Browse Topic: Electrolytes

Items (422)
ABSTRACT Cornerstone Research Group (CRG) developed a lithium metal (Li-metal) battery cell for military applications. Utilizing a Li-metal anode, high energy density cathode, and an advanced low-temperature fluorinated electrolyte, the cell was designed and developed to provide high-power and low temperature capabilities. The 1.5 Ah Li-metal pouch cell had a specific energy of 247 Wh/kg and was able to discharge at ultra-low temperatures (-57 °C). Moreover, the Li-metal cell demonstrated extremely high-power by fully discharging at 10 C while maintaining over 70% its initial capacity. To demonstrate the Li-metal cell’s utility for military vehicle use, CRG modeled the cell into the 6T battery platform. A novel module housing was designed to evenly apply compression to the Li-metal cells to improve cell performance. Based on these projections, the Li-metal 6T battery could have a capacity of 163 Ah with a specific energy of 179 Wh/kg. Citation: J. Hondred, F. Zalar, P. Nikolaev, B
Hondred, JohnZalar, FrankNikolaev, PashaHenslee, Brian
ABSTRACT TIAX is developing laminated prismatic lithium-ion (Li-ion) cell technology capable of rapid charging at low temperature (to -50 °C) to replace current lead-acid vehicle batteries. The novel cells are based on TIAX’s high energy, high power CAM-7 cathode material, high rate capability lithium titanate (LTO) anode material, and novel electrolyte formulation, and target cell-level energy content greater than 90 Wh/kg and 250 Wh/l. CAM-7 cathode material promises significant boost in power and run time of Li-Ion batteries for a wide range of DoD applications, and is now being commercialized by a separate company, CAMX Power, which is scaling up production in a 50 metric ton per year plant installed in Massachusetts
Ofer, DavidDalton-Castor, SharonNation, LeahPullen, AdrianRempel, JaneBarnett, BrianSriramulu, Suresh
To gain high efficiencies and long lifetimes, polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell systems require precise control of the relative humidity of the cathode supply air. This is usually achieved by the use of membrane humidifiers. These are passive components that transfer the product water of the cathode exhaust air to humidify the supply air. Due to the passive design, controllability is achieved via a bypass. It is possible to use map-based control strategies to avoid the use of humidity sensors. Such map-based control requires deep insights into the humidifier behavior in all possible thermodynamic operating states, including various water loads. This paper focuses on typical operating conditions of heavy-duty application at high load, specifically on the occurrence of liquid water in the cathode exhaust gas, which has not been sufficiently investigated in the literature yet. In order to simulate these conditions, we built a test rig with an optically accessible single-channel set
Mull, SophieWeiss, LukasWensing, Michael
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
Qin, NanJin, LimingZheng, Jim P.
Dr. Park Jun-woo of the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) Next-Generation Battery Research Center and Sung Junghwan, student researcher at the UST KERI Campus, have successfully engineered a technology focused on the “size-controlled wet-chemical synthesis of solid-state electrolytes (sulfide superionic conductors).” It not only cuts the processing time and cost by over fifty percent but also doubles the resultant quality
With the rapid development of electric vehicles, the demands for lithium-ion batteries and advanced battery technologies are growing. Today, lithium-ion batteries mainly use liquid electrolytes, containing organic compounds such as dimethyl carbonate and ethylene carbonate as solvents for the lithium salts. However, when thermal runaway occurs, the electrolyte decomposes, venting combustible gases that could readily be ignited when mixed with air and leading to pronounced heat release from the combustion of the mixture. So far, the chemical behavior of electrolytes during thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries is not comprehensively understood. Well-validated compact chemical kinetic mechanisms of the electrolyte components are required to describe this process in CFD simulations. In this work, submechanisms of dimethyl carbonate and ethylene carbonate were developed and adopted in the Ansys Model Fuel Library (MFL). Further improvements were made to enhance the kinetic consistency
Zhang, KuiwenPuduppakkam, KarthikShelburn, Anthony
Super duplex stainless steel (SDSS) is a type of stainless steel made of chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe). In the present work, a 1.6 mm wide thin sheet of SDSS is joined using gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). The ideal parameter for a bead-on-plate trial is found, and 0.216 kJ/mm of heat input is used for welding. As an outcome of the welding heating cycle and subsequent cooling, a microstructural study revealed coarse microstructure in the heat-affected zone and weld zone. The corrosion rate for welded joints is 9.3% higher than the base metal rate. Following the corrosion test, scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis revealed that the welded joint’s oxide development generated a larger corrosive attack on the weld surface than the base metal surface. The percentages of chromium (12.5%) and molybdenum (24%) in the welded joints are less than those in the base metal of SDSS, as per energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. Corrosion modeling is done using the COMSOL
Kumar, SujeetKumar, YogeshE. K., Vimal K.
