电池新突破：岩盐聚阴离子阴极

新的研究在提高电池的实际能量密度方面取得了进展。

Demand for batteries is on the rise worldwide, thanks to their increasing use in the automotive industry, the growing popularity of portable consumer electronics, and stringent environmental regulations. As a result, the global battery market is projected to reach $800 billion by 2036, up from about $120 billion in 2023.

由于电池在汽车工业中的使用不断增加、便携式消费电子产品的日益普及以及严格的环境法规，全球对电池的需求正在上升。因此，预计到 2036 年，全球电池市场将从 2023 年的约 1200 亿美元增至 8000 亿美元。

In light of this expected growth, researchers are continuously developing and testing new materials and chemicals to improve critical parts of batteries, which affect properties such as energy output, energy storage, power capacity, and cycling capacity.

鉴于这种预期增长，研究人员正在不断开发和测试新材料和化学品，以改进电池的关键部件，这些部件会影响能量输出、能量存储、功率容量和循环容量等性能。

These components include a cathode (positive electrode), an anode (negative electrode), an electrolyte (for ion transportation between electrodes), and a separator.  

这些组件包括阴极（正极）、阳极（负极）、电解质（用于电极之间的离子传输）和隔膜。

Most battery-powered devices today, such as EVs, smartphones, and energy storage systems, rely on lithium-ion battery technology. Lithium-ion batteries can store a huge amount of energy in compact sizes, charge fast, and last long.

当今大多数电池供电的设备，例如电动汽车、智能手机和储能系统，都依赖于锂离子电池技术。锂离子电池可以以紧凑的尺寸存储大量的能量，充电速度快且使用寿命长。

However, with the growing demand for batteries with greater capabilities, new technologies are being researched and developed to improve efficiency, reduce cost, enhance safety, and promote sustainability.

然而，随着对容量更大的电池的需求不断增长，人们正在研究和开发新技术，以提高效率、降低成本、增强安全性并促进可持续性。

Over the years, continuous research has led to advancements that offer promising alternatives to lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries. 

多年来，不断的研究取得了进步，为锂离子和铅酸电池提供了有前途的替代品。

Sodium-ion batteries offer a more affordable and safer option that performs better at lower temperatures. These batteries are similar to lithium-ion batteries but utilize saltwater as an electrolyte, making them more suitable for energy storage, though they are yet to be optimized. Researchers are even using electrolyte gel to make nanowires more resilient and fit for battery use. 

钠离子电池提供了一种更实惠、更安全的选择，在较低温度下性能更好。这些电池与锂离子电池类似，但利用盐水作为电解质，使它们更适合能量存储，尽管它们还有待优化。研究人员甚至使用电解质凝胶来使纳米线更具弹性并适合电池使用。

Solid-state batteries, on the other hand, use a solid electrolyte such as glass, ceramic, or polymer instead of gel or liquid electrolyte. These batteries are far more efficient, weigh less, charge faster, and are already being used in smartphones and pacemakers. Toyota and BMW are currently working on launching solid-state battery-powered cars, though it will still take a few years.

另一方面，固态电池使用玻璃、陶瓷或聚合物等固体电解质，而不是凝胶或液体电解质。这些电池效率更高、重量更轻、充电速度更快，并且已经用于智能手机和心脏起搏器。丰田和宝马目前正在致力于推出固态电池驱动的汽车，尽管还需要几年的时间。

New battery technologies further include lithium-sulfur batteries, which are cost-efficient but have a durability limitation, and cobalt-free lithium-ion batteries, which can help address human rights concerns in cobalt mining. However, alternatives like TAQ are still new and need more testing.

新的电池技术还包括锂硫电池和无钴锂离子电池，锂硫电池具有成本效益，但具有耐用性限制，无钴锂离子电池有助于解决钴矿开采中的人权问题。然而，像 TAQ 这样的替代品仍然是新的，需要更多的测试。

Zinc-based batteries are also being explored, with technologies including zinc-manganese dioxide, zinc-air, zinc-bromine, and zinc-ion batteries. However, they are inefficient, sometimes involve unexpected chemical conversion reactions, and are expensive to manufacture, requiring more research.

