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DOE OSTI2024

Defect Chemistry in High‐Voltage Cathode Materials for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

High-voltage cathodes (HVCs) have emerged as a paramount role for the next-generation high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the pursuit of HVCs comes with inherent challenges related to defective structures, which significantly impact the electrochemical performance of LIBs. The current obstacle lies in the lack of a comprehensive understanding of defects and their precise effects. This perspective aims to provide insights into defect chemistry for governing HVCs. The classifications, formation mechanisms, and evolution of defects are outlined to explore the intricate relationship between defects and electrochemical behavior. The pressing need for cutting-edge characterization techniques that comprehensively investigate defects across various temporal and spatial scales is emphasized. Building on these fundamental understandings, engineering strategies such as composition tailoring, morphology design, interface modification, and structural control to mitigate or utilize defects are thoroughly discussed for enhanced HVCs performance. Furthermore, these insights are expected to provide vital guidelines for developing high-performance HVCs for next-generation high-energy lithium-ion batteries.

cross-scale characterization↗

DOE OSTI2024

Demystifying In Situ Pyrolysis Chemistry for High-Performance Polyanionic Cathodes in Sodium-Ion Batteries

In this article, the carbon coating strategy has emerged as an indispensable approach to improve the conductivity of polyanionic cathodes. However, owing to the complex reaction process between precursors of carbon and cathode, establishing a unified screening principle for carbonaceous precursors remains a technical challenge. Herein, we reveal that carbonaceous precursor pyrolysis chemistry undeniably influences the formation process and performance of Na 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 (NVP) cathodes from in situ insights. By investigating three types of carbonaceous precursors, it is found that O/H-containing functional groups can provide more bonding sites for cathode precursors and generate a reducing atmosphere by pyrolysis, which is beneficial to the formation of polyanionic materials and a uniform carbon coating layer. Conversely, excessive pyrolysis of functional groups leads to a significant amount of gas, which is detrimental to the compactness of the carbon layer. Furthermore, the substantial presence of residual heteroatoms diminishes graphitization. In this case, it is demonstrated that carbon dots (CDs) precursors with suitable functional groups can comprehensively enhance the Na+ migration rate, reversibility, and interface stability of the cathode material. As a result, the NVP/CDs cathode displays outstanding capacity retention, maintaining 92% after 10,000 cycles at a high rate of 50 C. Altogether, these findings provide a valuable benchmark for carbon source selection for polyanionic cathodes.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