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At least 289 records · Page 16

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI2020

A Low-Cost Iron-Based Current Collector for Alkaline Battery Electrodes

The use of three-dimensional porous nickel foam as the current collector of the nickel hydroxide electrode adds significantly to the cost of the nickel-based alkaline rechargeable batteries. Although iron is considerably less expensive than nickel, iron corrodes at the operating potential of the nickel hydroxide electrode. We have found that a 70–100 nm thick thermal coating of cobalt ferrite spinel protects the iron from corrosion. Such a coated iron substrate was found to be stable against corrosion even when polarized anodically at 10 mA cm -2 in 30% potassium hydroxide electrolyte for 1000 h. While the thermal coating of cobalt ferrite protected iron against corrosion, incorporation of lithium ions into the coating was found to enhance the electrical conductivity of the coating. XPS and EXAFS studies confirmed that the enhanced conductivity resulted from an increase in the population of Co 3+ in the ferrite spinel lattice. An inexpensive iron (steel) substrate protected by such a coating when used as a nickel hydroxide battery electrode exhibited a specific capacity of 0.25 Ah g -1 at C/5 discharge rate, comparable to a nickel hydroxide electrode based on a relatively expensive nickel foam substrate. The steel-based electrode also exhibited no noticeable degradation over 150 cycles at C/2 rate. This demonstration of a robust and economical steel substrate presents a unique opportunity for reducing the cost of the nickel hydroxide battery electrode in alkaline batteries

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2020

Ca Cobaltites as Potential Cathode Materials for Rechargeable Ca-Ion Batteries: Theory and Experiment

Rechargeable Ca-based batteries can potentially achieve higher energy capacity than Li-ion batteries. The development of Ca-ion batteries, however, remains in its infancy, especially due to the challenge of finding cathode materials with high reversible capacity. In this work, we investigate properties of Ca cobaltites as Ca-ion intercalation cathodes, by means of density functional theory calculations validated by synthesis and electrochemical measurements. Computationally, we accessed thermodynamic, diffusion properties, energy capacity, and the voltage profiles for four Ca cobaltite compounds of different stoichiometry and Co oxidation states: Ca 3 Co 2 O 6 , CaCo 2 O 4 , Ca 2 Co 2 O 5 , and [Ca 2 CoO 3 ][CoO 2 ] 1.62 . We found good stability and relatively low migration barriers of some Ca cobaltites during cycling with the layered CaCo 2 O 4 having the lowest Ca migration barrier of 0.7 eV and the highest theoretical capacity. To validate our calculations, we synthesized Ca 3 Co 2 O 6 , CaCo 2 O 4 , and [Ca 2 CoO 3 ][CoO 2 ] 1.62 with the Pechini method and, subsequently, to test the electrochemical extraction of Ca.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2022

Editors’ Choice—Methods—Pressure Control Apparatus for Lithium Metal Batteries

Lithium (Li) metal anodes are essential for developing next-generation high-energy-density batteries. However, Li dendrite/whisker formation caused short-circuiting issue and short cycle life have prevented lithium metal from being viably used in rechargeable batteries. Numerous works have been done to study how to regulate the Li growth in electrochemical cycling by using external stacking forces. While it is widely agreed that stack pressure positively affects the lithium plating/stripping process, the optimized pressure range provided by different works varies greatly because of the difference in the pressure control setup. In this work, a pressure control apparatus is designed for Li metal batteries with liquid and solid-state electrolytes (SSE). With considerations of minimizing cell to cell variation, a reusable split cell and pressure load cell are made for testing electrochemical cells with high precision pressure control. The capability of the designed setup is demonstrated by studying the pressure effect on the Li plating/stripping process.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2024

