Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “lithium batteries”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Quantitative insights for diagnosing performance bottlenecks in lithium–sulfur batteries

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries hold significant promise for electric vehicles and aviation due to their high energy density and cost-effectiveness. However, understanding the root causes of performance degradation remains a formidable challenge, as the interplay of multiple factors obscures key failure mechanisms. A major limitation has been the inability to quantify soluble sulfur species within practical detection limits accurately and to correlate electrochemical processes with associated physical inventory changes. Here, we introduce the high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet spectroscopy and gas chromatography sequential characterization (HUGS) toolkit, capable of precisely quantifying seven distinct sulfur and polysulfide species at concentrations as low as 40 ppb. HUGS has been successfully applied to practical coin and pouch cells without requiring cell modification. Furthermore, our self-developed software, Dr HUGS, enhanced the data analysis speed by over 30 times, enabling multi-source data integration and delivering comprehensive analysis results within minutes. Using HUGS, we identify significant capacity losses from inactive lithium and sulfur during initial cycles and sulfide-rich solid–electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation on the anode during later cycles. Notably, our findings reveal that soluble polysulfides have minimal contributions to capacity loss, challenging long-standing assumptions. Moreover, HUGS demonstrates that constant-pressure setups in Li–S pouch cells improve compositional uniformity compared to constant-gap configurations. For sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (SPAN) cathodes, unique issues such as non-sulfide SEI formation and lithium pulverization are observed, which can be mitigated through localized high-concentration electrolytes to enhance lithium inventory retention. By enabling precise quantification of critical inventory components, HUGS provides transformative insights into failure mechanisms across various electrolytes and cathode chemistries, guiding rational design strategies for next-generation energy storage systems.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2021

A Nickel-Decorated Carbon Flower/Sulfur Cathode for Lean-Electrolyte Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries involve a reversible conversion reaction between sulfur and lithium sulfide (Li 2 S) via a series of soluble lithium polysulfide intermediates (LiPSs), enabling a high theoretical specific capacity of 1675 mAh g –1 . However, this process exhibits large polarization and low sulfur utilization and suffers critical capacity fade. The primary approach to tackle the problem has so far been to infiltrate sulfur into nanostructured carbon. Furthermore, most studies using porous carbon as host materials have tested with high electrolyte to sulfur ratios (E/S) (generally > 15 µL mg –1 ) that compromise the cell-level energy density. Here, a flower-shaped porous carbon structure with nickel nanoparticles that can address the problems discussed above is designed. First, the 3D flower-shaped carbon structure enables short ionic transport lengths. Second, the small pore diameters <10 nm and high specific surface areas > 3300 m 2 g –1 with sufficient pore volume are ideal for charging performance for low E/S ratios. Finally, Ni nanoparticles are employed onto the flower-shaped network to improve the reaction kinetics. Collectively, it is successfully demonstrated that the batteries with a high mass loading of 5 mg cm –2 and a 5 µL mg –1 E/S ratio can retain cycle retention of 70% after 150 cycles.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2020

A new halospinel superionic conductor for high-voltage all solid state lithium batteries

We report a new Li-superionic chloride, Li 2 Sc 2/3 Cl 4 , that crystallizes in a disordered spinel structure, and exhibits an ionic conductivity of 1.5 mS cm –1 with a low activation energy barrier for Li + ion diffusion of 0.34 eV. Here, this material is the first spinel-type superionic halide. Structural elucidation via powder neutron diffraction reveals a significantly disordered Li + -ion distribution over available tetrahedral and octahedral sites within the lattice, forming an infinitely 3D connected Li + ion diffusion pathway comprised of face-sharing octahedra and tetrahedra. Due to the high oxidative stability of Li 2 Sc 2/3 Cl 4 , all solid state lithium batteries employing Li 2 Sc 2/3 Cl 4 and high voltage cathodes (LiCoO 2 , LiNi 0.6 Mn 0.2 Co 0.2 O 2 or high-Ni LiNi 0.85 Mn 0.1 Co 0.05 O 2 ) – without any coating – exhibit excellent electrochemical performance up to 4.6 V in terms of capacity retention and cycle life.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Unveiling the critical role of interfacial ionic conductivity in all-solid-state lithium batteries

