Recent Advances in Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Cathode Materials for Aqueous Rechargeable Multivalent Metal-Ion Batteries

Abstract

The generation of renewable energy is a promising solution to counter the rapid increase in energy consumption. Nevertheless, the availability of renewable resources (e.g., wind, solar, and tidal) is non-continuous and temporary in nature, posing new demands for the production of next-generation large-scale energy storage devices. Because of their low cost, highly abundant raw materials, high safety, and environmental friendliness, aqueous rechargeable multivalent metal-ion batteries (AMMIBs) have recently garnered immense attention. However, several challenges hamper the development of AMMIBs, including their narrow electrochemical stability, poor ion diffusion kinetics, and electrode instability. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have been extensively investigated for applications in energy storage devices because of their distinct chemical and physical properties. The wide interlayer distance of layered TMDs is an appealing property for ion diffusion and intercalation. This review focuses on the most recent advances in TMDs as cathode materials for aqueous rechargeable batteries based on multivalent charge carriers (Zn2+, Mg2+, and Al3+). Through this review, the key aspects of TMD materials for high-performance AMMIBs are highlighted. Furthermore, additional suggestions and strategies for the development of improved TMDs are discussed to inspire new research directions. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.