Energy Lithium Research Articles

What should “we” do? Subjects and scales in the double-bind between energy transition and lithium extraction

It is now broadly accepted that lithium is needed to power the energy transition and address climate change, or, simply stated, “we need lithium to save the planet.” And yet, we are faced with an ethical dilemma. While lithium technologies may allow us to slow climate change and perhaps offer opportunities for lithium-rich countries like Bolivia, extraction has socio-environmental consequences at the local level. How can we exploit the planet to save it? Rather than seeking to resolve this apparent double-bind, we propose to stay with it through an exploration of narratives around lithium and the energy transition. We begin our questioning with a focus on ethics – what should we do? We then approach the dilemma through two ethnographic vignettes, related to Bolivia's Salar de Uyuni. Our approach allows us to reflect on the scales and subjects invoked in this dilemma, and to interrogate homogenizing “we” positions implicit in pervasive narratives. The article ends with a reflection on what we – in our diversity as differently-situated but interrelated people with distinct projects – can do.

Impact analysis of mergers and acquisitions on the performance of China's new energy industries

The development of new energy industries is crucial to a nation's energy transition to carbon neutrality, while photovoltaic, wind power, lithium battery, and new energy vehicles industries have been active in the capital markets. We choose mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activities in such industries in China to investigate how they affect firms' short-run market performance and long-run innovation. Using data gathered from 2012 to 2020, we evaluate the degree of stock price volatility with the Carhart four-factor model combined with event study analysis. Changes in innovation after M&A activity has occurred are evaluated using the PSM-DID model. Empirical analysis shows that M&A could have a positive, short-run impact on stock prices of new energy industries, while the impact of technology M&A on sub-industries is not consistent. The cumulative average abnormal returns (CAAR) of the wind power and photovoltaic industries turn from negative to positive, and the correlative new energy vehicles and lithium battery industries reach the highest returns in a window period with similar trend lines. Furthermore, technology M&A positively affects the innovation performance of new energy firms, and this effect lasts three to four years. In contrast to prior industry-wide and conclusion-inconsistent M&A studies, we concentrate on new energy industries and prove the definite positive effect of technology M&A for the firms.

Surface modified by SnI2 boosts Dendrite-Free all-solid-state lithium metal batteries

Lithium metal is the most promising next-generation anode due to its extremely high theoretical specific capacity and lowest operation potential. However, the high reactivity of lithium brings about a series of side reactions and fast capacity decay. Moreover, the inevitably growth of lithium dendrite will cause short circuit or other safety issues. Here, an artificial mixed ionic/electronic SEI (solid electrolyte interphase) is designed by treating the lithium anode with SnI2 solution in a simple drop coating method. The artificial SEI can inhibit the dendrite growth by forming nuclear agent sites and enable uniform current distribution. Solid state electrolyte is further utilized to improve the safety of battery. The symmetrical cells can cycle for > 750 h at 0.2 mA cm−2. Notably, all-solid-state LiFePO4 (LFP)/Li battery can deliver excellent capacity remains 120.6 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles at 1C with a higher Coulombic efficiency at 99.8%. These results may be also useful for the developing of high energy and high safety lithium metal batteries.

Electrolyte solvation regulation engineering promotes Li-SPAN battery without esters

Electrolyte plays a crucial role in the construction of electrode interfaces of high energy lithium metal battery systems. For advanced Li-SPAN battery system, the forbidden of shuttle effect in traditional carbonate electrolyte is attributed to the formation of the cathode/electrolyte interface (CEI). Unfortunately, the inherent electrochemical instability of Li metal in carbonate electrolyte limits its commercialization. Herein, a novel carbonate-free weakly solvating siloxane electrolyte is presented and applied in Li-SPAN battery system for the first time. The anion derived electrode/electrolyte interfaces ensure excellent electrochemical performance which enables high Li plating/stripping Coulombic efficiency of 99.63 % in Li||Cu cells and long lifespan over 400 h under critical condition of 5 mAh cm−2, where 30 µm Li foil is used with totally ca. ∼6 mAh cm−2 in symmetric cell. Meanwhile, no shuttle effect occurs on the SPAN cathode and the kinetics of CEI is promoted. The Li-SPAN battery exhibits prolonged cycling stability over 500 cycles with a capacity retention of 96.8 %. Furthermore, the 0.2 Ah pouch cell shows stable cycling performance with capacity retention of 92.4 % over 20 cycles. This work provides a new approach for high energy Li-SPAN battery without carbonate electrolytes.

