Single-Atom Catalysts as Conductive Additives for High-Rate Lithium-Ion Batteries

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are gaining attention as conductive additives due to their unparalleled catalytic activity and atomically dispersed active sites. For example, Fe-N-C SACs have been shown to enhance the redox kinetics of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), achieving a specific capacity of 170 mAh/g at 10C, compared to 120 mAh/g for carbon black additives. The high surface area (~1,500 m²/g) and uniform distribution of active sites contribute to this superior performance.

The incorporation of SACs into cathode materials like LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) has demonstrated remarkable improvements in rate capability and cycle life. A study reported that NCM811 electrodes with 2 wt% Fe-N-C SACs retained 90% capacity after 500 cycles at 2C, whereas traditional electrodes retained only 75%. This enhancement is attributed to the SACs' ability to reduce charge transfer resistance by up to 50%.

In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) has provided insights into the catalytic mechanisms of SACs during battery operation. XAS data revealed that Fe-N-C SACs facilitate faster Li⁺ diffusion by stabilizing transition states during charge/discharge processes. This atomic-level understanding is crucial for designing next-generation conductive additives with tailored properties.

Despite their potential, SACs face challenges related to scalability and stability under harsh electrochemical conditions. Recent advancements in encapsulation techniques using graphene shells have improved SAC stability by preventing agglomeration and dissolution during cycling. These developments pave the way for SACs to become mainstream conductive additives in high-performance LIBs.

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