New Avenue for Limiting Degradation in NanoLi₄Ti₅O₁₂ for Ultrafast-Charge Lithium-Ion Batteries: Hybrid Polymer–Inorganic Particles

Abstract

Lithium titanium oxide (LiTiO)-based cells are a very promising battery technology for ultrafast-charge-discharge and long-cycle-life batteries. However, the surface reactivity of lithium titanium oxide in the presence of organic electrolytes continues to be a problem that may cause expansion of pouch cells. In this study, we report on the development of a simple and economical grafting method for forming hybrid polymer-LiTiO nanoparticles, which can be successfully applied in lithium-ion batteries. This method utilizes a low-cost and scalable hydrophobic polymer that is applicable in industrial processes. The hybrid materials demonstrated exceptional capability for preventing the degradation of cells in accelerated aging and operating over 150 cycles at 1C and 45 °C.

Boosting Ultra-Fast Charge Battery Performance: Filling Porous nanoLi4Ti5O12 Particles with 3D Network of N-doped Carbons

“…As reported previously by our research group 6 , commercial LTO is formed by the agglomeration of primary particles of ~10 nm into secondary particles of a few micrometers. This LTO structure i.e.…”

“…However, since challenges persist, the scientific community must develop safe, long-lived, and fast charge-discharge batteries in order to promote the use of such vehicles and ES 4,5 . Our research group 6–12 as well as scientists 13–15 around the world believe that LiFePO 4 , lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 , lithium titanium oxide (LTO)-based batteries are ideal candidates to meet these needs for ES applications.…”

A low-cost and Li-rich organic coating on a Li4Ti5O12anode material enabling Li-ion battery cycling at subzero temperatures

“…It is believed that lithium titanium oxide (LTO) is an ideal candidate material to meet all the requirements for a battery system, including safety, long cycle life, and rapid charging/ discharging. [2][3][4][5][6][7] However, one aspect remains as an obstacle preventing the realization of its full potential, namely, the intrinsic limitations of LTO, such as its low electrical conductivity and poor electrochemical performance temperatures below 0 1C. LTO is an insulator material and several strategies have been explored to overcome its low ionic and electronic conductivities, including carbon coating, [8][9][10][11][12][13] the miniaturization of particles, [14][15][16][17][18][19] and doping.…”

“…[26][27][28] The perfect covering of all single LTO particles reported by Daigle et al 13 dramatically enhanced the cell performance, leading to an efficient access to all active particles by the electrolyte that maximized the deliverable capacity of the LTO anode. Covering LTO particles with polymers 3,29 was effective to prevent gas evolution during cell operation; however, the polymer acts as a barrier and impedes lithium diffusion, thereby adversely affecting fast charge/ discharge performance. In addition, the polymer is often not electrochemically active and does not contribute to the cell performance.…”

EELS Monitoring of Beam-Induced Dynamic Transformation of Lithium Materials at 30 keV

“…A scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), equipped with an electron energy loss spectrometer (EELS), is used here to investigate battery materials, since such equipment has both the spatial resolution to image nanostructures and the spectrometric capabilities to identify lithium species [1]. In some of our recent work using TEM on battery materials has shown sodium enrichment on the surface of FePO4 anodes [2] as well as enabled the characterization of polymer coating on Li4Ti5O12 anodes [3]. Here we report advances in characterizing the beam-induced transformation of three lithium-based materials.…”