Nanomaterials enabled next generation rechargeable batteries: a replacement for Li-ion technology

There is an immediate need for low cost, reliable and safe rechargeable batteries with high energy density (i.e. superior to state of the art Li-ion batteries) for use in a variety of military, aerospace and commercial applications. Rechargeable Mg2+batteries offer the potential to fulfill these requirements. Such batteries are termed polyvalent batteries because of the doubly charged cation, as opposed to the singly charged Li-ion. However, in order for these batteries to become commercially viable,cathodes with good retention capacity and long cycle life are needed. The performance for Mg intercalation in microcrystalline cathode materials has been poor. Based on our work on nanostructured materials for a variety of intercalating cations, we proposeto develop cathode materials composed of