Final Technical Report

This research project aims to understand the structure and properties of hidden intermediates in amorphous oxides grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD), and apply what is learned to achieve predictive phase and property control in the ALD synthesis of amorphous oxide thin films. The one-year renewal is to further this understanding to understand how amorphous TiO2 thin films by ALD turn into crystalline phase in correlation to the presence of medium range ordering (MRO) and other impurities. This fundamental study is expected to produce a predictive synthesis science for amorphous thin films with substantially improved uniformity and thereby achieve higher stability as a new surface coating strategy used for electrochemical catalysis. In this final technical report, we summarize the key achievements in this project to meet the research goals. This includes (1) a new approach to achieve homogeneous nanometer-scale amorphous coating leading to a new record of lifetime for photoelectrochemical hydrogen fuel generation; (2) A advancement in scanning transmission electron microcopy (STEM) that led to new understanding of intermediate phase in amorphous films; and (3) a computational model for understanding the local structure ordering in amorphous TiO2 films. In addition, this project also yielded relevant technical innovations including a development of bioresorbable zinc primary batteries that can self-degrade after depletion; and a ferroelectric membrane that provides active dendrites suppression to substantially improve the lifetime of rechargeable batteries. Collaboration with Lam Research also yield a new understanding of how built-in strain influences the amorphous films’ quality, bringing direct impacts to semiconductor manufacturing industry.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2025

Battery‐Grade Lithium Materials: Virgin Production and Recycling, a Techno‐Economic Comparison

Lithium has been identified as an essential mineral to the economic and national security of the United States. It is vital for rechargeable batteries that surround us daily from the personal electronics to large-scale energy storage. With a comprehensive techno-economic analysis, the cost of battery-grade lithium compounds production, i.e., lithium carbonate (LC) is evaluated and lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM), from both virgin (spodumene ore and brine) and recycled feedstocks (spent lithium-ion batteries). The goal of this study is to inform about the economics of lithium compounds production with comprehensive insights into differences in manufacturing routes and pave a pathway to explore more innovative, domestic manufacturing processes in future for their cost competitiveness and environmental impact. The study includes details on mining and extraction operations as well as unit level operation in the refining process. Moreover, process level information has been collected for pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical battery recycling routes. This analysis shows that brine and direct lithium extraction are the cheapest pathways to produce LC or LHM (between $\$3.39$ and 6.20 kg −1 ). The cost of production in the ore and recycling routes can range between $\$4.17$ and $\$53.41$ kg −1 and is highly depending on capital equipment investment, plant location, and the price of spodumene concentrate SC6.0.

battery recycling↗

DOE OSTI2025

High‐Performance Rechargeable Lithium‐Chlorine Batteries with ALD Conformal Starburst Porous Graphene Positive Electrodes

Abstract Rechargeable alkali metal‐chlorine batteries are emerging as a promising high‐energy‐density solution. However, they confront significant challenges, including the primary issue stemming from the weak binding affinity of cathode materials for Cl 2 , which leads to a sluggish and inadequate supply of Cl 2 during the redox reactions, resulting in a shortened cycle life and low Coulombic efficiency (CE), particularly when operating at ultrahigh specific capacity outputs. Herein, an Al 2 O 3 ‐skinned heterostructured starburst porous graphene with conformal metasurfaces (Al 2 O 3 @rGO) is reported, crafted from a hierarchical porous starburst graphene arranged in a unique layered structure by the PTFE microemulsion skin effect, leveraging subsequent fluidized bed atomic layer deposition (FBALD) of Al 2 O 3 groups. Al 2 O 3 @rGO features superhydrophilicity, effective adsorption, fast kinetics from stable dynamic respiratory interface, high electrical and thermal conductivity anisotropy, intelligent thermal management and safe operation over a wide temperature range. Consequently, the Li‐Cl 2 @Al 2 O 3 @rGO battery achieves an ultrahigh discharge specific capacity of 5000 mAh g −1 at ≈100% CE, and even delivers stable cycling over 200 cycles with 2000 mAh g −1 at an average CE of 99.8% under low temperature environment of ‐40 °C. The scalable heterostructure approach offers a sustainable perspective of the development of functionalized metamaterials and metasurfaces for next‐generation safe and energy‐dense batteries and broader applications.