Advancement of all-solid-state lithium-ion (Li + ) batteries (ASSLIBs) has been hindered by the large interfacial resistance mainly originating from interfacial reactions between oxide cathodes and solid-state sulfide electrolytes (SEs). To suppress the interfacial reactions, an interfacial coating layer between cathodes and SEs is indispensable. However, the kinetics of interfacial Li + transport across the coating layer has not been well understood yet. Herein, we tune the interfacial ionic conductivity of the coating layer LiNb 0.5 Ta 0.5 O 3 (LNTO) by manipulating post-annealing temperature. It is found that the interfacial ionic conductivity determines interfacial Li + transport kinetics and enhancing the interfacial ionic conductivity can significantly boost the electrochemical performance of SE-based ASSLIBs. A representative cathode LiNi 0.5 Mn 0.3 Co 0.2 O 2 coated by LNTO with the highest interfacial ionic conductivity exhibits a high initial capacity of 152 mAh.g -1 at 0.1 C and 107.5 mAh.g -1 at 1C. This work highlights the importance of increasing interfacial ionic conductivity for high-performance SE-based ASSLIBs.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Electrolyte Development for Fast-Charging High-Energy-Density Lithium Batteries (CRADA 482)

The high energy-density lithium (Li)-ion battery (LIB) and Li metal battery (LMB) technologies have been developed rapidly for the widespread electrification of automotive transportation sector. The projected fast growing markets call for substantial improvement of battery performance and manufacturing cost reduction. This project is to optimize and maturate previously-demonstrated novel electrolytes for both fast-charging LIBs with Gr anodes and high-energy-density LMBs to achieve long-term cycling stability at room temperature for applications in electric vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and consumer electronics.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2020

A review of composite solid-state electrolytes for lithium batteries: fundamentals, key materials and advanced structures

All-solid-state lithium ion batteries (ASSLBs) are considered next-generation devices for energy storage due to their advantages in safety and potentially high energy density. As the key component in ASSLBs, solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) with non-flammability and good adaptability to lithium metal anodes have attracted extensive attention in recent years. Among the current SSEs, composite solid-state electrolytes (CSSEs) with multiple phases have greater flexibility to customize and combine the advantages of single-phase electrolytes, which have been widely investigated recently and regarded as promising candidates for commercial ASSLBs. Based on existing investigations, herein, we present a comprehensive overview of the recent developments in CSSEs. Initially, we introduce the historical development from solid-state ionic conductors to CSSEs, and then summarize the fundamentals including mechanisms of lithium ion transport, key evaluation parameters, design principles, and key materials. Finally, four main types of advanced structures for CSSEs are classified and highlighted according to the recent progress. Moreover, advanced characterization and computational simulation techniques including machine learning are reviewed for the first time, and the main challenges and perspectives of CSSEs are also provided for their future development.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Ni Anchored to Hydrogen-Substituted Graphdiyne for Lithium Sulfide Cathodes in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are promising candidates for next-generation energy storage systems due to their high theoretical energy density and the low cost of sulfur. However, slow conversion kinetics between the insulating S and lithium sulfide (Li 2 S) remains as a technical challenge. In this work, we report a catalyst featuring nickel (Ni) single atoms and clusters anchored to a porous hydrogen-substituted graphdiyne support (termed Ni@HGDY), which is incorporated in Li 2 S cathodes. The rapidly synthesized catalyst was found to enhance ionic and electronic conductivity, decrease the reaction overpotential, and promote more complete conversion between Li 2 S and sulfur. The addition of Ni@HGDY to commercial Li 2 S powder enabled a capacity of over 516 mAh g Li 2 S –1 at 1 C for over 125 cycles, whereas the control Li 2 S cathode managed to maintain just over 200 mAh g Li 2 S –1 . In conclusion, these findings highlight the efficacy of Ni as a metal catalyst and demonstrate the promise of HGDY in energy storage devices.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Electrolytes for high-voltage lithium batteries

Here, in the aim of achieving higher energy density in lithium ion batteries (LIBs), both industry and academia show great interests in developing high-voltage LIBs (>4.3 V). However, increasing the charge cut-off voltage of the commercial LIBs causes severe degradations of both the positive electrode materials and the conventional LiPF 6 -oragnocarbonate electrolytes. Consequently, LIBs using conventional LiPF 6 -organocarbonate electrolytes suffer from a short cycle life when operated at higher charge cut-off voltages. In this review, the aging mechanisms associated with high-voltage LIBs will be analyzed and the countermeasures from the electrolyte design will be discussed.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2022

