Battery Components Research Articles

Towards practical Li–S batteries through the combination of a nanostructured graphene composite cathode and a novel sparingly solvating electrolyte

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) have emerged as promising alternatives to replace Li-ion technology in lightweight applications, but they still face some important challenges that hinder their commercialization. To overcome them, several optimization strategies focusing on each battery component have been investigated. In this work, we have explored the symbiotic combination of an optimized high-sulfur loading graphene-containing cathode with a novel sparingly solvating electrolyte (SSE) consisting of 1,3-dioxolane (DOL) as solvent and 1H,1H,5H-octafluoropentyl-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl ether (OCTO) as diluent, at an E/S ratio of 7 μL mg−1. The impact of graphene incorporation into the cathode formulation and the physicochemical compatibility between cathode and electrolyte have been evaluated and compared to those obtained for the benchmarking DME/DOL electrolyte. Using the DOL/OCTO SSE enhanced wettability over our graphene-containing electrodes and hampered significant polysulfide dissolution. Most importantly, the electrochemistry of this system showed very promising values at coin cell level, achieving areal discharge capacities of 5.3 mAh cm−2 at C/10, enduring beyond 100 cycles with 65 % capacity retention. The transferability of the system to prototype cells was successfully demonstrated by assembling a monolayer pouch cell which reached initial capacities of 55 mAh and lasted more than 60 cycles, paving the way for real deployment and commercialization of this energy storage technology.

Controlling surface chemistry in cold sintering to advance battery materials

Cold sintering is a recently introduced densification method that is of interest due to the lower energy used in the process, the ability to densify metastable materials, the ability to integrate materials to develop unique composites, and the ability to synthesis materials that can be more easily recycled. Collectively, these advantages make cold sintering a promising approach for processing of battery components, and co-sintering into all solid-state batteries. To obtain high electrochemical performance with cold sintering, detailed control of the surface chemistry of powders is needed, to avoid or minimize the impact of carbonate formation in grain boundaries, and to limit concentrations of secondary phases that are a result of incongruent dissolution processes. In this paper, we outline the importance of surface chemical reactions of powders in cold sintering, and the mitigating processes that can be adopted to control these reactions and obtain high performance and unique opportunities for Li and Na-oxide secondary batteries. We focus on a series of examples that demonstrate how the control of low temperature densification (cold sintering) can address the environmental sensitivity of many battery materials, and highlight the issues faced and open questions. These examples include cold sintering of air-sensitive solid electrolytes, re-processing of crushed solid electrolytes, surface passivation of air-sensitive active materials for processing in air, and fabrication of solid-solid macroscopic interfaces for solid-state batteries.

Densification of Alloying Anodes for High Energy Lithium-Ion Batteries: Critical Perspective on Inter- Versus Intra-Particle Porosity.

High Li-storage-capacity particles such as alloying-based anodes (Si, Sn, Ge, etc.) are core components for next-generation Li-ion batteries (LIBs) but are crippled by their intrinsic volume expansion issues. While pore pre-plantation represents a mainstream solution, seldom do this strategy fully satisfy the requirements in practical LIBs. One prominent issue is that porous particles reduce electrode density and negate volumetric performance (WhL-1) despite aggressive electrode densification strategies. Moreover, the additional liquid electrolyte dosage resulting from porosity increase is rarely noticed, which has a significant negative impact on cell gravimetric energy density (Whkg-1). Here, the concept of judicious porosity control is introduced to recalibrate existing particle design principles in order to concurrently boost gravimetric and volumetric performance, while also maintaining the battery's cycle life. The critical is emphasized but often neglected role that intraparticle pores play in dictating battery performance, and also highlight the superiority of closed pores over the open pores that are more commonly referred to in the literature. While the analysis and case studies focus on silicon-carbon composites, the overall conclusions apply to the broad class of alloying anode chemistries.