High Performance Hybrid Aqueous Li/NiCl2 Rechargeable Batteries with Water‐Stable High Lithium‐Ion Conductivity Solid Electrolyte

AbstractThe feasibility of a novel high specific energy and power density rechargeable aqueous lithium battery with a lithium anode, an aqueous NiCl2 catholyte, and a water‐stable high lithium‐ion conducting solid electrolyte separator was investigated. Water‐stable Li1.6Al0.4Ge0.2Ti1.4(PO4)3‐10 wt % TiO2‐3 wt % LiCl ⋅ H2O‐expoxy resin (LAGTP‐T), which has a high lithium‐ion conductivity of 10−3 S cm−1 at 25 °C and an excellent bending strength of 150 N mm−2, was used as the separator between the lithium anode and the aqueous NiCl2 catholyte in the rechargeable aqueous Li/NiCl2 battery. The battery was successfully operated at 5 mA cm−2 and room temperature. The estimated specific energy density of the battery based on the cell components of a 200 μm thick LAGTP‐T, a lithium anode, current collectors, and an interlayer electrolyte is higher than that of the conventional lithium‐ion battery with a carbon anode and a LiCoO2 cathode at a high specific capacity of more than 15 mAh cm−2, and that at 50 mAh cm−2 is two times higher than that of the lithium‐ion battery.

Design of Low-Stress robust silicon and Silicon-Carbide anode with high areal capacity and high energy density for Next-Generation Lithium-Ion batteries

Utilization of biomass-converted products in the energy industry is a pathway to sustain the demand of high energy lithium cells, and silicon anode could be a solution before the lithium metal. The high percentage of silicon (>10 wt%) in the anode for capacity gain can’t prevent crack generation during cycling and results in capacity fading and cell failure. Here, we present a unique anode structure like an in-situ nano-layer of carbon-coated silicon–silicon carbide (Si-SiC@C) from black rice husk ash (BRHA)-biomass. A specific proportion of the “SiC” phase in Si-SiC@C plays a crucial role in the formation of a stable interface, passivation of the Si surface, and suppression of Si cracking, resulting in improved battery cycling performance. Furthermore, the distribution of relaxation times (DRT) experiment was carried out in MATLAB software to more understand the interface mechanism. Nano-indentation and Von-mises stress generation method was used to analyze the mechanical properties of samples. The ‘Si’ and ‘SiC’ phases were distinguished by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and are thoroughly analyzed via the advanced characterization tools (i.e., FETEM, c-AFM, XPS, etc.). The optimized Si-SiC@C composition showed excellent cyclic stability up to 700 cycles with an areal capacity of ∼2.3 mAh cm−2 at a rate of 0.2 A g−1 vs. Li/Li+. Moreover, a pouch cell is fabricated with the Si-SiC@C (i.e., ∼3.8 mg cm−2) as anode and NMC811 as cathode (∼11.5 mg cm−2). The developed 300 mAh pouch cell performed excellently (>85 % capacity retention) over 200 cycles. In light of easy and energy-efficient synthesis, robustness, and cyclic stability, the specially designed Si-SiC@C from BRHA can be a promising choice as the next-generation anode material for rechargeable battery applications, particularly for lithium-ion batteries.

Functional Separator Enabled by Covalent Organic Frameworks for High-Performance Li Metal Batteries.