锌基电池也在探索中，技术包括锌二氧化锰、锌空气、锌溴和锌离子电池。然而，它们效率低下，有时涉及意想不到的化学转化反应，并且制造成本昂贵，需要更多的研究。

As the world increasingly relies on batteries, scientists globally are focused on achieving breakthroughs in storage times, power output, production costs, and instant readiness.

随着世界越来越依赖电池，全球科学家都致力于在存储时间、功率输出、生产成本和即时就绪性方面取得突破。

Latest Battery Breakthrough: Rock Salt-polyanion Cathodes 

最新电池突破：岩盐聚阴离子阴极

New research has made an advancement in increasing the practical energy density of the battery. Published in Nature Energy late last month, the study titled “Integrated rocksalt–polyanion cathodes with excess lithium and stabilized cycling,” was conducted by the MIT Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering.

新的研究在提高电池的实际能量密度方面取得了进展。麻省理工学院核科学与工程系进行的这项研究于上月底发表在《自然能源》杂志上，题为“集成岩盐-聚阴离子阴极，具有过量的锂和稳定的循环”。

The study focuses on a new cathode material found in disordered rock salt, which has been studied as an advanced cathode material for use in lithium-ion batteries for over a decade. 

该研究重点关注在无序岩盐中发现的新型阴极材料，十多年来，人们一直将其作为锂离子电池的先进阴极材料进行研究。

MIT researchers made sure that the material can create high-energy, low-cost storage for EVs, mobile phones, and renewable energy storage.

麻省理工学院的研究人员确保该材料可以为电动汽车、手机和可再生能源存储创造高能、低成本的存储。

Led by Ju Li, the Tokyo Electric Power Company Professor in Nuclear Engineering, the team discovered DRXPS, or disordered rock salt-polyanionic spinel, as the new material.

由东京电力公司核工程教授 Ju Li 领导的研究小组发现了 DRXPS（无序岩盐聚阴离子尖晶石）作为新材料。

This new category of partially disordered rock salt cathode, integrated with polyanions, is found to deliver high energy density at high voltages with enhanced cycling stability. This is a great achievement, given that there is typically a trade-off between energy density and cycling stability in cathode materials.

这种新型部分无序岩盐阴极与聚阴离子集成，可在高电压下提供高能量密度，并增强循环稳定性。鉴于正极材料的能量密度和循环稳定性之间通常存在权衡，这是一项伟大的成就。

“With this work, we aim to push the envelope by designing new cathode chemistries.”

“通过这项工作，我们的目标是通过设计新的阴极化学物质来突破极限。”

– Yimeng Huang, the paper’s first author, a postdoc at the NSE

– 论文第一作者、NSE 博士后 Yimeng Huang

Now, how is the new material family able to achieve both high energy density and good cycling stability? The answer lies in the integration of two key cathode materials — rock salt and polyanionic olivine. By combining them, it was able to get both of their benefits.

那么，新材料家族如何能够同时实现高能量密度和良好的循环稳定性呢？答案在于两种关键正极材料——岩盐和聚阴离子橄榄石的整合。通过将它们结合起来，它能够获得它们的优点。

Another thing at play here is manganese (Mn), a hard, silvery metal found in abundance on Earth and much cheaper than other elements currently used in today’s cathodes. 

另一个起作用的因素是锰 (Mn)，这是一种坚硬的银色金属，在地球上含量丰富，而且比目前阴极中使用的其他元素便宜得多。

For example, Manganese is about thirty times less expensive than Cobalt (Co) and five times less expensive than Nickel (Ni), both of which are commonly used in batteries. Additionally, Manganese plays a crucial role in achieving higher energy densities. 

例如，锰的价格比钴 (Co) 便宜约三十倍，比镍 (Ni) 便宜约五倍，这两种材料都常用于电池。此外，锰在实现更高能量密度方面发挥着至关重要的作用。

“(Having such a) material be much more earth-abundant is a tremendous advantage.”

“（拥有这样一种）地球上丰富得多的材料是一个巨大的优势。”

– Li, a professor of materials science and engineering

– 李，材料科学与工程教授

This advantage, according to the researchers, is of great value to a zero-carbon future which requires renewable energy infrastructure. 

研究人员表示，这一优势对于需要可再生能源基础设施的零碳未来具有巨大价值。

Batteries can play an important

电池可以发挥重要作用