Lithium-ion battery components are at the nexus of sustainable energy and environmental release of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

Lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) are used globally as a key component of clean and sustainable energy infrastructure, and emerging LiB technologies have incorporated a class of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) known as bis-perfluoroalkyl sulfonimides (bis-FASIs). PFAS are recognized internationally as recalcitrant contaminants, a subset of which are known to be mobile and toxic, but little is known about environmental impacts of bis-FASIs released during LiB manufacture, use, and disposal. Here we demonstrate that environmental concentrations proximal to manufacturers, ecotoxicity, and treatability of bis-FASIs are comparable to PFAS such as perfluorooctanoic acid that are now prohibited and highly regulated worldwide, and we confirm the clean energy sector as an unrecognized and potentially growing source of international PFAS release. Results underscore that environmental impacts of clean energy infrastructure merit scrutiny to ensure that reduced CO2 emissions are not achieved at the expense of increasing global releases of persistent organic pollutants.

Can Prussian Blue Analogues be Holy Grail for Advancing Post‐Lithium Batteries?

The recent classification of lithium as a critical raw material surged the R&D of post‐lithium batteries (PLBs). The larger cation charge carriers of these PLBs consequently entailed extensive materials R&D for battery components, especially cathode. Prussian Blue (PB) and its analogues (PBAs) have emerged as promising cathode materials for PLBs due to their desirable characteristics, including a three‐dimensional open framework structure that facilitates fast ion diffusion for both monovalent (Li+, Na+, K+) and multivalent (Mg2+, Ca2+, Zn2+, Al3+) ions, stable framework structures, electrochemical tunability, availability of widely used precursors, and ease of synthesis. Our comprehensive review reveals that several challenges are yet to be addressed in employing PBAs as cathode materials for PLBs, viz., vacancies, crystal water, side reactions, and conductivity issues due to electrochemically inactive components of PBAs. This review paper provides an exhaustive survey of material development, including the mitigation strategies of the challenges in employing PBAs as cathode materials for advancing PLBs.

Heat Resistant Components for BEV Traction Batteries

Heat Resistant Components for BEV Traction Batteries

Electrolyte Stabilizes Zn2+ Reduction Reaction Process: Solvation, Interface and Kinetics

AbstractAqueous zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs), lauded for their low cost, eco‐friendliness, and high safety, have garnered significant attention. However, their commercial viability is hindered by the challenges of dendrite growth and side reactions during the Zn2+ reduction reaction process. Electrolyte as the indispensable component of batteries has a close relationship with the issues mentioned above. With the feature of simplicity, effectiveness, and scalability, regulating electrolytes is a particularly promising, feasible, and straightforward approach to stabilizing the Zn anode. The solvation design with less solvated water, interface optimization with water‐poor and pH‐stable interface, and kinetics regulation with fast Zn2+ transport, uniform Zn2+ flux, and orientational Zn growth can contribute to uniform Zn deposition with restrained corrosion. This review encapsulates the cutting‐edge advancements in electrolytes to stabilize the Zn anode. The mechanisms underlying these advancements, encompassing solvation structure design, Zn‐electrolyte interface optimization, and kinetics regulation are elucidated. Finally, this paper outlines current challenges and prospects in electrolyte development for ZIBs, providing valuable insights for future endeavors in this field.

Total Third-Degree Variation for Noise Reduction in Atomic-Resolution STEM Images.

Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) enables direct determination of atomic arrangements in materials and devices. However, materials such as battery components are weak for electron beam irradiation and low electron doses are required to prevent beam-induced damages. Noise removal is thus essential for precise structural analysis of electron beam sensitive materials at atomic resolution. Total square variation (TSV) regularization is an algorithm that exhibits high noise removal performance. However, the use of the TSV regularization term leads to significant image blurring and intensity reduction. To address these problems, we here propose a new approach adopting L2 norm regularization based on higher-order total variation. An atomic-resolution STEM image can be approximated as a set of smooth curves represented by quadratic functions. Since the third-degree derivative of any quadratic function is 0, total third-degree variation (TTDV) is suitable for a regularization term. The application of TTDV for denoising the atomic-resolution STEM image of CaF2 observed along the [001] zone axis is shown, where we can clearly see the Ca and F atomic columns without compromising image quality.

Permeability and barrier layer properties of a woven carbon fibre polymer composite as battery packaging

Carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates are used in various studies as Li-ion polymer (LiPo) battery packaging. However, their suitability as a packaging material is not well understood. The present study investigates the liquid absorption (water and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonic)imide (LiTFSI) electrolyte immersion tests) and barrier layer properties (water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) and oxygen transmission rate (OTR) tests) of a 200 gsm woven CFRP laminate to assess its suitability as a battery packaging material. This is the first study to show that prolonged immersion in battery electrolyte does not change the mechanical properties of a woven CFRP laminate. Hence, the CFRP laminate may be suitable for structural battery components, such as current collectors and electrodes. However, CFRP should not be used as battery packaging, as OTR and WVTR values of the CFRP laminate were found to be five and one order of magnitudes higher than typical battery pouch materials (i.e. aluminium foil), respectively.