High-Energy Solid-State Lithium Batteries with Organic Cathode Materials (Final Report)

Organic materials made from abundant elements via low-energy processes are emerging as sustainable and low-cost alternatives to transition metal oxides as the electrode materials for high- energy batteries in the wake of supply chain and environmental issues associated with critical materials during the transition to clean energy. Organic insertion materials (OIMs) offer material- level energy comparable to transition metal oxides, but they have durability difficulties owing to dissolving in common liquid electrolytes. Combining ceramic-based solid electrolytes with organic electrode materials is one intriguing solution. The goal of this project is to design and synthesize high-energy OIMs, to understand the chemical dynamics and mechanical properties at the OIM-sulfide interface during electrochemical cycling, and to develop methods for constructing the optimum cathode microstructure, which will lead to improved electrochemical performance. The project team has accomplished the following over the last four years: (a) demonstrating that the mechanical softness of organic electrode materials is uniquely beneficial in suppressing crack formation at the electrode-electrolyte interface during cell operation; (b) understanding the interaction between cathode microstructure and the mechanical properties of individual components; and (c) establishing predictive control of cathode microstructure by tuning the mechanical properties of solid electrolytes and OIMs; (d) determining the chemical combability of sulfide electrolyte with high-energy OIMs and finally (f) laying out a road map toward a specific energy of 500 Wh kg -1 for solid-state lithium batteries. 14 publications resulted from this project.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Modulating Li + and Polysulfide Solvation with Low-Density Moderately Solvating Electrolytes for Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries show great promise as the next-generation rechargeable batteries, yet they still suffer from polysulfide shuttling and interphasial instability. Electrolyte, as the medium for ion transport and sulfur conversion, plays a crucial role in overcoming these challenges. Here, we introduce a moderately solvating electrolyte (MSE) based on low-density, low-viscosity, and nonfluorinated ether co-solvents that balances polysulfide suppression, Li metal stabilization, and redox kinetics. Through multiple solvent–solvent and solvent-ion interactions, the optimized MSE weakens Li + -solvent pairing while strengthening cation–anion interactions, thereby lowering the desolvation barrier and promoting the formation of a favorable solid–electrolyte interphase (SEI). Meanwhile, MSE limits the polysulfide dissolution but improves the accessibility of active material through better wettability and tailored solvation environment, leading to an altered sulfur deposition mechanism with β – α conversion. This approach enables a stable cycling of high-mass loading Li–S cells (> 3.5 mg cm -2 ) at both room temperature and 45 °C (where shuttling and side reactions are severer), and demonstrates a pouch cell with lean electrolyte content (4.5 µL mg s -1 ). This work highlights a practical route to develop high-performance electrolyte for Li–S cells and provides mechanistic insights into their operation.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Electrolytes with moderate lithium polysulfide solubility for high-performance long-calendar-life lithium–sulfur batteries

Lithium–sulfur (Li-S) batteries with high energy density and low cost are promising for next-generation energy storage. However, their cycling stability is plagued by the high solubility of lithium polysulfide (LiPS) intermediates, causing fast capacity decay and severe self-discharge. Exploring electrolytes with low LiPS solubility has shown promising results toward addressing these challenges. However, here, we report that electrolytes with moderate LiPS solubility are more effective for simultaneously limiting the shuttling effect and achieving good Li-S reaction kinetics. We explored a range of solubility from 37 to 1,100 mM (based on S atom, [S]) and found that a moderate solubility from 50 to 200 mM [S] performed the best. Using a series of electrolyte solvents with various degrees of fluorination, we formulated the S ingle- S olvent, S ingle- S alt, S tandard S alt concentration with M oderate L i PSs so l ubility E lectrolytes (termed S 6 MILE ) for Li-S batteries. Among the designed electrolytes, Li-S cells using fluorinated-1,2-diethoxyethane S 6 MILE (F4DEE-S 6 MILE) showed the highest capacity of 1,160 mAh g −1 at 0.05 C at room temperature. At 60 °C, fluorinated-1,4-dimethoxybutane S 6 MILE (F4DMB-S 6 MILE) gave the highest capacity of 1,526 mAh g −1 at 0.05 C and an average CE of 99.89% for 150 cycles at 0.2 C under lean electrolyte conditions. This is a fivefold increase in cycle life compared with other conventional ether-based electrolytes. Moreover, we observed a long calendar aging life, with a capacity increase/recovery of 4.3% after resting for 30 d using F4DMB-S 6 MILE. Furthermore, the correlation between LiPS solubility, degree of fluorination of the electrolyte solvent, and battery performance was systematically investigated.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Layered-spinel electrodes for lithium batteries