Chemistry↗

DOE OSTI2021

Polypeptide organic radical batteries

In only a few decades, lithium-ion batteries have revolutionized technologies, enabling the proliferation of portable devices and electric vehicles, with substantial benefits for society. However, the rapid growth in technology has highlighted the ethical and environmental challenges of mining lithium, cobalt and other mineral ore resources, and the issues associated with the safe usage and non-hazardous disposal of batteries. Only a small fraction of lithium-ion batteries are recycled, further exacerbating global material supply of strategic elements. A potential alternative is to use organic-based redox-active materials to develop rechargeable batteries that originate from ethically sourced, sustainable materials and enable on-demand deconstruction and reconstruction. Making such batteries is challenging because the active materials must be stable during operation but degradable at end of life. Further, the degradation products should be either environmentally benign or recyclable for reconstruction into a new battery. Here we demonstrate a metal-free, polypeptide-based battery, in which viologens and nitroxide radicals are incorporated as redox-active groups along polypeptide backbones to function as anode and cathode materials, respectively. These redox-active polypeptides perform as active materials that are stable during battery operation and subsequently degrade on demand in acidic conditions to generate amino acids, other building blocks and degradation products. Here, such a polypeptide-based battery is a first step to addressing the need for alternative chemistries for green and sustainable batteries in a future circular economy.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

NASA NTRS2000

Solar Powered Aircraft, Photovoltaic Array/Battery System Tabletop Demonstration: Design and Operation Manual

A system was constructed to demonstrate the power system operation of a solar powered aircraft. The system consists of a photovoltaic (PV) array, a charge controller, a battery, an electric motor and propeller. The system collects energy from the PV array and either utilizes this energy to operate an electric motor or stores it in a rechargeable battery for future use. The system has a control panel which displays the output of the array and battery as well as the total current going to the electric motor. The control panel also has a means for adjusting the output to the motor to control its speed. The entire system is regulated around 12 VDC.

Colozza, Anthony J.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Alloying Interlayers for Anode‐Less Lithium‐Metal Polymer Batteries

Anode‐less lithium‐metal batteries potentially offer further increased energy densities. However, the Coulombic efficiency (CE) of lithium plating and stripping, as a classical measure of Li inventory reversibility, is commonly still insufficient for achieving long‐lasting rechargeable batteries. Herein, the potential benefits of employing thin (20 nm) metal interlayers of Ag, Pt, and Au on Cu to alloy with Li in Cu||Li half‐cells and induce homogeneous Li plating with poly(ethylene oxide)‐based electrolytes are investigated. Interestingly, not all alloying interlayers enable a higher CE compared to neat Cu foil with 84%—specifically Ag@Cu with only 81%, while the best performing one, Au@Cu, provides a substantially increased CE of 91%. While generally the formation of “dead lithium” is found to be the major source of CE, this appears to be less pronounced in the case of Au@Cu, indeed. Further improvement can be achieved by carefully adjusting the cell voltage to a region in which the continuous de‐/alloying is suppressed, yielding a further enhanced CE of 94%, thus highlighting the need for a comprehensive approach to design suitable electrode chemistries and designs beyond a “simple” material improvement.