Innovative approaches to cardiovascular safety pharmacology assessment

This editorial prefaces the annual themed issue on safety pharmacology (SP) methods which has been published since 2004 in the Journal of Pharmacological and Toxicological Methods (JPTM). Here we highlight content derived from the 2023 Safety Pharmacology Society (SPS) meeting held in Brussels, Belgium. The meeting generated 138 abstracts, reproduced in the current volume of JPTM. As in prior years, the manuscripts reflect various areas of innovation in SP including in silico modeling of stroke volume, cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance, computational approaches that compare drug-induced proarrhythmic sensitivity of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs), an evaluation of the utility of the corrected J-Tpeak and Tpeak-to-Tend parameters from the ECG as potential proarrhythmia biomarkers, and the applicability of nonclinical concentration-QTc (C-QTc) modeling of data derived from the conduct of the in vivo QTc study as a component of the core battery of safety pharmacology studies.

Investigation on heat generation in fast charging of lithium-ion batteries: Effect of charging rate and battery component thickness

Understanding heat generation mechanisms during fast charging is essential for designing and optimizing lithium-ion batteries. In this study, we have formulated a three-dimensional electrochemical-thermal coupling model for pouch lithium-ion batteries. The model is validated by the experimental results based on the distribution of temperature, current, and voltage. We investigate the effects of charging rate, active material coating thickness, and current collector thickness (each at three levels) on heat generation and temperature distribution. The electrodes account for most of the total heat generation (87.5% with a 2.5C charging rate), and the percentage decreases as the charging rate increases. The heat generated at the negative electrode is slightly higher than that at the positive electrode. Reversible heat is the main heat source at a low charging rate, and it decreases as the charging rate rises. The effects of battery component thicknesses on thermal behaviors under fast charging are significant. The overall battery temperature increases by 11.5 K as the positive electrode thickness increases from 40 to 70 µm due to the rise in ohmic resistance and polarization resistance within the electrode. The increased ohmic resistance in the separator and the current collector raises the temperature. Reducing the thickness of the current collector by 33% resulted in a doubling of heat generation from the current collectors. Yet, it had minimal impact on the overall temperature of the battery.

Will Congo move up the battery supply chain? Strategic capitalism, friendshoring, and localized manufacturing in the time of the green transition

In recent years, countries where extraction of so-called green minerals occur have increasingly asserted themselves. Negatively dubbed as resources nationalism, these political decisions are more akin to a willingness to increase in-country value added for regions often suffering from centuries of colonial extractivism. In the battery sector, these strategies led to cobalt, lithium, and nickel producers aiming to develop local manufacturing of battery components. This article provides a prospective analysis of these dynamics and takes the example of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the recent announcement to establish the country as a supplier of cathodes materials and potentially even manufactured batteries. However, the road to becoming a midstream supplier is long and the current state of infrastructures presents significant barriers to a shift in the country's industrial base. Throughout this article, informed by ethnographic work, I address these challenges in the context of the low-carbon transition. The sustained post-colonial state of Congo's extractive complex and its location at the core of geopolitical competitions constitute a significant obstacle to the establishment of this new industry, while the metal-rich country tried to find its way and raison d'être in the volt rush currently underway.

Influence of the PET-PTFE Separator Pore Structure on the Performance of Lithium Metal Batteries.

The separator is a crucial component in lithium batteries, as it physically separates the cathode and the anode while allowing ion transfer through the internal channel. The pore structure of the separator significantly influences the performance of lithium batteries, particularly lithium metal batteries. In this study, we investigate the use of a Janus separator composed of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)-polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fibers in lithium metal batteries. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the impact of this asymmetric material on the cycling performance of the battery alongside an investigation into the influence of two different substrates on lithium-ion deposition behavior. The research findings indicate that when the rigid PET side faces the lithium metal anode and the soft PTFE side faces the cathode, it significantly extends the cycling lifespan of lithium metal batteries, with an impressive 82.6% capacity retention over 2000 cycles. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the versatility of this separator type in lithium metal batteries by assembling the lithium metal electrode with high cathode-loading capacities (4 mA h/cm2). In conclusion, the results suggest that the design of asymmetric separators can serve as an effective engineering strategy with substantial potential for enhancing the lifespan of lithium metal batteries.

