Browse Topic: Plating
Current lithium-ion batteries should generally only be charged above 0 °C, as charging below this temperature can promote lithium plating and irreversible degradation. However, conventional pack-level heating elements increase system mass and design complexity. In addition, heat is transferred from outside into the cell, causing the temperature inside the cell to rise slowly. This study evaluates internal Joule heating of cylindrical Li-ion cells using a zero-mean square-wave current excitation and quantifies the associated aging impact. LG INR21700-M50L cells were tested at 0 °C, −10 °C, and −20 °C with three excitation frequencies (50 Hz, 1 Hz, 10 mHz) at 5 A amplitude. Each cycle consisted of 30 min heating followed by 60 min cooling; reference capacity-based state of health (SOH) was assessed every 50 cycles up to 400 cycles. A maximum surface temperature rise of 14.3 K was achieved, with larger temperature rise at lower ambient temperature and lower excitation frequency. Capacity fade remained below approximately 1% for most conditions; however, at −20 °C and 10 mHz a pronounced SOH decrease to 87% was observed, indicating a critical operating regime. The results provide practical guidance for pulse-heating parameter selection and highlight the need for safeguards and further diagnostics in extreme low-frequency excitation at very low temperatures. This heating approach is particularly suitable for simpler battery-electric applications without thermal management, such as e-bikes or power tools. However, it may also be relevant for applications with existing thermal management systems, as it simplifies battery pack design.
Researchers at Columbia Engineering have developed a new gel electrolyte that both improves the lifetime and safety of anode-free lithium batteries, an emerging battery architecture that could dramatically boost energy density while simplifying manufacturing. Although such design promises higher energy density and lower cost, the approach has long been plagued by short battery life and safety concerns caused by unstable lithium plating and parasitic reactions at the electrode-electrolyte interface.
This research demonstrates a new way to make carbon-based battery materials much safer, longer lasting, and more powerful by fundamentally redesigning how fullerene molecules are connected. Today’s lithium-ion batteries rely mainly on graphite, which limits fastcharging speed and poses safety risks due to lithium plating. These research findings mean progress toward safer electric vehicles, longer-lasting consumer electronics, and more reliable renewable-energy storage.
With the growing global demand for sustainable energy and high-performance mobile devices, lithium metal solid-state batteries (LMBs) have emerged as a research hotspot in the field of energy storage due to their exceptional high energy density and significant safety advantages. However, the growth of lithium dendrites and their penetration through the solid electrolyte remain key issues leading to battery short-circuiting and failure. To date, there has been a lack of effective in situ research methods to reveal the failure mechanisms, which has severely restricted the commercialization of LMBs. This study innovatively employs in situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to investigate lithium plating behavior in symmetric cells during critical current density (CCD) tests under room temperature and elevated temperature conditions. By analyzing characteristic signals at 1 MHz, this study presents the in situ impedance changes at the grain boundaries and interfaces of the battery, revealing that lithium plating is a dynamic reduction-oxidation process. We summarize two modes of lithium plating: one involves lithium metal deposition at the interface due to local current density inhomogeneity; the other involves lithium metal deposition at grain boundaries far from the electrode due to concentration gradient differences. The study further reveals that lithium plating at grain boundaries is the primary cause of battery failure. This research highlights the unique advantages of in situ EIS in the field of solid-state battery research and its applicability to various material systems. Moreover, the proposed lithium plating mechanism provides a theoretical basis for optimizing battery design and enhancing battery safety, thereby facilitating the realization of high-energy-density solid-state batteries.
Composite materials have become widely adopted in commercial aviation, as aerospace manufacturers look to use them to drive weight reduction and improved fuel efficiency in new aircraft designs. In the case of aircraft rotary blades, the poor wear properties of these materials have necessitated the development of metal leading edge guards that can provide critical protection against erosion and impact damage during flight. Electroforming has been a leading process for the manufacture of these protective guards, with nickel parts providing excellent wear resistance that significantly extends the service life of the rotary blade assembly. Currently there has not been a focus on utilizing direct electrodeposition of metal on to carbon filled epoxy composite structures, as traditional plating-on-plastics approaches require considerable effort in surface preparation and normally do not provide adequate adhesion to the underlying structure. Alpha Metalcraft Group has been working in cooperation with aerospace suppliers in the design of an electroplating ready composite structure that would allow for direct nickel deposition, provide excellent adhesion, and significantly reduce both the time and cost for the manufacture of ready-to-assembly rotary blade structures. Test panels were constructed of commercially available prepreg materials or by resin infusion of dry fabrics that incorporated different metal containing conductive layers to allow for the direct deposition through a nickel sulfamate electrodeposition process. Different surface modification strategies were investigated to expose the metal conducting layer and thereby provide the metal-to-metal bonding surfaces required for successful electrodeposition.
