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Wynn, Thomas A.

Publications and source records attributed to Wynn, Thomas A..

10 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Unraveling the Stable Cathode Electrolyte Interface in all Solid‐State Thin‐Film Battery Operating at 5 V

Abstract Spinel‐type LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 (LNMO) is one of the most promising 5 V‐class cathode materials for Li‐ion batteries that can achieve high energy density and low production costs. However, in liquid electrolyte cells, the high voltage causes continuous cell degradation through the oxidative decomposition of carbonate‐based liquid electrolytes. In contrast, some solid‐state electrolytes have a wide electrochemical stability range and can withstand the required oxidative potential. In this work, a thin‐film battery consisting of an LNMO cathode with a solid lithium phosphorus oxynitride (LiPON) electrolyte is tested and their interface before and after cycling is characterized. With Li metal as the anode, this system can deliver stable performance for 600 cycles with an average Coulombic efficiency >99%. Neutron depth profiling indicates a slight overlithiated layer at the interface prior to cycling, a result that is consistent with the excess charge capacity measured during the first cycle. Cryogenic electron microscopy further reveals intimate contact between LNMO and LiPON without noticeable structure and chemical composition evolution after extended cycling, demonstrating the superior stability of LiPON against a high voltage cathode. Consequently, design guidelines are proposed for interface engineering that can accelerate the commercialization of a high voltage cell with solid or liquid electrolytes.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Local Structure of Glassy Lithium Phosphorus Oxynitride Thin Films: A Combined Experimental and Ab Initio Approach

Abstract Lithium phosphorus oxynitride (LiPON) is an amorphous solid‐state lithium ion conductor displaying exemplary cyclability against lithium metal anodes. There is no definitive explanation for this stability due to the limited understanding of the structure of LiPON. Herein, we provide a structural model of RF‐sputtered LiPON. Information about the short‐range structure results from 1D and 2D solid‐state NMR experiments. These results are compared with first principles chemical shielding calculations of Li‐P‐O/N crystals and ab initio molecular dynamics‐generated amorphous LiPON models to unequivocally identify the glassy structure as primarily isolated phosphate monomers with N incorporated in both apical and as bridging sites in phosphate dimers. Structural results suggest LiPON′s stability is a result of its glassy character. Free‐standing LiPON films are produced that exhibit a high degree of flexibility, highlighting the unique mechanical properties of glassy materials.

Marple, Maxwell A. T.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Local Structure of Glassy Lithium Phosphorus Oxynitride Thin Films: A Combined Experimental and Ab Initio Approach

Lithium phosphorus oxynitride (LiPON) is an amorphous solid–state lithium ion conductor displaying exemplary cyclability against lithium metal anodes. There is no definitive explanation for this stability due to the limited understanding of the structure of LiPON. Herein, we provide a structural model of RF–sputtered LiPON. Information about the short–range structure results from 1D and 2D solid–state NMR experiments. These results are compared with first principles chemical shielding calculations of Li–P–O/N crystals and ab initio molecular dynamics–generated amorphous LiPON models to unequivocally identify the glassy structure as primarily isolated phosphate monomers with N incorporated in both apical and as bridging sites in phosphate dimers. Structural results suggest LiPON's stability is a result of its glassy character. In conclusion, free–standing LiPON films are produced that exhibit a high degree of flexibility, highlighting the unique mechanical properties of glassy materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Advanced Characterization Techniques for Overcoming Challenges of Perovskite Solar Cell Materials

Abstract In the last 10 years, organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells have achieved unprecedented advances, to the point where they now exhibit extremely high efficiency. However, long‐term stability and areal scalability limitations impede the commercial application of perovskite materials, and appropriate diagnosistic tools have become necessary to evaluate perovskite materials. Characterization of perovskite materials is regularly misinterpretated, due to unique intrinsic and extrinsic factors: degradation from the measurement source, ion migration, phase transition, and separation. Herein, studies on perovskites are reviewed that have used advanced characterization tools to overcome characterization challenges. Cryogenic temperature assisted measurements mitigate degradation or phase transitions induced by the measurement source. In situ measurements can track the variation of perovskite materials depending on external stimuli. Spatial material properties are able to be evaluated by the use of multidimensional mapping techniques. An overview of these advanced characterization tools that can overcome the challenges associated with established tools provides the opportunity for further understanding perovskite materials and solving the remaining challenges on the road to commercialization.

Kim, Min‐cheol↗
DOE OSTI2019

Revealing Nanoscale Solid–Solid Interfacial Phenomena for Long-Life and High-Energy All-Solid-State Batteries

Enabling long cyclability of high-voltage oxide cathodes is a persistent challenge for all-solid-state batteries, largely because of their poor interfacial stabilities against sulfide solid electrolytes. While protective oxide coating layers such as LiNbO 3 (LNO) have been proposed, its precise working mechanisms are still not fully understood. Existing literature attributes reductions in interfacial impedance growth to the coating's ability to prevent interfacial reactions. However, its true nature is more complex, with cathode interfacial reactions and electrolyte electrochemical decomposition occurring simultaneously, making it difficult to decouple each effect. Herein, we utilized various advanced characterization tools and first-principles calculations to probe the interfacial phenomenon between solid electrolyte Li6PS5Cl (LPSCl) and high-voltage cathode LiNi 0.85 Co 0.1 Al 0.05 O 2 (NCA). We segregated the effects of spontaneous reaction between LPSCl and NCA at the interface and quantified the intrinsic electrochemical decomposition of LPSCl during cell cycling. We report both experimental and computational results demonstrated improved thermodynamic stability between NCA and LPSCl after incorporation of the LNO coating. Additionally, we revealed the in situ passivation effect of LPSCl electrochemical decomposition. When combined, both these phenomena occurring at the first charge cycle result in a stabilized interface, enabling long cyclability of all-solid-state batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Cryogenic Focused Ion Beam Characterization of Lithium Metal Anodes

Lithium metal is viewed as the ultimate battery anode because of its high theoretical capacity and low electrode potential, but its implementation has been limited by low Coulombic efficiency and dendrite formation above a critical current density. Determining the fundamental properties dictating lithium metal plating–stripping behavior is challenging because characterization techniques are limited by the sensitivity of lithium metal to damage by external probes, which regularly results in altered morphology and chemistry. Motivated by recent application of cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) to characterize lithium metal at the atomic scale, we explore the cryogenic focused ion beam (cryo-FIB) method as a quantitative tool for characterizing the bulk morphology of electrochemically deposited lithium and as a technique that enables TEM observation of Li-metal/solid-state electrolyte interfaces. Lastly, this work highlights the importance of cryo-FIB methodology for preparing sensitive battery materials and elucidates the impact of electrolyte selection on the density and morphology of plated lithium.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