Influence of Crucible Types on Thermal Stability Analysis of Li‐Ion Battery Components by Thermogravimetric Analysis–Differential Scanning Calorimetry

Lithium‐ion batteries are widely used in various industrial and consumer applications. One key point is the thermal stability of these batteries regarding safety. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) are ideal methods to study the thermal properties of differently charged electrode materials without safety issues associated with thermal runaway tests of the complete cell. This study shows a significant relationship between state of charge (SOC) and power released by the electrode material during the heating process. For the utilized cathode material LixCoO2, a linear relationship is apparent between the decomposition temperature and the decomposition energy, enabling estimation of the SOC. The decomposition temperature of differently charged anode material strongly correlates with the selected heating rate. This study reveals substantial dependencies of the measured power on the utilized crucibles, providing a systematic approach to benchmark the impact of crucible type on observed DSC signals during battery component analysis.

Toward Sustainable Polymer Materials for Rechargeable Batteries: Utilizing Natural Feedstocks and Recycling/Upcycling of Polymer Waste.

The ever-increasing demand for rechargeable battery systems in the era of electric vehicles has spurred extensive research into developing polymeric components for batteries, such as separators, polymer electrolytes, and binders. However, current battery systems rely on expensive and nonrenewable resources, which potentially have a negative environmental impact. Therefore, polymer materials derived from natural resources have gained significant attention, primarily due to their cost-effective and environmentally sustainable features. Moreover, natural feedstocks often possess highly polar functional groups and high molecular weights, offering desirable electro-chemo-mechanical features when applied as battery materials. More recently, various recycling and upcycling strategies for polymeric battery components have also been proposed given the substantial waste generation from end-of-life batteries. Recycling polymeric materials includes an overall process of recovering the components from spent batteries followed by regeneration into new materials. Polymer upcycling into battery materials involves transforming daily-used plastic waste into high-value-added battery components. This review aims to give a state-of-the-art overview of contemporary methods to develop sustainable polymeric materials and recycling/upcycling strategies for various battery applications.

Enhanced Lithium-Ion Transport in Lithium Metal Batteries Using ZSM-5 Nanosheets Hybridized Solid Polymer Electrolytes.

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are the key components of lithium metal batteries to overcome the obstacle of insecurity in conventional liquid electrolytes; however, the trade-off between their ionic conductivity and mechanical properties remains a significant challenge. In this work, two-dimensional ZSM-5 nanosheets as fillers are incorporated into a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) matrix and lithium salts to obtain composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs). The improved physicochemical and electrochemical properties of the CPE membranes are characterized in full detail. Stripping/plating measurements in symmetric Li/Li cells and cyclic charge/discharge tests are performed to investigate the cyclability and stability of the CPEs. All-solid-state LiFePO4/Li batteries deliver excellent cycling performance with an initial discharge capacity of 152.3 mAh g-1 and 91.4% capacity retention after 200 cycles at 0.2 C, with a discharge specific capacity of 118.8 mAh g-1 remaining after 350 cycles at 0.5 C. Therefore, CPEs containing ZSM-5 nanosheets are a promising option for all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries.

Preparation of the Porous Copper Foil Current Collector for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries by Electro-Codeposition: Effect of Stirring Speed

As an indispensable component of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the application of porous copper (Cu) foil current collector is an effective method to improve the performance and energy density of LIBs. In this work, a porous Cu (PCu) foil was fabricated by acid washing the Cu-Fe3O4 foil prepared by the electro-codeposition in a stirred CuSO4 solution containing the magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The effect of the stirring speed on the properties of PCu foils and the battery performance of PCu foil as current collectors were investigated. The surface roughness of the PCu foil increases, while its volume density decreases as the stirring speed rises. The volume density of PCu foil (6.63 g cm−3) prepared at 400 rpm (PCu400) is reduced by 22.4% than that of the commercial Cu foil (8.55 g cm−3). The specific capacity (241.2 mAh g−1) of the cell with PCu400 current collector is 31.3% higher than that of the cell with commercial Cu current collector (183.7 mAh g−1) after 300 charge-discharge cycles at 2 C. The electro-codeposition of porous Cu foil current collectors offers a promising method for high-performance lightweight LIBs.

