Towards Thin Calcium Metal Anodes—An Essential Component for High-Energy-Density Calcium Batteries

Metal anodes, such as those based on Ca, Mg, Na and Li, are considered to be one of the keys to the further development of high-energy-density rechargeable batteries. The thickness of these metal anodes directly affects the energy density of the battery. However, the fabrication of thin anodes poses...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Christoph Kiesl, Reinhard Böck, Holger Kaßner, Joachim Häcker, Marco Kögel, Timo Sörgel, Şeniz Sörgel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Nanomaterials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/6/454
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849341935128412160
author Christoph Kiesl
Reinhard Böck
Holger Kaßner
Joachim Häcker
Marco Kögel
Timo Sörgel
Şeniz Sörgel
author_facet Christoph Kiesl
Reinhard Böck
Holger Kaßner
Joachim Häcker
Marco Kögel
Timo Sörgel
Şeniz Sörgel
author_sort Christoph Kiesl
collection DOAJ
description Metal anodes, such as those based on Ca, Mg, Na and Li, are considered to be one of the keys to the further development of high-energy-density rechargeable batteries. The thickness of these metal anodes directly affects the energy density of the battery. However, the fabrication of thin anodes poses technical challenges which often result in using excessively thick metal anodes in batteries. Here we present, for the first time, a study on the development of a thin Ca battery anode fabricated by electrodeposition. The battery anode with a thickness of approximately 10 µm corresponds to a charge density of 4.0 mAh cm<sup>−2</sup>. This study systematically investigates the electrodeposition behavior of Ca using a 1.0 M Ca(BH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub> in THF as the electrolyte. A systematic evaluation of electrodeposition parameters—including substrate pretreatment, current density, hydrodynamics and charge density by area—is conducted. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and complementary image analysis provide detailed insights into these parameters. Electrodeposition offers a promising route to achieve a defined battery cell balance with minimal excess of metal at the anode. This will improve overall battery performance and efficiency. The findings contribute to the advancement of fundamental aspects of rechargeable batteries, particularly Ca-based batteries.
format Article
id doaj-art-c7c3254b0d3b45ef8cfab3b217f2cc95
institution Kabale University
issn 2079-4991
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Nanomaterials
spelling doaj-art-c7c3254b0d3b45ef8cfab3b217f2cc952025-08-20T03:43:31ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-03-0115645410.3390/nano15060454Towards Thin Calcium Metal Anodes—An Essential Component for High-Energy-Density Calcium BatteriesChristoph Kiesl0Reinhard Böck1Holger Kaßner2Joachim Häcker3Marco Kögel4Timo Sörgel5Şeniz Sörgel6Department of Electrochemical Energy Systems, Research Institute (fem), Katharinenstraße 13-17, 73525 Schwaebisch Gmuend, GermanyDepartment of Electrochemical Energy Systems, Research Institute (fem), Katharinenstraße 13-17, 73525 Schwaebisch Gmuend, GermanyDepartment of Electrochemical Energy Systems, Research Institute (fem), Katharinenstraße 13-17, 73525 Schwaebisch Gmuend, GermanyInstitute of Engineering Thermodynamics, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Pfaffenwaldring 38-40, 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyNatural and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Tuebingen (NMI), Markwiesenstraße 55, 72770 Reutlingen, GermanyCenter for Electrochemical Surface Technology (ZEO), Aalen University of Applied Sciences, Beethovenstraße 1, 73430 Aalen, GermanyDepartment of Electrochemical Energy Systems, Research Institute (fem), Katharinenstraße 13-17, 73525 Schwaebisch Gmuend, GermanyMetal anodes, such as those based on Ca, Mg, Na and Li, are considered to be one of the keys to the further development of high-energy-density rechargeable batteries. The thickness of these metal anodes directly affects the energy density of the battery. However, the fabrication of thin anodes poses technical challenges which often result in using excessively thick metal anodes in batteries. Here we present, for the first time, a study on the development of a thin Ca battery anode fabricated by electrodeposition. The battery anode with a thickness of approximately 10 µm corresponds to a charge density of 4.0 mAh cm<sup>−2</sup>. This study systematically investigates the electrodeposition behavior of Ca using a 1.0 M Ca(BH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub> in THF as the electrolyte. A systematic evaluation of electrodeposition parameters—including substrate pretreatment, current density, hydrodynamics and charge density by area—is conducted. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and complementary image analysis provide detailed insights into these parameters. Electrodeposition offers a promising route to achieve a defined battery cell balance with minimal excess of metal at the anode. This will improve overall battery performance and efficiency. The findings contribute to the advancement of fundamental aspects of rechargeable batteries, particularly Ca-based batteries.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/6/454calciummultivalent metal batterymetal anodeelectroplatingelectrodepositionelectrocrystallization
spellingShingle Christoph Kiesl
Reinhard Böck
Holger Kaßner
Joachim Häcker
Marco Kögel
Timo Sörgel
Şeniz Sörgel
Towards Thin Calcium Metal Anodes—An Essential Component for High-Energy-Density Calcium Batteries
Nanomaterials
calcium
multivalent metal battery
metal anode
electroplating
electrodeposition
electrocrystallization
title Towards Thin Calcium Metal Anodes—An Essential Component for High-Energy-Density Calcium Batteries
title_full Towards Thin Calcium Metal Anodes—An Essential Component for High-Energy-Density Calcium Batteries
title_fullStr Towards Thin Calcium Metal Anodes—An Essential Component for High-Energy-Density Calcium Batteries
title_full_unstemmed Towards Thin Calcium Metal Anodes—An Essential Component for High-Energy-Density Calcium Batteries
title_short Towards Thin Calcium Metal Anodes—An Essential Component for High-Energy-Density Calcium Batteries
title_sort towards thin calcium metal anodes an essential component for high energy density calcium batteries
topic calcium
multivalent metal battery
metal anode
electroplating
electrodeposition
electrocrystallization
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/6/454
work_keys_str_mv AT christophkiesl towardsthincalciummetalanodesanessentialcomponentforhighenergydensitycalciumbatteries
AT reinhardbock towardsthincalciummetalanodesanessentialcomponentforhighenergydensitycalciumbatteries
AT holgerkaßner towardsthincalciummetalanodesanessentialcomponentforhighenergydensitycalciumbatteries
AT joachimhacker towardsthincalciummetalanodesanessentialcomponentforhighenergydensitycalciumbatteries
AT marcokogel towardsthincalciummetalanodesanessentialcomponentforhighenergydensitycalciumbatteries
AT timosorgel towardsthincalciummetalanodesanessentialcomponentforhighenergydensitycalciumbatteries
AT senizsorgel towardsthincalciummetalanodesanessentialcomponentforhighenergydensitycalciumbatteries