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Results for “lithiophilic current collector”

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.

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5 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Uniform lithiophilic layers in 3D current collectors enable ultrastable solid electrolyte interphase for high-performance lithium metal batteries

Uniform lithium plating/stripping during charging/discharging in 3D lithiophilic current collectors (3DLCC) is essential to suppress growth of lithium dendrites and to mitigate infinite volume variations of lithium metal for long-lived lithium metal batteries. Additionally, this study reveals the decisive role played by uniformity of the lithiophilic layer of the 3DLCC in achieving uniform lithium plating/stripping. Herein, a series of metal oxide-based 3DLCCs are successfully fabricated with a simple and an ultrafast solution combustion method, from which formation of a uniform and stable lithium dendrite-free solid electrolyte interphase via a uniform lithiophilic layer is demonstrated. Taking Co 3 O 4 as the lithiophilic material deposited on a nickel foam as the 3DLCC (Co@NF) for a proof of concept, the loading amount of Co 3 O 4 , closely correlated with the uniformity of the Co 3 O 4 layer, is modulated to optimize its lithium ion hosting performances. With a uniform Co 3 O 4 layer grown in the 3DLCC, an ultralow nucleation overpotential of 33.4 mV is achieved in half-cell tests at 1 mA cm -2 and 1 mAh cm -2 , and a high Coulombic efficiency of 97.1% is maintained after 210 cycles under a severe cycling condition of 2 mA cm -2 and 1 mAh cm -2 . A small polarization voltage of 13 mV together with an ultralong cycle life of 2400 h at 0.5 mA cm -2 and 1 mAh cm -2 in symmetric Li cells is achieved. Moreover, the composite Li anode delivers sensational rate capability and cyclability in full-cells. This work not only provides new and valuable insights into the interphasial chemistry of solid electrolyte interphase layers, but also sheds light on the development of ultrastable lithium metal batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Stable Anode–Free All–Solid–State Lithium Battery through Tuned Metal Wetting on the Copper Current Collector

A stable anode-free all-solid-state battery (AF-ASSB) with sulfide-based solid-electrolyte (SE) (argyrodite Li 6 PS 5 Cl) is achieved by tuning wetting of lithium metal on “empty” copper current-collector. Lithiophilic 1 µm Li 2 Te is synthesized by exposing the collector to tellurium vapor, followed by in situ Li activation during the first charge. The Li 2 Te significantly reduces the electrodeposition/electrodissolution overpotentials and improves Coulombic efficiency (CE). During continuous electrodeposition experiments using half-cells (1 mA cm –2 ), the accumulated thickness of electrodeposited Li on Li 2 Te–Cu is more than 70 µm, which is the thickness of the Li foil counter-electrode. Full AF-ASSB with NMC811 cathode delivers an initial CE of 83% at 0.2C, with a cycling CE above 99%. Additionally, cryogenic focused ion beam (Cryo-FIB) sectioning demonstrates uniform electrodeposited metal microstructure, with no signs of voids or dendrites at the collector-SE interface. Electrodissolution is uniform and complete, with Li 2 Te remaining structurally stable and adherent. By contrast, an unmodified Cu current-collector promotes inhomogeneous Li electrodeposition/electrodissolution, electrochemically inactive “dead metal,” dendrites that extend into SE, and thick non-uniform solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) interspersed with pores. Density functional theory (DFT) and mesoscale calculations provide complementary insight regarding nucleation-growth behavior. Unlike conventional liquid-electrolyte metal batteries, the role of current collector/support lithiophilicity has not been explored for emerging AF-ASSBs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Polymer-Stabilized Liquid Metal Nanoparticles as a Scalable Current Collector Engineering Approach Enabling Lithium Metal Anodes

Dendrites and dead lithium formation over prolonged cycling have long been challenges that hinder the safe implementation of metallic Li anodes. In this study, we employ polymer-stabilized liquid metal nanoparticles (LM-P NPs) of eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn) to create uniform Li nucleation sites enabling homogeneous lithium electrodeposition. Block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(acrylic acid) (PEO-b-PAA) were grafted onto the EGaIn surface, forming stabilized, well-dispersed NPs. Using a scalable spray coating approach, LM-P NPs were fabricated on copper current collectors, providing lithiophilic PEO sites and interactive carboxyl groups to guide Li deposition. The Li-EGaIn alloying process greatly reduced the Li + diffusion barrier, enabling fast Li transport through the coating layer, resulting in decreased nucleation overpotential. Therefore, about five times lower Li nucleation overpotential was obtained on the LM-P modified Cu with an optimal composition of the polymers than the bare Cu substrates. DFT computations was used to reveal the binding properties between the LM-P layer and Li. Due to the regulated Li plating/stripping process, as-obtained 30 μm Li anodes paired with LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 (NCM8 11 ) with a negative/positive electrode capacity (N/P) ratio ~ 10 exhibited stable cycling performance at 0.5C for over 250 cycles, with an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.55%. Ultrathin Li (1 μm) anodes with an N/P ratio ~ 0.6 were also demonstrated in Li|LiFePO 4 cells, which examined the stabilization of Li by LM-P NPs and monitored practical loadings of Li anodes that are close to anode-free systems.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Interface Design for High‐Performance All‐Solid‐State Lithium Batteries

