Attempts to Improve the Behavior of Li Electrodes in Rechargeable Lithium Batteries

Abstract

In this work we studied properties of modified lithium electrodes in an attempt to improve the high rate performance of rechargeable Li (metal) batteries containing liquid electrolyte solutions. Li (metal)- Li0.3MnO2 AA batteries with solutions containing 1,3-dioxolane (DN), LiAsF6, and a basic stabilizer became commercial several years ago but failed to compete with Li-ion battery technology because of a very limited cycle life at high charging rates. The problem relates to intensive reactions between Li deposited at high rates and the electrolyte solutions, which dry the batteries. The lithium-solution reactivity was modified through several approaches. Li anodes doped by Li3N, Al, and Mg were tested, as well as solutions containing derivatives of DN that are expected to be less reactive toward lithium than DN. It was concluded that reduction of the Li anode-solution reactivity by these approaches cannot solve the problem, because it is impossible to modify the rough morphology, high surface of lithium electrodes when charging (Li deposition) rates are high (>1 mA/cm2). Since there is no hermetic passivation of any Li surface in liquid electrolyte solutions, the high-surface-area Li deposits react with solution components. Therefore, upon charge-discharge cycling of practical Li (metal) batteries, the electrolyte solution is consumed in these reactions. Hence, the future of Li (metal) rechargeable batteries lies either in the use of solid electrolyte matrices instead of the liquid solutions, or in applications where low charging rates are tolerable. © 2002 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.

The synergetic effect of lithium polysulfide and lithium nitrate to prevent lithium dendrite growth

“…As to the N 1s spectra ( Supplementary Fig. 4), for both samples, the three peaks centred at 399.9, 404.3 and 408.0 eV can be assigned to N in the N-S bond, NO 2 À and NO 3 À , respectively, indicating that LiNO 3 is reduced by lithium to LiNO 2 , whereas the sulfone species in the LITFSI can be oxidized to SO 3 2 À and SO 4 2 À (identified from the S 2p spectra for both samples). The difference in the N 1s spectra of the two samples is that the N 1s signal for the SEI containing Li 2 S/Li 2 S 2 is much weaker, only slightly higher than noise level.…”

“…L ithium metal, having a high theoretical specific capacity of 3,860 mAh g À 1 and the most negative electrochemical potential among anode materials, has been considered an ideal anode in lithium battery systems over the past four decades [1][2][3][4][5][6] . The recent emerging demand for extended-range electric vehicles has stimulated the development of high-energy storage systems [7][8][9][10] , especially the highly promising lithiumsulfur and lithium-air batteries, in which lithium metal anodes are employed.…”

New Insight into the Solid Electrolyte Interphase with Use of a Focused Ion Beam

“…[6][7][8] They found that there were obvious differences in the composition and thickness for the SEI films on the different planes, and deduced that solvents were preferentially reduced on the basal plane and the salt anions on the edge plane. Aurbach et al [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] used XPS, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive analysis by X-ray (EDAX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electrochemical impendence spectroscopy (EIS) etc. to systematically investigate the SEI film in different electrolytes and on different electrode surfaces.…”

Ecological Recycling of Lithium-Ion Batteries from Electric Vehicles with Focus on Mechanical Processes

“…Evolution of this layer during prolonged cycling is regarded to be the main source of anode ageing according to many researchers. [48][49][50] As mentioned before CO 2 is an ageing product. Therefore, the cycled battery cells were expected to give rise to higher amounts of CO 2 during crushing.…”