Tailoring tetrahedral and pair-correlation entropies of glass-forming liquids for energy storage applications at ultralow temperatures

Abstract Aqueous solution experiences either crystallization or vitrification as being cooled, yet the mechanism of this bifurcation is confused. Since the glass-transition temperature T g is much lower than the melting temperature, we herein propose an entropy-driven glass-forming liquid (EDGFL) as...

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Main Authors: Meijia Qiu, Peng Sun, Yuxuan Liang, Jian Chen, Zhong Lin Wang, Wenjie Mai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54449-x
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author Meijia Qiu
Peng Sun
Yuxuan Liang
Jian Chen
Zhong Lin Wang
Wenjie Mai
author_facet Meijia Qiu
Peng Sun
Yuxuan Liang
Jian Chen
Zhong Lin Wang
Wenjie Mai
author_sort Meijia Qiu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Aqueous solution experiences either crystallization or vitrification as being cooled, yet the mechanism of this bifurcation is confused. Since the glass-transition temperature T g is much lower than the melting temperature, we herein propose an entropy-driven glass-forming liquid (EDGFL) as an attractive concept to develop anti-freezing electrolytes. The T g is delicately modulated via regulating local structural orders to avoid the energy-driven ice crystallization and enter an entropy-driven glass transition, which can be theoretically explained by the competitive effect between tetrahedral entropy of water and pair correlation entropy related to ions. The constructive EDGFL with a low T g of −128 °C and a high boiling point of +145 °C enables stable energy storage over an ultra-wide temperature range of −95~+120 °C, realizes superior AC linear filtering function at −95 °C, and helps improve the performance of aqueous Zn-ion batteries at ultralow temperatures. This special electrolyte will provide both theoretical and practical directions for developing anti-freezing energy storage systems adapting to frigid environment.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-02bb70ca81164b75957921c0c3d612302024-12-01T12:34:14ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232024-11-0115111010.1038/s41467-024-54449-xTailoring tetrahedral and pair-correlation entropies of glass-forming liquids for energy storage applications at ultralow temperaturesMeijia Qiu0Peng Sun1Yuxuan Liang2Jian Chen3Zhong Lin Wang4Wenjie Mai5Siyuan Laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Department of Physics, College of Physics & Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan UniversitySiyuan Laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Department of Physics, College of Physics & Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan UniversitySiyuan Laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Department of Physics, College of Physics & Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan UniversityInstrumental Analysis and Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityCAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Beijing Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Energy and Sensor, Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of SciencesSiyuan Laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Manipulation, Department of Physics, College of Physics & Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan UniversityAbstract Aqueous solution experiences either crystallization or vitrification as being cooled, yet the mechanism of this bifurcation is confused. Since the glass-transition temperature T g is much lower than the melting temperature, we herein propose an entropy-driven glass-forming liquid (EDGFL) as an attractive concept to develop anti-freezing electrolytes. The T g is delicately modulated via regulating local structural orders to avoid the energy-driven ice crystallization and enter an entropy-driven glass transition, which can be theoretically explained by the competitive effect between tetrahedral entropy of water and pair correlation entropy related to ions. The constructive EDGFL with a low T g of −128 °C and a high boiling point of +145 °C enables stable energy storage over an ultra-wide temperature range of −95~+120 °C, realizes superior AC linear filtering function at −95 °C, and helps improve the performance of aqueous Zn-ion batteries at ultralow temperatures. This special electrolyte will provide both theoretical and practical directions for developing anti-freezing energy storage systems adapting to frigid environment.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54449-x
spellingShingle Meijia Qiu
Peng Sun
Yuxuan Liang
Jian Chen
Zhong Lin Wang
Wenjie Mai
Tailoring tetrahedral and pair-correlation entropies of glass-forming liquids for energy storage applications at ultralow temperatures
Nature Communications
title Tailoring tetrahedral and pair-correlation entropies of glass-forming liquids for energy storage applications at ultralow temperatures
title_full Tailoring tetrahedral and pair-correlation entropies of glass-forming liquids for energy storage applications at ultralow temperatures
title_fullStr Tailoring tetrahedral and pair-correlation entropies of glass-forming liquids for energy storage applications at ultralow temperatures
title_full_unstemmed Tailoring tetrahedral and pair-correlation entropies of glass-forming liquids for energy storage applications at ultralow temperatures
title_short Tailoring tetrahedral and pair-correlation entropies of glass-forming liquids for energy storage applications at ultralow temperatures
title_sort tailoring tetrahedral and pair correlation entropies of glass forming liquids for energy storage applications at ultralow temperatures
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54449-x
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