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At least 577 records · Page 32

Guided Lithium Deposition by Surface Micro-Patterning of Lithium-Metal Electrodes

Uncontrolled lithium (Li) deposition has hampered the evolution of Li metal electrode-based Li batteries. In this work, we report the differences of a guided Li deposition with a size change of the square hole micro-patterns carved on the Li metal surface with two different dimensions using a simple stamping method. Li deposition is preferentially initiated on the top edge for the smaller pattern and on the bottom for the larger pattern. Although the two patterns lead to a more uniform utilization of the Li, the larger pattern shows a higher cycling stability with a LiFePO4/Li cell than that of the smaller one indicating that initiating the Li deposition from the bottom of the hole is more efficient in confining the deposited Li. Based on the impedance analysis of the compressed Li electrodes, we suggest that the guided Li deposition on the bottom of the hole is attributed to a large contrast in the resistance of native surface passivation layer between the top and hole surfaces. This improved understanding can further advance guided Li deposition induced by surface patterns for high performance Li metal batteries.

Kim, Yun-Jung↗

Electrode Edge Effects and the Failure Mechanism of Lithium-Metal Batteries

Lithium (Li) metal with very high specific capacity makes it one of the ideal anode for high energy batteries. However, Li dendrite growth and the formation of isolated (or “dead”) Li during repeated Li plating/stripping processes lead to its low Coulombic efficiency (CE). In this work, we discovered for the first time that part of Li CE loss can be attributed to the edge effect of the copper (Cu) substrate electrode in a conventional Li||Cu cell configuration. The “dead” Li formed on the edge of Cu substrate was systematically investigated through scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and two-dimensional X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In order to minimize the Li loss at the edge of the Cu exposed to pressure-free space, modified Li||Cu cell configuration with a Cu electrode smaller than Li metal is preferred. It was clearly demonstrated that using an electrode configuration with minimal open space or “pressure-free space” across electrodes can reduce “dead” Li accumulated during cycling and increase Li CE. This phenomena was also verified in Li metal batteries (Li||LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2) and should be considered in the design of practical Li metal batteries.

Lee, Hongkyung↗

Effect of Synthesis Method Using Varying Types of Micropore Level Sulfur Infiltration on Electrochemical Performance in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

The role of physically restrained, noncrystalline sulfur species in rechargeable lithium–sulfur batteries is examined by electrochemical and high‐resolution material characterizations. Carbon–sulfur composites are created by melting and sublimation of sulfur in an isochoric reactor via the autogenic process. These noncrystalline sulfur cathodes demonstrate a high specific capacity of ≈1000 Ah kg −1 after 100 cycles with a gravimetric current of 557 A kg −1 . Interestingly, this high‐performance sulfur allotrope lacks a long‐range structural order: high‐resolution X‐ray diffraction, performed at the Advanced Photon Source, indicates the lack of crystalline (i.e., orthorhombic or monoclinic) sulfur in the nanoscale domain. Electrochemical and material characterizations suggest that noncrystalline sulfur is a consequence of synthesis and not necessarily evidence of electrochemical efficacy. Rather, a high rate capacity depends on sulfur distribution, in turn, controlled by synthesis pathway. At higher sulfur content, the performance of carbon–sulfur composites is limited by the available surface area in which crystalline sulfur coincides with reduced gravimetric capacity and greater charge transport impedance, suggesting suboptimal sulfur containment.

Dysart, Arthur Dence↗

Dissociation of doubly charged clusters of lithium acetate: Asymmetric fission and breakdown of the liquid drop model: Dissociation of doubly charged clusters of lithium acetate

Unimolecular and collision-induced dissociation of doubly charged lithium acetate clusters, (CH3COOLi)nLi22+, demonstrated that Coulomb fission via charge separation is the dominant dissociation process with no contribution from the neutral evaporation processes for all such ions from the critical limit to larger cluster ions, although latter process have normally been observed in all earlier studies. These results are clearly in disagreement with the Rayleigh’s liquid drop model that has been used successfully to predict the critical size and explain the fragmentation behavior of multiply charged clusters.

Cluster Ions↗

Regulated lithium ionic flux through well-aligned channels for lithium dendrite inhibition in solid-state batteries

The utilization of solid electrolyte (SE) to suppress lithium (Li) dendrites is promising but still far from satisfactory due to the inhomogeneous Li plating/stripping. In this paper, we demonstrated a novel strategy to inhibit Li dendrites via regulating Li-ion flux in SE by using vertically aligned channels. The ion-insulating walls facilitated uniform distribution of Li-ion flux through the channels, leading to a homogeneous Li deposition, thus alleviating Li dendrite formation. As a result, symmetric cells with this SE exhibited excellent long-term stability (1000 h) against Li metal. In addition, Li4Ti5O12 (LTO)/Li cell with the developed SE achieved good battery performance over 100 cycles. The mechanism for dendrite suppression was further investigated by phase-field simulation. This work provides a novel strategy by manipulating uniform Li-ion flux to fabricate SE to inhibit Li dendrites and facilitates the development of high-performance rechargeable Li batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Modeling Extreme Deformations in Lithium Ion Batteries

A simultaneously coupled modeling approach to study the electrochemical and thermal behavior of lithium-ion batteries under large mechanical deformation has been developed. The thermo-electrochemical pseudo-2D (P2D) battery model is coupled with a mechanical material model. Mechanical, thermal, and electrochemical models are implemented as user-defined sub-routines in the commercial multi-physics code LS-DYNA. The mechanical strain experienced by anode, cathode and separator results in thickness and porosity changes in each layer which in turn influences electrochemical behavior. The evolution of concentration profiles and cell potential are studied under different mechanical loading conditions. Internal short-circuits caused by mechanical deformation and corresponding physical behaviors are also elucidated. We discuss the competing effects of improved transport at higher temperature due to the internal short-circuit versus a drop in the effective ionic conductivity and electrolyte diffusivity due to mechanical deformation.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Enabling High-Voltage Lithium-Metal Batteries under Practical Conditions

Rechargeable lithium (Li) metal batteries (LMBs) offer a great opportunity for applications needing high-energy-density battery systems. However, rare progress has been demonstrated so far under practical conditions including high voltage, high loading cathode, thin Li anode, and lean electrolyte. Here, in opposite to the common wisdom, we report an ether-based localized high concentration electrolyte that can greatly enhance the stability of Ni-rich LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811) cathode under 4.4 V and 4.5 V with an effective protection interphase enriched in LiF. This effect, in combination with the superior Li stability in this electrolyte, enables dramatically improved cycling performances of Li||NMC811 batteries under highly challenging conditions. The LMBs can retain over 80% capacity in 150 stable cycles with extremely limited amounts of Li anode and electrolyte. The findings in this work point out a very promising strategy to develop practical high-energy LMBs.

Ren, Xiaodi↗

Electrochemical state and internal variables estimation using a reduced-order physics-based model of a lithium-ion cell and an extended Kalman filter

This paper addresses the problem of estimating the present value of electrochemical internal variables in a lithium-ion cell in real time, using readily available measurements of cell voltage, current, and temperature. The variables that can be estimated include any desired set of reaction flux and solid and electrolyte potentials and concentrations at any set of one-dimensional spatial locations, in addition to more standard quantities such as state of charge. The method uses an extended Kalman filter along with a one-dimensional physics-based reduced-order model of cell dynamics. Simulations show excellent and robust predictions having dependable error bounds for most internal variables. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Stetzel, KD↗