Bismuth-based materials for rechargeable aqueous batteries and water desalination

Aqueous batteries and seawater desalination have received considerable attention in recent years due to their merits as high safety, environmental friendliness and cost-effectiveness. However, the scarcity of highly match electrode materials hinders their development. The exploration of high performance and low cost electrode materials is crucial for their potential applications. Bismuth (Bi), with high energy density and low redox potential, shows perspective in the field of aqueous batteries and seawater desalination, and significant progress has been achieved in the past decades. In this review, the unique properties and synthetic methods of Bi-based electrodes, as well as their applications are comprehensively summarized and discussed. The commonly used preparation methods of Bi-based electrodes, including hydrothermal method, electrodeposition method, etc., are introduced. Then, the applications of the Bi-based composites in aqueous batteries, such as Ni//Bi batteries and water desalination, are summarized. Finally, the challenges and future research direction of Bi-based materials are proposed.Graphic Abstract