anode-less battery↗

NASA NTRS2019

Development of Solid State Electrolytes for Li-Metal Based High Capacity Battery

NASA future missions demand safe, high specific energy (>400 Wh/kg) batteries. Current state-of-the-art (SOA) lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) can only provide ~150-200 Wh/kg in energy capacity, which is unable to meet NASA's future energy goals, and also pose safety issues due to the use of liquid flammable electrolyte. There are intense on-going development activities to increase battery energy density. The use of Li metal as an anode material has emerged as one highly attractive option for achieving high-energy, next generation batteries. This is because Li has many advantages. It is the lightest metal, but also has the highest theoretical capacity. It also has the lowest potential, which boosts whole cell voltage, and Li metal is 100% active material and requires no binder. Thus, Li metal is an ideal anode material for high energy battery chemistries. Lithium metal based advanced battery chemistries are envisioned to be mission enhancing and, in many cases, mission enabling for future space and aeronautic applications. However, the reliable use of this exceptionally high capacity anode in a commercial rechargeable battery has not been achieved due to safety and reliability concerns resulting from thermal runaway and short-circuit issues due to dendritic growth on the Li metal anode from lithium plating during charge-discharge cycles. A solid state electrolyte, such as garnet/ceramic or solid polymer nanocomposite electrolyte, is a promising approach to make Li metal safely cycling. The solid state electrolyte is non-flammable and eliminates leakage and fire hazard by replacing the liquid flammable electrolyte. However, the low-ionic conductivity and high interfacial impedance are the key issues to be overcome. In this presentation, the research activities on solid state electrolyte development funded by the NASA Advanced Energy Storage System program and by the NASA Center Innovative Fund will be presented, and the progress and results will be also discussed.

Wu, James J.↗

DOE OSTI2022

Recent Developments of Tin (II) Sulfide/Carbon Composites for Achieving High-Performance Lithium Ion Batteries: A Critical Review

The ever-increasing worldwide energy demand and the limited resources of fossil have forced the urgent adoption of renewable energy sources. Additionally, concerns over CO 2 emissions and potential increases in fuel prices have boosted technical efforts to make hybrid and electric vehicles more accessible to the public. Rechargeable batteries are undoubtedly a key player in this regard, especially lithium ion batteries (LIBs), which have high power capacity, a fast charge/discharge rate, and good cycle stability, while their further energy density improvement has been severely limited, because of the relatively low theoretical capacity of the graphite anode material which is mostly used. Among various high-capacity anode candidates, tin (II) sulfide (SnS 2 ) has been attracted remarkable attention for high-energy LIBs due to its enormous resource and simplicity of synthesis, in addition to its high theoretical capacity. However, SnS 2 has poor intrinsic conductivity, a big volume transition, and a low initial Coulombic efficiency, resulting in a short lifespan. SnS 2 /carbon composites have been considered to be a most promising approach to addressing the abovementioned issues. Therefore, this review summarizes the current progress in the synthesis of SnS 2 /carbon anode materials and their Li-ion storage properties, with special attention to the developments in Li-based technology, attributed to its immense current importance and promising prospects. Finally, the existing challenges within this field are presented, and potential opportunities are discussed.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2024

Tailoring Solvation Solvent in Localized High-Concentration Electrolytes for Lithium||Sulfurized Polyacrylonitrile

Sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (SPAN) is a promising cathode material for lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries due to its significantly reduced polysulfide (PS) dissolution compared to the elemental S cathode. Although conventional carbonate-based electrolytes is stable with SPAN electrodes, it is less stable with Li metal anode (LMA). Recently, localized high-concentration electrolytes (LHCEs) have been developed to improve the stability of LMA. Here, we report a new strategy to further improve the performance of LI||SPAN batteries by replacing the conventional solvating solvent 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) in the LHCE with a new solvating solvent, 1,2-diethoxyethane (DEE), the new LHCEs exhibits less reactivity against Li 2 S 2 , alleviates PS dissolution, forms a better cathode-electrolyte interphase layer on the SPAN, and enhances structure reversibility even at elevated temperature (ET, 45°C). With the same salt and diluent as in other LHCEs, the LHCE with DEE leads to better performance in Li||SPAN batteries (with 82.9% capacity retention after 300 cycles at ET), preservation of SPAN cathode structure, and suppression of the volume change of LMA. The similar strategy on tailoring the solvating solvents in LHCEs can also be used in other rechargeable batteries to improve their performances.