Uncontrolled ion transport and susceptible SEI films are the key factors that induce lithium dendrite growth, which hinders the development of lithium metal batteries (LMBs). Herein, a TpPa-2SO3 H covalent organic framework (COF) nanosheet adhered cellulose nanofibers (CNF) on the polypropylene separator (COF@PP) is successfully designed as a battery separator to respond to the aforementioned issues. The COF@PP displays dual-functional characteristics with the aligned nanochannels and abundant functional groups of COFs, which can simultaneously modulate ion transport and SEI film components to build robust lithium metal anodes. The Li//COF@PP//Li symmetric cell exhibits stable cycling over 800h with low ion diffusion activation energy and fast lithium ion transport kinetics, which effectively suppresses the dendrite growth and improves the stability of Li+ plating/stripping. Moreover, The LiFePO4//Li cells with COF@PP separator deliver a high discharge capacity of 109.6 mAh g-1 even at a high current density of 3 C. And it exhibits excellent cycle stability and high capacity retention due to the robust LiF-rich SEI film induced by COFs. This COFs-based dual-functional separator promotes the practical application of lithium metal batteries.

Analyze The Economic and The Sustainable Environmental Impact of The Policy in The New Energy Vehicles and Lithium Battery Industry

Due to the vigorous promotion and production of new energy vehicles, the lithium battery industry is closely connected with them and also developed a lot, resulting in vertical integration. There are various new energy vehicle policies in the world that are specific to the situation of each country. Policies aim at the consumption and supply of new energy vehicles and the R & D of energy technologies such as lithium batteries can have related impact. Its positive role is to increase the output of new energy vehicles, reduce environmental pollution, encourage the progress of lithium battery research and improve the sustainable development. However, the reduction of subsidies and the improvement of selection criteria need to be in line with market conditions and the progress of relevant energy research. Excessive subsidies will also bring greater economic pressure to the country. Only by balancing economic effects and improving energy utilization can sustainable development be achieved.

Prediction of battery capacity based on improved model of support vector regression

The state of Health (SOH) of new energy lithium batteries is an important indicator to describe the energy decline of new energy, especially the battery decline. It is very important for the service life of new energy equipment, especially equipment based on a lithium battery. Its internal is a high-dimensional nonlinear complex chemical reaction. In this paper, the state of Health (SOH) of a lithium battery is defined according to the capacity to turn the problem of new energy battery capacity into a new problem. At the same time, the multi-dimensional complex nonlinear regression problem is mapped into the physical space, which is described by the phenomenon of the combined action of the quantum radiation field and the quantum gravitational repulsion force in the physical space, and the corresponding quantum radiation equation and abstract equation are used. Finally, the NASA Ames Research Center battery data set is used to verify the results. The verification shows that the algorithm can accurately predict the capacity of the battery to know the SOH of the battery. The model has good learning accuracy, operation speed, and generalization ability.

TiO2-LiF composite coating for improving NCM622 cathode cycling stability: one-step construction.

The Ni-rich NCM622 is a promising cathode material for future high energy lithium ion batteries, but unstable electrochemical performance of NCM622 hinder its large scale commercial application. The cycling peformance of nickel-rich LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 (NCM622) cathode materials can be improved by surface coating. Here, a one-step approach based on TiF4 is used to successfully manufacture modified NCM622 cathode materials with a TiO2-LiF coating. The TiO2-LiF coated NCM622 preserves 79.7% capacity retention which is higher than the pure NCM622 (68.9%) at 1C after 200 cycles within 2.7-4.3 V. This material serves as the cathode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The uniform TiO2-LiF coating layer can alleviate structural degradation brought on by unfavorable side reactions with the electrolyte has been validated. TiO2-LiF coated on NCM622 cathode materials can be modified easily by one-step approach.

