Highly Concentrated Asymmetric KTFSI for Aqueous Potassium Ion Batteries

Thileep Kumar Kumaresan, Amol Bhairuba Ikhe, Woon Bae Park, S. J.Richard Prabakar, Hyeon Su Noh, Jung Yong Seo, Young Kook Lee, Kee Sun Sohn, Joon Seop Kwak, Myoungho Pyo

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3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Potassium imide salt (KCTFSI), featuring cyano (C≡N) and trifluoromethanesulfonyl (TFSI) branches, is reported for the first time as a promising electrolyte for aqueous potassium-ion batteries (KIBs). In contrast to the limited solubility of symmetric KTFSI (1.5m), asymmetric KCTFSI achieves a high saturation concentration of 32.2m within a “water-in-salt” region. Experimental and theoretical studies reveal that the remarkable enhancement of solubility is associated with the asymmetry of CTFSI anions and likely the preferential formation of contact-ion pairs through C≡N coordination. The 32.2m KCTFSI solution not only extends the electrochemical stability window (3.80 V on Al) but also maintains a liquid state at low temperatures (−15 °C) for an extended period, in sharp contrast to the immediate solidification of potassium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (KFSI, 30m) and potassium trifluoromethanesulfonate (KOTF, 22m) solutions. Thanks to its wide voltage window and supercooling behavior, KCTFSI demonstrates excellent compatibility with perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI) anode and KVPO4F (or K2Fe[Fe(CN)6]·2H2O) cathode over a wide temperature range. For instance, full cells of PTCDI/KCTFSI/KVPO4F exhibit reasonable cyclability with an average discharge voltage of 1.7 V over 300 charge/discharge cycles at −15 °C. it is anticipated that this work will inspire new designs of hybrid electrolytes based on CTFSI to advance the realization of viable aqueous KIBs.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2402011
JournalAdvanced Energy Materials
Volume14
Issue number38
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024 Oct 11

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • General Materials Science

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