No Arabic abstract
Li-ion rechargeable batteries have enabled the wireless revolution transforming global communication. Future challenges, however, demands distributed energy supply at a level that is not feasible with the current energy-storage technology. New materials, capable of providing higher energy density are needed. Here we report a new class of lithium-ion batteries based on a graphene ink anode and a lithium iron phosphate cathode. By carefully balancing the cell composition and suppressing the initial irreversible capacity of the anode, we demonstrate an optimal battery performance in terms of specific capacity, i.e. 165 mAhg-1, estimated energy density of about 190 Whkg-1 and life, with a stable operation for over 80 charge-discharge cycles. We link these unique properties to the graphene nanoflake anode displaying crystalline order and high uptake of lithium at the edges, as well as to its structural and morphological optimization in relation to the overall battery composition. Our approach, compatible with any printing technologies, is cheap and scalable and opens up new opportunities for the development of high-capacity Li-ion batteries.
We have studied low-temperature magnetic properties as well as high-temperature lithium ion diffusion in the battery cathode materials LixNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 by the use of muon spin rotation/relaxation. Our data reveal that the samples enter into a 2D spin-glass state below TSG=12 K. We further show that lithium diffusion channels become active for T>Tdiff=125 K where the Li-ion hopping-rate [nu(T)] starts to increase exponentially. Further, nu(T) is found to fit very well to an Arrhenius type equation and the activation energy for the diffusion process is extracted as Ea=100 meV.
Amorphous polymer derived silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) is an attractive candidate for Lithium ion battery anodes, as an alternative to graphite, which is limited to a theoretical capacity of 372 mAh/g. However, SiOC tends to exhibit poor transport properties and cycling performance as a result of sparsely distributed carbon clusters and inefficient active sites. To overcome these limitations, we designed and fabricated a layered graphene SiOC heterostructure by solvent assisted infiltration of a polymeric precursor into a modified three dimensional graphene aerogel skeleton. The use of a high melting point solvent facilitated the precursors freeze drying, which following pyrolysis yielded SiOC as a layer supported on the surface of nitrogen doped reduced graphene oxide aerogels. The fabrication method employed here modifies the composition and microstructure of the SiOC phase. Among the studied materials, the highest levels of performance were obtained for a sample of moderate SiOC content, in which the graphene network constituted 19.8 wt % of the system. In these materials, a stable reversible charge capacity of 751 mAh/g was achieved at low charge rates. At high charge rates of 1480 mA/g, the capacity retention was ca. 95% (352 mAh/g) after 1000 consecutive cycles. At all rates, Coulombic efficiencies greater than 99% were maintained following the first cycle. Performance across all indicators was majorly improved in the graphene aerogel SiOC nanocomposites, compared with unsupported SiOC. The performance was attributed to mechanisms across multiple length scales. The presence of oxygen rich SiO4-xCx tetrahedral units and a continuous free carbon network within the SiOC provides sites for reversible lithiation, while high ionic and electronic transport is provided by the layered graphene SiOC heterostructure.
Silicon is a promising candidate for negative electrodes due to its high theoretical specific capacity (~3579 mAh g-1) and low lithiation potential (~0.40 V vs Li). However, its practical applications in battery have been inhibited by the large volume change (~400%) induced by Li+-insertion into Si lattices. Here, we attempt to resolve this issue at a fundamental level, and report for the first time a novel liquid metal (LM)-mediated spontaneous repairing conductive-additive-free Si anode for Li-ion battery. The fluidity of LM ensures the eternal contact between Si and the conducting-network during its repeated electrochemical reactions. The as-prepared nano-composite of LM/Si leads to superior performances as characterized by high capacity utilization (2300 mAh g-1 at 500 mA g-1), long-term stability (968 mAh g-1 after 1500 charge-discharge cycles at 8 A g-1 with 81.3% retention), high rate capability (360 mAh g-1 at 20 A g-1, equivalence of 55 C, or full charge/discharge in 65 seconds), and, in particular, an extra-ordinarily high initial coulombic efficiency (95.92%), which is not only the highest reported for Si to the best of our knowledge, but also higher than the mature graphitic carbon anodes. The unique approach described in this work not only resolves the basic stress challenges faced by the promising but often problematic alloy-type materials; in broader context it also provides a universal inspiration to all electrode materials whose electric properties suffer from extreme mechanic upheavals induced by the electrochemical strains during the cell reactions.
alpha-Fe single crystals of rhombic dodecahedral habit were grown from a melt of Li$_{84}$N$_{12}$Fe$_{sim 3}$. Crystals of several millimeter along a side form at temperatures around $T approx 800^circ$C. Upon further cooling the growth competes with the formation of Fe-doped Li$_3$N. The b.c.c. structure and good sample quality of alpha-Fe single crystals were confirmed by X-ray and electron diffraction as well as magnetization measurements and chemical analysis. A nitrogen concentration of 90,ppm was detected by means of carrier gas hot extraction. Scanning electron microscopy did not reveal any sign of iron nitride precipitates.
Solid state battery technology has recently garnered considerable interest from companies including Toyota, BMW, Dyson, and others. The primary driver behind the commercialization of solid state batteries (SSBs) is to enable the use of lithium metal as the anode, as opposed to the currently used carbon anode, which would result in ~20% energy density improvement. However, no reported solid state battery to date meets all of the performance metrics of state of the art liquid electrolyte lithium ion batteries (LIBs) and indeed several solid state electrolyte (SSE) technologies may never reach parity with current LIBs. We begin with a review of state of the art LIBs, including their current performance characteristics, commercial trends in cost, and future possibilities. We then discuss current SSB research by focusing on three classes of solid state electrolytes: Sulfides, Polymers, and Oxides. We discuss recent and ongoing commercialization attempts in the SSB field. Finally, we conclude with our perspective and timeline for the future of commercial batteries.