Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Wolverton, Christopher M..
Calcium ion batteries are provided. The calcium ion batteries include a cathode, an alloying anode composed of one or more intermetallic calcium compounds in electrical communication with the cathode; and an electrolyte disposed between the anode and the cathode. The intermetallic calcium compounds are intermetallic compounds of calcium and transition metals and metalloids.
With high capacity at low cost, Li- and Mn-rich (LMR) layered oxides are a promising class of cathodes for next generation Li-ion batteries. However, substantial voltage decay during cycling, due to the unstable Li 2 MnO 3 honeycomb structure, is still an obstacle for their practical deployment. Here we report a Co-free LMR Li-ion battery cathode without voltage decay. The material has a composite structure consisting of layered LiTMO 2 and various stacked Li 2 MnO 3 components, where transition metal (TM) ions partially reside in the Li layers of Li 2 MnO 3 , serving as a “cap” to strengthen the stability of the honeycomb structure. This unique capped-honeycomb structure is persistent after high-voltage cycling and prevents TM migration and oxygen loss, as shown by experimental and computational results. Furthermore, this work demonstrates that the long-standing voltage decay problem in LMRs can be effectively eliminated by internally pinning the honeycomb structure, which opens an avenue to developing nextgeneration high-energy cathode materials.
Cathode materials for lithium ion batteries, lithium ion batteries incorporating the cathode materials, and methods of operating the lithium ion batteries are provided. The materials, which are composed of lithium iron oxides, are able to undergo reversible anionic and cationic redox reactions with no O2(g) generation.
Materials for coating a metal anode in a high energy battery, anodes coated with the materials, and batteries incorporating the coated anodes are provided. Also provided are batteries that utilize the materials as electrolytes. The coatings, which are composed of binary, ternary, and higher order metal and/or metalloid oxides, nitrides, fluorides, chlorides, bromides, sulfides, and carbides limit the reactions between the electrolyte and the metal anode in a battery, thereby improving the performance of the battery, relative to a battery that employs a bare anode.
Materials for coating a metal anode in a high energy battery, anodes coated with the materials, and batteries incorporating the coated anodes are provided. Also provided are batteries that utilize the materials as electrolytes. The coatings, which are composed of binary, ternary, and higher order metal and/or metalloid oxides, nitrides, fluorides, chlorides, bromides, sulfides, and carbides limit the reactions between the electrolyte and the metal anode in a battery, thereby improving the performance of the battery, relative to a battery that employs a bare anode.
Cathode coatings for lithium ion batteries, cathodes coated with the coatings, and lithium ion batteries incorporating the coated cathodes are provided. The coatings, which are composed of binary, ternary, and higher order metal oxides and/or metalloid oxides, can reduce the hydrofluoric acid (HF)-induced degradation of the electrolyte and/or cathodes, thereby improving the performance of lithium ion batteries, relative to lithium ion batteries that employ bare cathodes.
Methods for extracting lithium from solutions containing lithium ions via reversible cation exchange with H+ are provided. The methods utilize metal oxide or metalloid oxide cation exchange materials having an active sublattice that preferentially bind Li+ cations, relative to both H+ and Na+, in a sample solution and preferentially bind H+, relative to Li+, in an acidic solution.