A Piezocatalysis Strategy to Enable Efficient Redox in Solid-State Battery

Abstract

Piezocatalysis is considered to be a favorable catalytic technology by utilizing external mechanical stimulation to promote the specific redox reactions. The application of piezocatalysis in batteries is promising but faces formidable challenges. Herein, the operation principles of piezocatalysis were successfully demonstrated by constructing solid-state Li−Se and Li−S battery models with interfacial stress accumulation. Lead zirconate titanate with an ultra-high piezoelectric coefficient was applied as the piezoelectric catalyst. The uniformity of the dipole orientation in materials was essential for achieving piezocatalysis in batteries. The accumulated high-stress converts to piezopotential for catalyzing most reaction processes in batteries, while the rapid stress change prevents the internal charge reorganization, ensuring continuous efficient catalysis. The internal stress change alters the internal polarisation strength, driving excess screening charge to participate in the electrochemical reaction. Under piezocatalysis, solid-state Li−Se batteries exhibited a initial discharge capacity of 670.9 mAh g−1 (99.4 % of the theoretical value) at 0.1 C, and Li−S batteries showed a capacity of 1463 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C, which was still maintained up to 1084 mAh g−1 at an elevated rate of 0.5 C. This piezocatalysis strategy provides a strong theoretical basis and design specification for enhancing Li−Se and Li−S battery reaction kinetics.