Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Dudney, Nancy J

Publications and source records attributed to Dudney, Nancy J.

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

Sulfur-carbon nanocomposites and their application as cathode materials in lithium-sulfur batteries

The invention is directed in a first aspect to a sulfur-carbon composite material comprising: (i) a bimodal porous carbon component containing therein a first mode of pores which are mesopores, and a second mode of pores which are micropores; and (ii) elemental sulfur contained in at least a portion of said micropores. The invention is also directed to the aforesaid sulfur-carbon composite as a layer on a current collector material; a lithium ion battery containing the sulfur-carbon composite in a cathode therein; as well as a method for preparing the sulfur-composite material.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Lithium sulfide compositions for battery electrolyte and battery electrode coatings

Method of forming lithium-containing electrolytes are provided using wet chemical synthesis. In some examples, the lithium containing electrolytes are composed of .beta.-Li.sub.3PS.sub.4 or Li.sub.4P.sub.2S.sub.7. The solid electrolyte may be a core shell material. In one embodiment, the core shell material includes a core of lithium sulfide (Li.sub.2S), a first shell of .beta.-Li.sub.3PS.sub.4 or Li.sub.4P.sub.2S.sub.7, and a second shell including one of .beta.-Li.sub.3PS.sub.4 or Li.sub.4P.sub.2S.sub.7 and carbon. The lithium containing electrolytes may be incorporated into wet cell batteries or solid state batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Real space mapping of ionic diffusion and electrochemical activity in energy storage and conversion materials

A method and system for probing mobile ion diffusivity and electrochemical reactivity on a nanometer length scale of a free electrochemically active surface includes a control module that biases the surface of the material. An electrical excitation signal is applied to the material and induces the movement of mobile ions. An SPM probe in contact with the surface of the material detects the displacement of mobile ions at the surface of the material. A detector measures an electromechanical strain response at the surface of the material based on the movement and reactions of the mobile ions. The use of an SPM tip to detect local deformations allows highly reproducible measurements in an ambient environment without visible changes in surface structure. The measurements illustrate effective spatial resolution comparable with defect spacing and well below characteristic grain sizes of the material.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Pushing the Theoretical Limit of Li-CFx Batteries: A Tale of Bi-functional Electrolyte

In a typical battery, electrodes deliver capacities less or equal the theoretical maxima of the electrode materials.1 The inert electrolyte functions solely as the ionic conductor without contribution to the cell capacity because of its distinct mono-function in the concept of conventional batteries. Here we demonstrate that the most energy-dense Li-CFx battery2 delivers a capacity exceeding the theoretical maximum of CFx with a solid electrolyte of Li3PS4 (LPS) that has dual functions: as the inert electrolyte at the anode and the active component at the cathode. Such a bi-functional electrolyte reconciles both inert and active characteristics through a synergistic discharge mechanism of CFx and LPS. Li3PS4 is known as an inactive solid electrolyte with a broad electrochemical window over 5 V.3 The synergy at the cathode is through LiF, the discharge product of CFx, which activates the electrochemical discharge of LPS at a close electrochemical potential of CFx. Therefore, the solid-state Li-CFx batteries output 126.6% energy beyond their theoretic limits without compromising the stability of the cell voltage. The extra energy comes from the electrochemical discharge of LPS, the inert electrolyte. This bi-functional electrolyte revolutionizes the concept of conventional batteries and opens a new avenue for the design of batteries with an unprecedentedly high energy density.

batteries↗
DOE OSTI2014

Air-Stable, High-Conduction Solid Electrolytes of Arsenic-Substituted Li4SnS4

Lithium-ion-conducting solid electrolytes show promise for enabling high-energy secondary battery chemistries and solving safety issues associated with conventional lithium batteries. Achieving the combination of high ionic conductivity and outstanding chemical stability in solid electrolytes is a grand challenge for the synthesis of solid electrolytes. Herein we report the design of aliovalent substitution of Li4SnS4 to achieve high conduction and excellent air stability based on the hard and soft acids and bases theory. The composition of Li3.833Sn0.833As 0.166S4 has a high ionic conductivity of 1.39 mS/cm 1 at 25 C. Considering the high Li+ transference number, this phase conducts Li+ as well as carbonate-based liquid electrolytes. This research also addresses the compatibility of the sulfide-based solid electrolytes through chemical passivation.

