Electrochemical Energy Storage with Mediator-Ion Solid Electrolytes

Summary

This perspective presents a new battery concept with a "mediator-ion" solid-state electrolyte for the development of next-generation battery technologies to meet the growing needs of large-scale electrical energy storage. The uniqueness of this mediator-ion strategy is that the redox reactions at the anode and the cathode are sustained by a shuttling of a mediator ion between the anolyte and the catholyte through the solid-state electrolyte. The active anode and cathode materials can be in the form of solid, liquid, or gas. Use of a solid-electrolyte separator eliminates the common problem of chemical crossover between the anode and cathode, overcomes the dendrite problem when employing metal anodes, and offers the possibility of employing different liquid electrolytes at the anode and cathode. Based on these unique features, the mediator-ion battery concept offers a versatile approach for the development of a broad range of new battery systems.