Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Potassium-ion batteries have emerged as high-voltage and economically advantageous electrochemical energy storage systems with promise to viably complement and/or augment lithium-ion technology owing to the natural abundance, projected low cost and favourable redox potential of potassium. Their continued advancement, however, is primarily predicated upon the discovery of electrode and electrolyte materials adept to delivering high energy density, long-term cycling stability and rigorous safety performance. Cristobalite-type compounds have recently garnered traction as prospective candidates, for these materials not only combine theoretically high energy density with structural robustness but can also be designed exclusively from earth-abundant and low-toxicity constituent elements. This Review provides a critical assessment of the rapidly expanding family of cristobalite-type compounds, which exhibit pronounced structural versatility and the capacity to reversibly intercalate two potassium ions per formula unit, thereby enabling high theoretical energy densities. We particularly survey recent advances in their structural chemistry, electrochemical behaviour and potassium-ion transport properties, and elucidate the mechanistic principles that govern their electrochemical performance. Finally, we outline future research directions, encompassing rational materials design, advanced characterisation methodologies and large-scale computational screening, to optimise cristobalite-type compounds as high-performance electrode materials and solid-state electrolytes for potassium-ion batteries.
Source: ChemRxiv
Authors: Titus Masese, Godwill Mbiti Kanyolo
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7223031690