All‐solid‐state batteries suffer from high interface resistance and lithium dendrite growth leading to low Li plating/stripping Coulombic efficiency (CE) of <90% and low critical current density at high capacity. Here, in this work, both challenges are simultaneously addressed and the Li plating/stripping CE is significantly increased to 99.6% at 0.2 mA cm −2 /0.2 mAh cm −2 , and critical current density (CCD) of > 3.0 mA cm −2 /3.0 mAh cm −2 by inserting a mixed ionic‐electronic conductive (MIEC) and lithiophobic LiF‐C‐Li 3 N‐Bi nanocomposite interlayer between Li 6 PS 5 Cl electrolyte and Li anode. The highly lithiophobic LiF‐C‐Li 3 N‐Bi interlayer with high ionic conductivity (10 −5 S cm −1 ) and low electronic conductivity (3.4×10 −7 S cm −1 ) enables Li to plate on the current collector (CC) surface rather than on Li 6 PS 5 Cl surface avoiding Li 6 PS 5 Cl electrolyte reduction. During initial Li plating on CC, Li penetrates into porous LiF‐C‐Li 3 N‐Bi interlayer and lithiates Bi nanoparticles into Li 3 Bi. The lithiophilic Li 3 Bi and Li 3 N nanoparticles in LiF‐C‐Li 3 N‐Li 3 Bi sub‐interlayer will move to CC along with plated Li, forming LiF‐C/Li 3 N‐Li 3 Bi lithiophobic/lithiophilic sublayer during the following Li stripping. This interlayer enables Co 0.1 Fe 0.9 S 2 /Li 6 PS 5 Cl/Li cell with an areal capacity of 1.4 mAh cm −2 to achieve a cycle life of >850 cycles at 150 mA g −1 . The lithiophobic/lithiophilic interlayer enables solid‐state metal batteries to simultaneously achieve high energy and long cycle life.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Advanced strategies for the development of porous carbon as a Li host/current collector for lithium metal batteries

Lithium metal is considered a promising anode material for high-energy-density rechargeable batteries because of its high specific theoretical capacity (3860 mAh g -1 , low mass density (0.534 g cm -3 ), and low electrochemical redox potential (-3.04 V vs. the standard hydrogen electrode). However, the high reactivity of Li with the electrolyte leads to the formation of an unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and continuous side reactions. Also, the non-uniform lithium-ion flux and infinite volume expansion of Li metal cause the growth of Li dendrites. These pose significant safety challenges and cause rapid capacity fading of the lithium metal batteries (LiMBs). To resolve these issues, a low-cost, easily processed, lightweight, high-performance carbon-based porous matrix is considered promising to host Li metal deposition. The three-dimensional (3D) porous nano/microstructured carbon provides sufficient space for Li accommodation during Li plating, buffers the volume changes during Li plating/stripping, and lowers the effective current density contributing to dendrite-free Li deposition. Besides, the outstanding electrochemical and mechanical stability, flexibility and the high electronic conductivity enable the nano/microstructured carbon to serve as both Li host and current collector. The development of 3D carbon/Li composite by mechanical roll-press techniques not only eliminates the complex and risky procedure of making carbon/Li composite based on Li plating or molten Li infusion but also stabilizes the capacity at higher Li plating/stripping rates. Recently, there is an advancement in the lithiophilic decorations of 3D structure to introduce sufficient nucleation sites and the development of artificial SEI on top of the 3D matrix to suppress Li dendrite formation. Such 3D structural modifications create a uniform electric field, lower the Li nucleation overpotential, provide strong mechanical and chemical stability, and stabilize the interface thereby inhibiting the degradation of lithium and the electrolyte. Here we summarize the research progress on porous carbon/Li composites in terms of materials type, structure, fabrication technique, their electrochemical battery performance, and identify the critical challenges that need to be addressed for high-energy-density practical LiMBs.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