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Lee SH, Sun Y, Grant PS. Multi-layering of carbon conductivity enhancers for boosting rapid recharging performance of high mass loading lithium ion battery electrodes. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 655:518-526. [PMID: 37952455 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.10.153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
The ability of lithium ion batteries (LIBs) to provide rapid charging characteristics while retaining a substantial energy storage capacity is of paramount significance for their applicability in portable smart electronic devices. In this research, an effective approach to enhance re-charging rates of LIB cells was developed through incorporating carbon nanotube (CNT) conductivity boosters strategically into Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) electrodes. A layer-by-layer spray coating was exploited to manufacture multi-layer architectures that comprise sequential, discrete electrode layers of CNT-rich LTO and CNT-free LTO, aiming at promoting charge transfer kinetics of high mass loading electrodes. Initially, the optimal proportion of a CNT-rich layer and its best location within multi-layer electrode structures were investigated in half-cell configurations. The best performing multi-layer was then paired with a spray-coated LiFePO4 (LFP) positive electrode in full-cell LIBs, offering attractive power performance of ∼ 1500 W/kg that outperformed conventional LTO || LFP combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Ho Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, South Korea.
| | - Yige Sun
- Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PH, UK
| | - Patrick S Grant
- Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PH, UK
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Ho Lee S, Grant PS. Spray fabrication of additive-free electrodes for advanced Lithium-Ion storage technologies. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 651:742-749. [PMID: 37567118 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.07.211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Polymer binders and carbon conductivity enhancers are inevitably required to make improvements in structural durability and electrochemical performance of lithium-ion battery (LIB) electrodes, although these additive constituents incur weight and volume penalties on the overall battery capacity. Here, additive-free electrode architectures were successfully fabricated over 20 × 20 cm2 electrode areas using a layer-by-layer spray coating approach, with the ultimate goal to boost gravimetric/volumetric electrode capacity and to reduce the total cost of LIB cells. Initially, the binder fraction of spray-coated Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) electrodes was reduced progressively, from 40 to 0 wt%. The electrochemical behavior of electrodes was then re-optimized as a proportion of conductivity enhancers within the binder-free electrode decreased to zero. Further, the otherwise identical spray coating process was applied to manufacture LiFePO4 (LFP) positive electrodes, leading to all-additive-free full-cell LIB configurations with attractive energy density of ∼310 Wh/kg and power performance of ∼1500 W/kg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Ho Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, South Korea.
| | - Patrick S Grant
- Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PH, UK
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Evans JD, Sun Y, Grant PS. Sequential Deposition of Integrated Cathode-Inorganic Separator-Anode Multilayers for High Performance Li-Ion Batteries. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:34538-34551. [PMID: 35867807 PMCID: PMC9353779 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c03828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A porous, spray-deposited Al2O3-based separator was developed to enable the direct deposition of an electrode/separator/electrode Li-ion battery full cell assembly in a single operation. The optimized sprayed separator consisted of 50 nm Al2O3 particles, 1 wt % poly(acrylic acid), and 5 wt % styrene-butadiene rubber, deposited from an 80:20 vol % suspension of water and isopropanol. Separators between 5 and 22 μm thick had consistent and similar porosity of ∼58%, excellent wettability, thermal stability to at least 180 °C, adequate electrochemical stability and high effective ionic conductivity of ∼1 mS cm-1 at room temperature in an EC/DMC electrolyte, roughly double that of a conventional polypropylene separator. A sequentially deposited three-layer LiFePO4/Al2O3/Li4Ti5O12 full cell, the first of its kind, showed similar rate performance to an identical cell with a conventional polypropylene separator, with a capacity of ∼50 mAh g-1 at 30 C. However, after cycling at 2 C for 400 cycles, Al2O3 separator full cells retained 96.3% capacity, significantly more than conventional full cells with a capacity of 79.2% remaining.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack D. Evans
- Department
of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PU, U.K.
- The
Faraday Institution, Quad One, Becquerel Avenue, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RA, U.K.
| | - Yige Sun
- Department
of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PU, U.K.