Insights Into Scalable Technologies and Process Chains for Sulfide‐Based Solid‐State Battery Production

AbstractThe successful utilization of innovative sulfide‐based solid‐state batteries in energy storage hinges on developing scalable technologies and machinery for upscaling their production. While multiple Gigafactories for lithium‐ion batteries are already operational worldwide, the upscaling of solid‐state batteries exhibiting their full potential remains to be seen in the near future. In this study, the conventional production of lithium‐ion batteries is reconsidered, and the feasibility of seamlessly integrating sulfide‐based solid‐state batteries into the existing process chains is discussed. Scalable technologies and key challenges along the process chain of sulfide‐based solid‐state batteries are accordingly addressed. Experimental investigations yield crucial insights into enabling large‐scale production of sulfide‐based battery components while highlighting remaining challenges from a production perspective. An overview of the roll‐to‐roll machinery housed in microenvironments under an inert atmosphere in the “Sulfidic Cell Production Advancement Center” at the Institute for Machine Tools and Industrial Management at the Technical University of Munich is given.

Facile synthesis of silver nanoparticles loaded spent cathodic Lithium-Ion battery components for enhanced bifunctional photocatalysis: Investigating the influence of magnetic properties

Due to resource depletion and environmental concerns regarding battery disposal, it is becoming more essential to recycle valuable metals from wasted lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). A novel approach is proposed in this study for the efficient bifunctional photocatalysis of LIBs components by integrating AgNPs in an environmentally sustainable manner via a sustainable hydrothermal process. The HRTEM and image mapping reveal a carbon matrix (C/Li3Fe5O8/Ag) with a dispersed arrangement of AgNPs (5–10 wt%). By acting as a reducing agent, graphite plays a crucial role in the transformation of Ag+ ions into AgNPs. The homogenous distribution of Ag NPs observed in the high-resolution TEM images further supports the role of graphite in the modification and decoration of Ag NPs onto the surface of the extracted spent cathode sample. The detection of a spot matching the (200) plane of Ag in the selected area electron diffraction (SAED) measurements confirms the successful formation of AgNPs. Additionally, the presence of a ring corresponding to the (110) plane of graphite in the SAED measurements suggests the coexistence of graphite with AgNPs in the composite heterostructures. The nitrogen adsorption isotherm analysis was conducted to explore the physical properties of the AgNPs@LIBs nanocomposite, providing valuable insights into its pore size distribution and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area. The nanocomposites exhibited paramagnetic behavior, as revealed by vibrational sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements, with saturation magnetization values ranging from 76.3 × 10−3 to 36.13 × 10−3 emu/g. The study involved the photodegradation of oxytetracycline (OTC), a representative pharmaceutical pollutant, along with an investigation into the potential of Cr(VI) reduction. Under optimal component ratios, a significant improvement in pollutant removal was achieved under UV radiation, reaching up to 75 % for OTC and 80 % for Cr(VI), highlighting the efficiency of the process.

Porous Organic Framework Materials (MOF, COF, and HOF) as the Multifunctional Separator for Rechargeable Lithium Metal Batteries.

The separator is an important component in batteries, with the primary function of separating the positive and negative electrodes and allowing the free passage of ions. Porous organic framework materials have a stable connection structure, large specific surface area, and ordered pores, which are natural places to store electrolytes. And these materials with specific functions can be designed according to the needs of researchers. The performance of porous organic framework-based separators used in rechargeable lithium metal batteries is much better than that of polyethylene/propylene separators. In this paper, thethree most classic organic framework materials (MOF, COF, and HOF) are analyzed and summarized. The applications of MOF, COF, and HOF separators in lithium-sulfur batteries, lithium metal anode, and solid electrolytes are reviewed. Meanwhile, the research progress of these three materials in different fields is discussed based on time. Finally, in the conclusion, the problems encountered by MOF, COF, and HOF in different fields as well as their future research priorities are presented. This review will provide theoretical guidance for the design of porous framework materials with specific functions and further stimulate researchers to conduct research on porous framework materials.