1,2-diethoxyethane↗

DOE OSTI2020

Full Concentration Gradient-Tailored Li-Rich Layered Oxides for High-Energy Lithium-Ion Batteries

Lithium-rich layered oxides (LLOs) are prospective cathode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), but severe voltage decay and energy attenuation with cycling still hinder their practical applications. In this study, a series of full concentration gradient-tailored agglomerated-sphere LLOs are designed with linearly decreasing Mn and linearly increasing Ni and Co from the particle center to the surface. The gradient-tailored LLOs exhibit noticeably reduced voltage decay, enhanced rate performance, improved cycle stability, and thermal stability. Without any material modifications or electrolyte optimizations, the gradient-tailored LLO with medium-slope shows the best electrochemical performance, with a very low average voltage decay of 0.8 mV per cycle as well as a capacity retention of 88.4% within 200 cycles at 200 mA g –1 . These excellent findings are due to spinel structure suppression, electrochemical stress optimization, and Jahn-Teller effect inhibition. Further investigation shows that the gradient-tailored LLO reduces the thermal release percentage by as much as about 41% when the battery is charged to 4.4 V. This study provides an effective method to suppress the voltage decay of LLOs for further practical utilization in LIBs and also puts forward a bulk-structure design strategy to prepare better electrode materials for different rechargeable batteries.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2022

Editorial for focus on nanophase materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries and beyond

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have revolutionized our society in many respects, and we are expecting even more favorable changes in our lifestyles with newer battery technologies. In pursuing such eligible batteries, nanophase materials play some important roles in LIBs and beyond technologies. Here, stimulated by their beneficial effects of nanophase materials, we initiated this Focus. Excitingly, this Focus collects 13 excellent original research and review articles related to the applications of nanophase materials in various rechargeable batteries, ranging from nanostructured electrode materials, nanoscale interface tailoring, novel separators, computational calculations, and advanced characterizations.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

NASA NTRS2018

Ionic Liquids at Electrified Interfaces: From Double Layers to Decomposition

Ionic liquids are versatile electrolytes whose properties at electrified interfaces have the potential to enable technologies such as supercapacitors and Li-metal battery anodes. At electrified carbon surfaces, ionic liquids form an electric double layer that stores energy and provides the foundation for supercapacitors. At electrified lithium surfaces, ionic liquids decompose to form a solid electrolyte interphase that has the potential to stabilize Li-metal anodes in rechargable batteries. The behavior of two ionic liquids of technological importance, [pyr14][TFSI] and [EMIM][BF4], are examined at these electrified interfaces through molecular dynamics and ab initio techniques.

Haskins, Justin B.↗

NASA NTRS2018

Ionic Liquids at Electrified Interfaces: from Double Layers to Decomposition

Haskins, Justin B.↗

NASA NTRS2018

Ionic Liquids at Electrified Interfaces: from Double Layers to Decomposition

Haskins, Justin B.↗

DOE OSTI2020

The Effect of Artificial SEIs on Lithium Metal Anode Morphology and Conductivity

Lithium metal has often been termed the “holy grail” of battery technology, due to its high capacity (2,061 mAh/cm3) and low electrochemical potential (-3.04 V vs. SHE). However, lithium’s beneficially low potential also causes it to be highly reactive in the presence of organic solvents, making it difficult to harness the high energy capabilities for rechargeable batteries. Common failure of lithium metal batteries occurs by rapid dendrite growth leading to a hazardous short-circuit. Various methods have been brought forth to better understand the fundamental mechanisms of lithium metal batteries, as well as modifications made to better stabilize lithium metal. A common route of modification is done through interface engineering, with attempts to artificially provide a stable, homogeneous solid-electrolyte interface (SEI). The stability of the SEI has direct effects on the heterogeneity of the electrode surface, which initiates a waterfall effect of for progressive reactions such as dendrite growth, dead lithium accumulation, and electrolyte consumption. This work aims to produce a mixed LiI-LiF artificial SEI to improve ionic conductivity while retaining a high elastic modulus.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