An electrode for a lithium-ion cell comprising a ‘layered-spinel’ composite oxide material is disclosed. The ‘layered-spinel’ can be a material of formula xLiMO2.(1−x)LiyM′zO4, wherein 0 < x < 1; LiMO2 is a lithium metal oxide having a layered structure in which M comprises one or more transition metals and optionally lithium, and has a combined average oxidation state of +3; and LiyM′zO4 is a lithium metal oxide having a spinel structure, 1≤y≤1.33, 1.66≤z≤2, and M′ comprises one or more transition metals, and has a combined average metal oxidation state in the range of about +3.5 to about +4.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
NASA NTRS2008

Lithium Battery Power Delivers Electric Vehicles to Market

Hybrid Technologies Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of lithium-ion battery electric vehicles, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, and with research and manufacturing facilities in Mooresville, North Carolina, entered into a Space Act Agreement with Kennedy Space Center to determine the utility of lithium-powered fleet vehicles. NASA contributed engineering expertise for the car's advanced battery management system and tested a fleet of zero-emission vehicles on the Kennedy campus. Hybrid Technologies now offers a series of purpose-built lithium electric vehicles dubbed the LiV series, aimed at the urban and commuter environments.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2022

Editors’ Choice—Methods—Pressure Control Apparatus for Lithium Metal Batteries

Lithium (Li) metal anodes are essential for developing next-generation high-energy-density batteries. However, Li dendrite/whisker formation caused short-circuiting issue and short cycle life have prevented lithium metal from being viably used in rechargeable batteries. Numerous works have been done to study how to regulate the Li growth in electrochemical cycling by using external stacking forces. While it is widely agreed that stack pressure positively affects the lithium plating/stripping process, the optimized pressure range provided by different works varies greatly because of the difference in the pressure control setup. In this work, a pressure control apparatus is designed for Li metal batteries with liquid and solid-state electrolytes (SSE). With considerations of minimizing cell to cell variation, a reusable split cell and pressure load cell are made for testing electrochemical cells with high precision pressure control. The capability of the designed setup is demonstrated by studying the pressure effect on the Li plating/stripping process.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Interface morphogenesis with a deformable secondary phase in solid-state lithium batteries

Here, the complex morphological evolution of lithium metal at the solid-state electrolyte interface limits performance of solid-state batteries, leading to inhomogeneous reactions and contact loss. Inspired by biological morphogenesis, we developed an interfacial self-regulation concept in which a deformable secondary phase dynamically aggregates at the interface in response to local electro-chemo-mechanical stimuli, enhancing contact. The stripping of a lithium electrode that contains 5 to 20 mole % electrochemically inactive sodium domains causes spontaneous sodium accumulation across the interface, with the sodium deforming to attain intimate electrical contact without blocking lithium transport. This process, characterized with operando x-ray tomography and electron microscopy, mitigates voiding and improves cycling at low stack pressures. The counterintuitive strategy of adding electrochemically inactive alkali metal to improve performance demonstrates the utility of interfacial self-regulation for solid-state batteries.

Yoon, Sun Geun [Georgia Institute of Technology, A↗
DOE OSTI2026

Scalable High-Throughput Open-Air Spray-Plasma Manufacturing of Solid-State Lithium Batteries

This final technical report presents a comprehensive analysis of a novel plasma-based in-line manufacturing process for large-area, LLZO-separator-based, solid-state lithium-ion batteries, demonstrating both technical feasibility and economic advantages over conventional vacuum deposition methods. The technical validation shows that spray-deposition with plasma curing achieves comparable electrode and separator quality to vacuum techniques while enabling continuous processing of components and industrially relevant film areas. Critical material interfaces maintain low porosity and high ionic conductivities, which confirm the process's ability to overcome the primary limitation of conventional methods - the trade-off between deposition quality and economically-viable production scale.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