energy storage↗
DOE OSTI2014

Fabrication and characterization of high energy density lithium-rich nickel manganese cobalt oxide cathode thin films

This paper reports a method to prepare Li-rich NMC (Li1.2Mn0.55Ni0.15Co0.1O2) thin film cathodes for Li-ion batteries using magnetron sputtering and post-annealing in O2. The use of thin films with no binder and conductive additives enables to study in detail the surface reaction chemistry upon cycling as well as the microstructural changes in the bulk. We show that it is essential to control the deposition pressure to obtain the expected layered(R-3m)-layered(C2/m) structure, thus providing large reversible capacities up to 270 mAh g-1 and voltage profiles close to those expected. This is substantiated by TEM/SAED results showing that the films consist of a layered structure with trigonal symmetry in which Li/TM ordering is achieved. The study of various XPS core levels determines that the surface is comprised of Mn4+, Co3+ and Ni2+ cations inside an O2- framework. The losses mechanisms are studied during long cycling. After 184 cycles, the microstructure does not reveal the presence of Li/TM ordering, which supports that Li2MnO3 conversion is irreversible. In addition, we characterize that the surface chemistry evolves significantly upon cycling. The surface of cycled discharged electrodes is mostly made of inorganic species (LiF, Lix POy Fz , LixPFy), along with small amounts of organic species with C-O and O-C=O groups such as PEO, LiOR and LiCO2R. Moreover, the results support that Ni and Co migrate into the bulk whereas Mn is enriched at the surface. In the case of Mn, the reduction of Mn4+ into Mn3+ is clearly evidenced, as expected from the activation of Li2MnO3 domains.

Baggetto, Loic↗
DOE OSTI2014

Artificial Solid Electrolyte Interphase to Address the Electrochemical Degradation of Silicon Electrodes

Electrochemical degradation on Si anodes prevents them from being successfully used in lithium-ion full cells. Unlike the case of graphite anodes, natural solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) films generated from carbonate electrolyte do not self-passivate on Si and causes continuous electrolyte decomposition. In this work we aim at solving the issue of electrochemical degradation by fabricating artificial SEI films using a solid electrolyte material, lithium phosphor oxynitride (Lipon), that conducts Li ions and blocks electrons. For Si anodes coated with Lipon of 50 nm or thicker, significant effect is observed in suppressing the electrolyte decomposition, while Lipon of thinner than 40 nm has little effect. Ionic and electronic conductivity measurement reveals that the artificial SEI is effective when it is a pure ionic conductor, and the electrolyte decomposition is not suppressed when the artificial SEI is a mixed electronic-ionic conductor. The critical thickness for this transition in conducting behavior is found to be 40~50 nm. This work provides guidance for designing artificial SEI for high capacity lithium-ion battery electrodes using solid electrolyte materials.

anodes↗
DOE OSTI2014

The possibility of forming a sacrificial anode coating for Mg

Mg is the most active engineering metal, and is often used as a sacrificial anode/coating to protect other engineering metals from corrosion attack. So far no sacrificial anode coating has been developed or considered for Mg. This study explores the possibility of forming a sacrificial coating for Mg. A lithiated carbon coating and a metaphosphated coating are applied on the Mg surface, respectively, and their open-circuit-potentials are measured in saturated Mg(OH)2 solution. They exhibit more negative potentials than bare Mg. SEM reveals that the metaphosphated coating offers more effective and uniform protection for Mg than the lithiated carbon coating. These preliminary results indicate that development of a sacrificial anode coating for Mg is indeed possible.

Dudney, Nancy J↗
DOE OSTI2013

Lithium sulfide compositions for battery electrolyte and battery electrode coatings

Methods of forming lithium-containing electrolytes are provided using wet chemical synthesis. In some examples, the lithium containing electroytes are composed of .beta.-Li.sub.3PS.sub.4 or Li.sub.4P.sub.2S.sub.7. The solid electrolyte may be a core shell material. In one embodiment, the core shell material includes a core of lithium sulfide (Li.sub.2S), a first shell of .beta.-Li.sub.3PS.sub.4 or Li.sub.4P.sub.2S.sub.7, and a second shell including one or .beta.-Li.sub.3PS.sub.4 or Li.sub.4P.sub.2S.sub.7 and carbon. The lithium containing electrolytes may be incorporated into wet cell batteries or solid state batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