Research on Temperature Control System Mechanism of New Energy Lithium Battery for Automobile

At present, energy is in short supply all over the world, and the environmental pollution problem is becoming more and more serious. Therefore, in order to alleviate the double pressure of environmental pollution and energy, new energy vehicles have been invented, among which electric vehicles have been widely developed. Clean energy utilization is urgent and important, and it is becoming a trend to replace fuel vehicles with electric vehicles. Battery is an important component of electric vehicle, and its correlation with vehicle performance is rather high. Lithium-ion battery has the advantages of high energy density and low self-discharge rate, and has gradually become the preferred battery for electric vehicles. Sensors used in electric vehicles mainly include sensors for detecting battery temperature, sensors for monitoring motor temperature and temperature sensors for battery cooling system. The performance and service life of lithium-ion batteries are greatly affected by temperature. In order to control the temperature of lithium battery, this paper studies its thermal management system. This paper discusses the significance of temperature control of lithium battery in electric vehicle, and puts forward the optimization measures of operation mechanism of lithium battery thermal management system.

Regulating bifunctional flower-like NiFe2O4/graphene for green EMI shielding and lithium ion storage

• A novel flower-like composite with adjustable structure is fabricated. • The composite is a potential and adjustable green EMI shielding material. • Fast energy storage and long-cycle stability under high current density are realized. • The composite achieves EM energy conversion-storage and lithium ion energy storage. Environment and energy are the eternal hot topics in the world, multiloculated microscale materials have attracted great attention in the field of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and lithium ions storage. Herein, a novel flower-like NiFe 2 O 4 /graphene composite with adjustable structure was fabricated as EMI shielding material and anode material of lithium-ion batteries. NiFe 2 O 4 /graphene composite is a potential green EMI shielding material. The EMI shielding effectiveness ( SE ) increases with the increase of graphene content in NiFe 2 O 4 /graphene composite, and the total EMI SE of NiFe 2 O 4 /graphene with 73.6 wt.% graphene increases from 26.5 to 40.6 dB with the increase of frequency in 2–18 GHz. Furthermore, it exhibits long-life and large capacity lithium storage performance at high current density. The capacity reaches 732.79 mAh g −1 after 100 cycles at 0.1 A g −1 , recovering to more than 139% from the minimum capacity value. After 300 cycles at 0.5 A g −1 , the capacity increases to 688.5 mAh g −1 . The initial capacities at 2 and 5 A g −1 are 704.9 and 717.8 mAh g −1 , and remain 297.9 and 203.2 mAh g −1 after 1000 cycles. The distinguished EMI shielding performance and electrochemical performance are mainly ascribed to the structure regulation of NiFe 2 O 4 /graphene composite, as well as the synergistic effect of graphene and NiFe 2 O 4 . This research opens up infinite opportunities for the application of multifunctional and interdisciplinary materials.

Lithium deportment by size of a calcined spodumene ore

Calcination of spodumene is used to convert α-spodumene to more reactive β-spodumene, has been shown to greatly impact the physical characteristics of some of the components in the ore. This work investigates the energy efficiency of different grinding circuits used for upgrading the lithium content in the finer fraction of the calcined spodumene ore. The results showed that closed-circuit grinding resulted in 89% lithium recovery of the finest size fractions (− 0.6 mm) while open-circuit grinding led to 65% lithium recovery for the same grinding time. Closed-circuit grinding consumed lower energy than open-circuit grinding. The grade of the finest size fraction in the case of the open-circuit grinding was 1.7 times more than that in the case of the closed-circuit grinding. This work shows the potential of using different grinding modes to maximize energy efficiency and lithium deportment by size. However, it is suggested that open circuit grinding should be used for beneficiations of spodumene ores.

