfacial conductivity by up to 30%, addressing one of the major bottlenecks in this technology.

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