Exploring New Cathode Materials to Enable High Energy Magnesium Batteries
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2020-07-29
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Ferguson, Elyssa; Eaves-Rathert, Janna; Exploring New Cathode Materials to Enable High Energy Magnesium Batteries; 18th LACCEI International Multi-Conference for Engineering, Education, and Technology (2020); http://laccei.org/LACCEI2020-VirtualEdition/work_in_progress/WP667.pdf
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Abstract
Modern smartphones, electric vehicles, drones, and other evolving technologies demand improvement of Li-ion batteries into more energy-dense power sources. Magnesium (Mg) batteries are a promising alternative because the Mg²⁺ ion shuttles
twice as many electrons as Li⁺ , thereby doubling the theoretical volumetric energy density. Here, we investigate the storage
capacity and Mg-ion hosting mechanisms of tungsten diselenide (WSe₂) as a cathode material for these cutting-edge battery
systems. Using a three-electrode electrochemical setup, we measured a high specific capacity of 120 mAh/g and subsequently
characterized the material at 0%, 50%, 75%, and 100% discharge via X-ray diffraction and Raman. Characterization showed no
indications of Mg-WSe₂ conversion reactions, and the amount of intercalation of Mg²⁺ into WSe₂ remains uncertain. Further
experimentation with more compatible electrolytes is necessary to confirm hosting mechanisms of WSe₂. This work opens a door to energy-dense multivalent ion batteries that surpass current lithium-ion technologies in cost, safety, and size.