Next Generation Batteries: Status and Challenges of High Energy Rechargeable Lithium Batteries

Batteries play a critical role in modern society. The electrification of transportation and deep decarbonization of the energy infrastructure require the development and deployment of high energy, low-cost battery materials and technologies. Among the many different battery chemistries investigated, rechargeable batteries using lithium metal anode remain as one of the most feasible approaches for next generation high-performance and low-cost batteries. Here we will discuss and summarize the progresses and status of the research supported by the Battery500 Consortium. The consortium addresses both fundamental level materials and mechanistic problems and cell level integration and manufacturing challenges. The scope includes developing new electrolytes to reduce the side reactions and improve lithium metal deposition/stripping efficiency, improving cathode cycling stability and cathode utilization, understanding and controlling solid electrolyte interfacial reactions, cell design, optimization and validation. The consortium has made significant progress towards high energy cells (>350 Wh kg-1) and stable cycling life (>600 cycles). The research from the consortium also sheds new lights on the degradation and failure mechanisms of high energy lithium cells and the associated the interfacial reactions.

0D Physics-Based Modeling of High Energy Lithium Metal Batteries with Pulsing Requirements

Lithium metal batteries are promising candidates for high energy storage solutions. To further increase capacity, electrolyte components can have a secondary function of storing charge through electrochemical reactions. This work focuses on modeling high-energy lithium metal anode and metal oxide cathode material and potentially other materials with additional capacity from electrolyte components. Physics-based modeling can be utilized to explore design space and predict battery performance under various conditions. This work utilizes a zero-dimensional model with thermodynamics, kinetics, transport, and morphology changes of the solution and solid-phase species. The effect of the additional electrolyte components on the transport, capacity, and voltage behavior will be explored. Pulse power will also be discussed, and this talk may include comparisons to experimental data.

Fighting Climate Change with Synthetic Biology

Fighting Climate Change with Synthetic Biology

In-situ self-assembly robust defected graphene wrapped silicon/nanorod carbon for high-performance binder-free Li ion battery

• Utilization of evaporation-induced self-assembling method benefits to prepare the large scalable electrode film. • 3D conductive porous network provides voids for Si expansion and accelerates lithium ion transport. • The binder-free Si/NRC@DG stabilizes the capacity retention. • The Si/NRC@DG//LiFePO 4 full cell exhibits excellent electrochemical performance. High capacity silicon electrode with low cost is deemed as the promising anode material for the future Li-ion batteries with the replacement of graphite anode. In this work, robust defected graphene layers wrapped silicon/nanorod carbon (Si/NRC@DG) is synthesized through evaporation-induced self-assembly method for high lithium ion storage. Results show that the rapid conductive network formed by nanorods and defected graphene shorten the electron/lithium ion pathway to reach Si nanoparticles, enhancing the utilization. Meanwhile, the unique three-dimensional nano-architecture accommodates the large volumetric expansion of Si, immerses the electrolyte and facilitates efficient lithium ion diffusion. As a result, the so-synthesized Si/NRC@DG electrode exhibits a remarkable capacity of 669 mA h g −1 at 0.1 A g −1 after 100 cycles. Coupled with LiFePO 4 cathode, the assembled full cell is capable of offering an initial capacity of 126 mA h g −1 , providing opportunities for realizing high energy lithium ion batteries.

Cyclic Carbonate-Based, Single-Ion Conducting Polymer Electrolytes for Li-Ion Batteries: Battery Performance

