POTASSIUM-ION BATTERIES RECENT TRENDS AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

Potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) have attracted much attention for their multifarious applications in next-generation energy storage devices because of their high abundance and low cost. KIBs utilize K+ ions for charge storage, which gained considerable attention due to their unique properties. The low redox potential of K+/K couple, along with a great mobility of K+ ion in organic electrolytes due to the weak Lewis acidic nature of non-aqueous electrolytes, results in high energy density with fast reaction kinetics. However, the development of suitable electrode and electrolyte materials is essential for large-scale grid storage applications. Recent research on KIBs is still under progress; however, the overall understanding of the shortcomings of each component and possible approaches for further development is essential for the exploration of new electrode materials/electrolytes and designing strategies for high-performing potassium-ion batteries. In this chapter, we systematically summarize and discuss the recent progress of electrode materials on the nanoscale and address the choice of electrolytes as they directly influence the electrochemical performance of KIBs. Here we further discuss the challenging issues associated with intercalation, conversion, and alloying-based electrode materials. In the end, rational designing of appropriate and efficient electrode materials is also proposed for further developing KIBs for practical applications.