“Oxygen capture” strategy extends lithium-ion battery life
by Noriko Nishi
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) December 27, 2024
A POSTECH research team led by Professor Ji-Hyun Hong and Dr. Kook-Hyun Lim from the Department of Battery Engineering has announced an important method to extend the durability of lithium-rich layered oxide (LLO) materials, which are promising as next-generation cathodes. generation of lithium-ion batteries (LIB). Their findings, published in the journal Energy and Environmental Science, represent a major step forward in the development of high-energy-density, sustainable battery technology.
LLO materials increase energy density by 20% over traditional nickel-based cathodes by replacing nickel and cobalt with lithium and manganese. This makes them a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS). However, repeated charge-discharge cycles reduce capacity and voltage, which has hindered widespread adoption.
To address these challenges, POSTECH researchers focused on the destabilizing effects of oxygen release during battery operation. By improving the chemical stability of the cathode-electrolyte interface, we minimized the release of oxygen, which is the main cause of structural instability. By enhancing the electrolyte composition, we achieved energy retention of 84.3% after 700 cycles, compared to only 37.1% after 300 cycles with the conventional electrolyte.
The research team also identified that changes in the structural surface of LLO are important for its stability and lifetime. Targeting these changes reduced harmful reactions such as electrolyte decomposition, further improving battery performance.
“We used synchrotron radiation to analyze the chemical and structural differences between the surface of the cathode and its interior,” said Professor Ji-hyun Hong. “We discovered that surface stability is essential to maintaining the material’s structural integrity and performance. This work opens new avenues for developing advanced cathode materials.”
This study highlights the critical importance of optimizing both electrolyte composition and cathode surface structure to overcome the limitations of LLO materials and pave the way to longer-lasting, high-performance lithium-ion batteries. I’m doing it.
Research report: Attenuation of decoupling capacity and voltage attenuation of Li-rich Mn-rich cathodes by tuning the surface reconstruction path
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