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are a pathway for safe, and high energy and power lithium batteries due to their thermal stability and low vapor pressure. Although polymers can be flexible and dimensional stability, it is lithium dendritic suppression can be a challenge for any electrolyte. Conventional SPEs have both mobile cations and anions, which migrate and cause concentration polarization. The low transference number for lithium ions in an electrolyte contributes lithium concentration gradients causing concentration polarization and lithium dendrites [1,2]. Single-ion conducting SPEs have been reported to demonstrate lithium ion only conduction in the electrolyte as well as retain their high mechanical stability during cycling. However, their low ionic conductivity is due to stationary phase of the tethered anion in the polymer matrix and cation-anion complexation [3].In this study, a cyclic carbonate neutral moiety was included in the SPE to help dissociate the lithium cation from the tethered anion matrix to increase the ionic conductivity and help form the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer. The cyclic carbonate unit in the SPE is similar to the cyclic carbonate solvent in a conventional lithium ion battery and could participate in the solvation of the lithium cation in the SPE. The cyclic carbonate monomer in the SPE can participate in SEI-forming electrochemical reactions on the electrode surface and suppress undesirable side reactions and lithium dendritic growth. Satisfactory level of rate and cycling performance was achieved with the novel neutral monomers in the single-ion conducting SPEs.[1] H. Zhang, C. Li, M. Piszcz, E. Coya, T. Rojo, L.M. Rodriguez-Martinez, M. Armand, Z. Zhou, Chem. Soc. Rev. 2017, 46, 797-815.[2] F. Ahmed, I. Choi, M.M. Rahman, H. Jang, T. Ryu, S. Yoon, L. Jin, Y. Jin, W. Kim, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2019, 11, 34930-34938.[3] D.-M. Shin, J.E. Bachman, M.K. Taylor, J. Kamcev, J.G. Park, M.E. Ziebel, E. Velasquez, N.N. Jarenwattananon, G.K. Sethi, Y. Cui, J.R. Long, Adv. Mater. 2020, 32, 1905771.

Improving Fundamental Understanding of Si-Based Anodes Using Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) and Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR) Binder for High Energy Lithium Ion Battery Applications

With increasing demand of high energy density lithium ion batteries, silicon (Si) based anodes are an obvious substitute of graphite based systems due to their high capacity. However, large volume changes of Si during lithiation and delithiation processes causes pulverization of silicon particles. The resulting reduction in electrical continuity and solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) growth within the anode leads to a fast depletion of lithium reservoirs and an accelerates battery failure. High energy lithium ion battery applications such as electrical vehicles and electronic devices require high capacity retention over extended cycling, so improving performance of Si-based anodes is a critical need for many applications.Commonly, a combination of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) is used as a binder for waterborne Si anode slurries. In these systems, carboxyl (-COOH) groups on CMC form chemical bonding with hydroxyl (-OH) groups on Si active material surface and SBR addition provides enhanced flexibility in the anode layer. Several reports on electrode integrity improvement through adhesion promoters, increased crosslinking, different binding groups, etc. are available in the literature. Delving deeper into the weak mechanical integrity of Si based anodes, and understanding the parameters influencing the fabrication process and subsequent properties, is important. This presentation will focus on several variations in Si based anode slurries and electrodes using CMC-SBR binders. Physical, mechanical, and electrochemical properties are extensively studied as a function of these parameters and will be discussed.

Enabling high energy lithium metal batteries via single-crystal Ni-rich cathode material co-doping strategy

High-capacity Ni-rich layered oxides are promising cathode materials for secondary lithium-based battery systems. However, their structural instability detrimentally affects the battery performance during cell cycling. Here, we report an Al/Zr co-doped single-crystalline LiNi0.88Co0.09Mn0.03O2 (SNCM) cathode material to circumvent the instability issue. We found that soluble Al ions are adequately incorporated in the SNCM lattice while the less soluble Zr ions are prone to aggregate in the outer SNCM surface layer. The synergistic effect of Al/Zr co-doping in SNCM lattice improve the Li-ion mobility, relief the internal strain, and suppress the Li/Ni cation mixing upon cycling at high cut-off voltage. These features improve the cathode rate capability and structural stabilization during prolonged cell cycling. In particular, the Zr-rich surface enables the formation of stable cathode-electrolyte interphase, which prevent SNCM from unwanted reactions with the non-aqueous fluorinated liquid electrolyte solution and avoid Ni dissolution. To prove the practical application of the Al/Zr co-doped SNCM, we assembled a 10.8 Ah pouch cell (using a 100 μm thick Li metal anode) capable of delivering initial specific energy of 504.5 Wh kg−1 at 0.1 C and 25 °C.