In the realm of low-altitude flight power systems, such as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL), ensuring the safety and optimal performance of batteries is of utmost importance. Lithium (Li) plating, a phenomenon that affects battery performance and safety, has garnered significant attention in recent years. This study investigates the intricate relationship between Li plating and the growth profile of cell thickness in Li-ion batteries. Previous research often overlooked this critical aspect, but our investigation reveals compelling insights. Notably, even during early stage of capacity fade (~ 5%), Li plating persists, leading to a remarkable final cell thickness growth exceeding 20% at an alarming 80% capacity fade. These findings suggest the potential of utilizing cell thickness growth as a novel criterion for qualifying and selecting cells, in addition to the conventional measure of capacity degradation. Monitoring the growth profile of cell thickness can enhance the safety and operational efficiency of lithium-ion batteries in low-altitude flight systems. Furthermore, this study proposes an innovative approach for onboard Li plating detection by considering signals related to cell thickness data. This method reduces computational demands, enhancing detection efficiency—a vital advancement for real-time monitoring in low-altitude flight power systems. Moreover, our research establishes a strong correlation between the occurrence of Li plating and the loss of active material in the negative electrode, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms and emphasizing the need to mitigate this phenomenon. Overall, this study significantly contributes to the existing research focused on improving the safety and efficiency of lithium-ion batteries in low-altitude flight applications. By emphasizing robust detection techniques for Li plating, we pave the way for safer and more efficient power sources in this rapidly evolving field.
Anode-free sodium metal batteries (AFSMBs) with initial zero sodium anodes are promising energy-storage devices to achieve high energy density and low cost. The morphology and reversibility of sodium controls the cycling lifespan of the AFSMBs, which is directly affected by the separator. Here, we compared the sodium deposition and corresponding electrochemical behaviors under the influence of three commercial separators, which were Celgard 2500, Al2O3-coated PP separator and glass fiber (denoting as 2500, C-PP and GF). Firstly, the reversibility of sodium plating/stripping was tested using half-cells, where coulombic efficiencies were stable at ~99.89% for C-PP and GF compare to 99.65% for 2500, indicating more dead sodium were formed for 2500. Then, the morphologies of deposited sodium were compared using optical microscopy. Compared to inhomogeneous sodium growth under 2500, C-PP obtained more flatter sodium layer with less height difference, attributing to the high mechanical strength of Al2O3 layer. Differently, we discovered that sodium was grown into pores in GF to form sodium particles with large active surface, which contacts with sufficient electrolytes and could be reversibly stripped. The reversibility of the sodium in GF were further verified using in situ X-ray diffraction tests. Accordingly, cycling performance of AFSMBs were improved using C-PP and GF, where capacity retention after 120 cycles were 56.9%, 61.6% and 69.2% for 2500, C-PP and GF, respectively. Moreover, the AFSMB using 2 mAh cm-2 Na[Ni1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3]O2 as cathode with GF exhibiting excellent capacity of 117.61 mAh g-1 under high current density of 1 C. Subsequently, in situ EIS tests after/during charging/discharging process were further conducted to illustrate the enhancement of rate and cycling performance. This work demonstrates the effect of separators on the sodium deposition for higher irreversibility and stability, which could also offer insights for developing advanced separators to achieve high performance AFSMBs.
A research team from Pohang University has successfully enhanced the performance and durability of all-solid-state batteries. This breakthrough was made possible through the implementation of a novel approach known as bottom electrodeposition.
This specification covers the requirements for brush plating of tin-zinc by electrodeposition.
This specification covers the requirements for brush plating of zinc-nickel by electrodeposition.
This specification covers the requirements for brush plating of low-hardness, low-stress nickel by electrodeposition.
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