Enhanced energy density and fast-charging ability via directional particle configuration

The limited energy density of lithium-ion capacitors poses a significant obstacle to their widespread application, primarily stemming from the inability of the electrodes to simultaneously fulfill both high energy density and rapid charging requirements. Experimental data demonstrate that a directional particle configuration can enhance charging speed while maintaining high-capacity density, but it is rarely discussed. Here, we have developed a particle-level electrochemical model capable of reconstructing an electrode with a directional particle configuration. By employing this method, an investigation was conducted to explore how the spatial morphology characteristics of particle configuration impact the energy storage characteristics of electrodes. Results demonstrate that rational particle configuration can effectively enhance the transport of lithium ions and create additional space for lithium-ion storage. With the same particle size distribution, the best electrode can increase the discharge capacity by up to 132.4% and increase the charging SOC by 11.3% compared to the ordinary electrode under the condition of 6 C. These findings provide a further understanding of the energy storage mechanism inside the anisotropic particle distribution electrode, which is important for developing high-performance lithium-ion capacitors. (c) 2023 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by ELSEVIER B.V. and Science Press. All rights reserved.