Unveiling the Potential of Silicon‐Air Batteries for Low‐Power Transient Electronics: Electrochemical Insights and Practical Application

Batteries & Supercaps, vol. 7

Abstract

Abstract With growing demand for energy storage alternatives, silicon‐air batteries have gained attention due to their impressive theoretical specific energy (8470 Wh kgSi−1) and theoretical specific capacity (3820 mAh gSi−1). Although current challenges, such as corrosion, low anode mass conversion efficiency, and limited power output, restrict their practical use and commercialization potential, the ongoing advancement of materials and efficient electronic components open up a range of potential applications for Silicon‐air (Si‐air) batteries. This study investigates the feasibility of employing a single alkaline or non‐aqueous silicon‐air battery to power low‐power transient electronic device. Initially, their electrochemical behavior, corrosion parameters, and performance were assessed, yielding crucial parameters for the circuit design. Short‐term galvanostatic discharge experiments demonstrated the effective operation of Si‐air battery under varying current densities in both electrolytes without passivation issues. Subsequently, a proof‐of‐concept for self‐consumed and self‐destructive transient electronic device is presented, wherein a full‐cell Si‐air battery with non‐aqueous and aqueous electrolytes was operated while powering a light‐emitting diode (LED) as a practical illustrative application.

Authors 8

1. Saúl Said Montiel Guerrero

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · University of Duisburg-Essen

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Energy and Climate Research – Fundamental Electrochemistry (IEK-9) Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52428 Jülich, Germany

   University of Duisburg-Essen Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology 47057 Duisburg Germany

   Institute of Energy and Climate Research – Fundamental Electrochemistry (IEK-9) Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52428 Jülich, Germany

2. Yasin Emre Durmus corresponding

   Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Energy and Climate Research – Fundamental Electrochemistry (IEK-9) Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52428 Jülich, Germany

3. Hermann Tempel

   Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Energy and Climate Research – Fundamental Electrochemistry (IEK-9) Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52428 Jülich, Germany

4. Christian Roth

   Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Central Institute of Engineering, Electronics and Analytics – Electronic Systems (ZEA-2) Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52428 Jülich Germany

5. Hans Kungl

   Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Energy and Climate Research – Fundamental Electrochemistry (IEK-9) Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52428 Jülich, Germany

6. Stefan van Waasen

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · University of Duisburg-Essen

   Affiliation as printed

   Central Institute of Engineering, Electronics and Analytics – Electronic Systems (ZEA-2) Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52428 Jülich Germany

   University of Duisburg-Essen Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology 47057 Duisburg Germany

   University of Duisburg-Essen, Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, 47057 Duisburg, Germany

7. Yair Ein‐Eli

   Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology Haifa 3200003 Israel

   Grand Technion Energy Program, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology Haifa 3200003 Israel

8. Rüdiger‐A. Eichel Aachen Institut für Materialien und Prozesse für elektrochemische Energiespeicher– und wandler

   RWTH Aachen University · Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Institut für Materialien und Prozesse für elektrochemische Energiespeicher- und wandler RWTH Aachen University 52074 Aachen Germany

   Institute of Energy and Climate Research – Fundamental Electrochemistry (IEK-9) Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52428 Jülich, Germany