- The
Faraday Institution, Quad One, Becquerel Avenue, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RA, U.K.
| | - Patrick S. Grant
- Department
of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PU, U.K.
- The
Faraday Institution, Quad One, Becquerel Avenue, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RA, U.K.
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Boyce AM, Cumming DJ, Huang C, Zankowski SP, Grant PS, Brett DJL, Shearing PR. Design of Scalable, Next-Generation Thick Electrodes: Opportunities and Challenges. ACS NANO 2021; 15:18624-18632. [PMID: 34870983 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c09687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Lithium-ion battery electrodes are on course to benefit from current research in structure re-engineering to allow for the implementation of thicker electrodes. Increasing the thickness of a battery electrode enables significant improvements in gravimetric energy density while simultaneously reducing manufacturing costs. Both metrics are critical if the transition to sustainable transport systems is to be fully realized commercially. However, significant barriers exist that prevent the use of such microstructures: performance issues, manufacturing challenges, and scalability all remain open areas of research. In this Perspective, we discuss the challenges in adapting current manufacturing processes for thick electrodes and the opportunities that pore engineering presents in order to design thicker and better electrodes while simultaneously considering long-term performance and scalability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam M Boyce
- Electrochemical Innovation Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, United Kingdom
- The Faraday Institution, Quad One, Becquerel Avenue, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RA, United Kingdom
| | - Denis J Cumming
- The Faraday Institution, Quad One, Becquerel Avenue, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RA, United Kingdom
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom
| | - Chun Huang
- The Faraday Institution, Quad One, Becquerel Avenue, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RA, United Kingdom
- Department of Engineering, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, United Kingdom
| | - Stanislaw P Zankowski
- The Faraday Institution, Quad One, Becquerel Avenue, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RA, United Kingdom
- Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PH, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick S Grant
- The Faraday Institution, Quad One, Becquerel Avenue, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RA, United Kingdom
- Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PH, United Kingdom
| | - Dan J L Brett
- Electrochemical Innovation Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, United Kingdom
- The Faraday Institution, Quad One, Becquerel Avenue, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RA, United Kingdom
| | - Paul R Shearing
- Electrochemical Innovation Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, United Kingdom
- The Faraday Institution, Quad One, Becquerel Avenue, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RA, United Kingdom
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Abstract
A sustainable shift from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) is essential to achieve a considerable reduction in emissions. The production of Li-ion batteries (LIBs) used in EVs is an energy-intensive and costly process. It can also lead to significant embedded emissions depending on the source of energy used. In fact, about 39% of the energy consumption in LIB production is associated with drying processes, where the electrode drying step accounts for about a half. Despite the enormous energy consumption and costs originating from drying processes, they are seldomly researched in the battery industry. Establishing knowledge within the LIB industry regarding state-of-the-art drying techniques and solvent evaporation mechanisms is vital for optimising process conditions, detecting alternative solvent systems, and discovering novel techniques. This review aims to give a summary of the state-of-the-art LIB processing techniques. An in-depth understanding of the influential factors for each manufacturing step of LIBs is then established, emphasising the electrode structure and electrochemical performance. Special attention is dedicated to the convection drying step in conventional water and N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP)-based electrode manufacturing. Solvent omission in dry electrode processing substantially lowers the energy demand and allows for a thick, mechanically stable electrode coating. Small changes in the electrode manufacturing route may have an immense impact on the final battery performance. Electrodes used for research and development often have a different production route and techniques compared to those processed in industry. The scalability issues related to the comparison across scales are discussed and further emphasised when the industry moves towards the next-generation techniques. Finally, the critical aspects of the innovations and industrial modifications that aim to overcome the main challenges are presented.
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Kwak JH, Hyun JC, Moon SB, Jin HJ, Lim HD, Yun YS. Waste Sawdust-Derived Nanoporous Carbon as a Positive Electrode for Lithium-Ion Storage. Macromol Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13233-020-8169-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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