A team from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and Florida State University has designed a new blueprint for solid-state batteries that are less dependent on specific chemical elements, particularly critical metals that are challenging to source due to supply chain issues. Their work could advance solid-state batteries that are efficient and affordable
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) are undergoing a rapid development, due to the ever-growing interest towards their use to decarbonize power generation applications. In the transportation sector, a key technological challenge is their thermal management, i.e. the ability to preserve the membrane at the optimal thermal state to maximize the generated power. This corresponds to a narrow temperature range of 75-80°C, possibly uniformly distributed over the entire active surface. The achievement of such a requirement is complicated by the generation of thermal power, the limited exchange area for radiators, and the poor heat transfer performance of conventional coolants (e.g., ethylene glycol). The interconnection of thermal/fluid/electrochemical processes in PEMFCs renders heat rejection as a potential performance limiter, suggesting its maximization for power density increase. To this aim, suspensions of coolants and nanoparticles (nanofluids) have been proposed for
D'Adamo, AlessandroCorda, GiuseppeBerni, FabioDiana, MartinoFontanesi, Stefano
By the end of 2023 there will be 10 Chinese electric passenger vehicles using advanced semi-solid-state batteries (ASSB) - an industry-first application for EVs and a milestone for vehicle electrification, according to Paul Haelterman, North American VP at Autodatas, a vehicle benchmarking and research firm. It's “a huge step for the industry's production pursuit of all-solid-state batteries,” Haelterman told SAE Media ahead of his presentation on China's EV market at SAE's WCX 2023 conference in Detroit. A semi-solid-state battery can be one in which one electrode does not contain a liquid electrolyte and the other electrode does. Or it can be a battery in which the mass or volume of the solid electrolyte in the monomer accounts for half of the total mass or volume of the electrolyte in the monomer. Some battery experts view semi-solid-state as a compromise technology, offering a faster route to scale, but is heavy and requires more volume
Buchholz, Kami
Development of all-solid-state batteries is crucial to achieve carbon neutrality. However, their high surface resistance causes these batteries to have low output, limiting their applications. To this end, researchers have employed a novel technique to investigate and modulate electric double layer dynamics at the solid/solid electrolyte interface. The researchers demonstrate unprecedented control of response speed by over two orders of magnitude, a major steppingstone towards realization of commercial all-solid-state batteries
Researchers have devised a tiny, nano-sized sensor capable of detecting protein biomarkers in a sample at single-molecule precision. Coined as hook and bait, a tiny protein binder fuses to a small hole created in the membrane of a cell — known as a nanopore — which allows ionic solution to flow through it
Start-up battery developer Factorial Energy's workforce of engineers, chemists and other technology specialists has topped 100 with recent hirings in the Asia-Pacific region. A pilot manufacturing plant for the firm's solid-state lithium-metal batteries is slated to launch later this year. And, Hyundai Motor Co., Stellantis and Mercedes-Benz have invested in the Woburn, Massachusetts-based company and its proprietary Factorial Electrolyte System Technology, trademarked FEST. CEO Siyu Huang recently spoke with SAE Media's Kami Buchholz. Condensed highlights of the interview
Lithium-ion batteries have a well-documented failure tendency under abuse conditions with a significant release of gases and heat. This failure originated from the decomposition reactions within the battery’s electrochemical components, resulting in gas generation and increased internal pressure. To optimize battery safety, it is crucial to understand their behaviors when subjected to abuse conditions. The 18650 format cell incorporates a vent mechanism within a crimped cap to relieve pressure and mitigate the risk of rupture. However, cell venting introduces additional safety concerns associated with flammable gases and liquid electrolyte that flow into the environment. Experiments were performed with two venting caps with well-known geometries to quantify key parameters in describing the external dynamic flow of battery venting and to validate a CFD model. Thus, the jet of pure CO2 was measured on a dedicated experimental bench using Schlieren’s optical technique and the jet shape
Garcia, AntonioGil, AntonioGolke, DiegoMicó, Carlos
Solid-state lithium-ion batteries that use a solid electrolyte may potentially operate at wide temperatures and provide satisfactory safety. Moreover, the use of a solid electrolyte, which blocks the formation of lithium dendrites, allows batteries to use metallic lithium for the anode, enabling the batteries gain an energy density significantly higher than that of traditional lithium-ion batteries. Solid electrolytes play a role of conducting lithium ions and are the core of solid-state lithium-ion batteries. However, the development of solid lithium electrolytes towards a high lithium ionic conductivity, good chemical and electrochemical stability and scalable manufacturing method has been challenging. We report a new material composed of nitrogen-doped lithium metaphosphate, denoted as NLiPO3. The material delivers a lithium ionic conductivity on the order of 10-4 S/cm at room temperature, which is about two orders of magnitude higher than that of conventional LiPON – the
Zhang, QifengDing, Yi
A large increase in GHG emissions has led to a substantial increase in EV adoption. Due to its complexity, predicting the states of LIB remains to be a roadblock for mass adoption. Furthermore, the ability to predict the performance of an EV through its lifetime continues to be a difficult task. The following work provides how a detailed electro-thermal P2D battery model, GT-AutoLion1D, can be implemented along with a 1D vehicle model to predict how the system will age over 40 weeks of operation. The battery is calibrated using experimental data and is capable of predicting performance and aging. It considers aging mechanisms like solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer growth, active material isolation (AMI), and SEI cracking. It is also coupled with a lumped thermal model. The 1D vehicle model considers aerodynamic, rolling resistance, driveline inefficiency, motor-inverter losses, battery resistive losses and auxiliaries. The results showed that simulation is over 30000 times
Chopra, UjjwalBiju, Nikhil
This work elaborates the transferability of electrode diffusion coefficients gained from fitting procedures in frequency domain to an electrochemical battery model run in time domain. An electrochemical battery model of an NMC622 half-cell electrode is simulated with sinusoidal current excitations at different frequencies. The current and voltage signals are analyzed in frequency domain via Nyquist and Bode plots. The frequency domain analysis of time domain simulations is applied to assess the numerical convergence of the simulation and the sensitivity on particle diameter, electrode and electrolyte diffusion coefficients. The simulated frequency spectra are used to fit the electrode diffusion coefficient by means of different electrical equivalent circuit models and the electrochemical battery model itself. The fitted diffusion coefficients from the different electrical equivalent circuit models deviate by one order of magnitude from the a priori known reference data. The fitting
Wurzenberger, Johann C.Lechner, ChristophChen, ChaoKolmbauer, MichaelMele, IgorKatrasnik, Tomaz
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) are becoming more competitive day by day to achieve maximum peak power and energy requirement. This poses challenges to the design of Thermal Interface Material (TIM) which maintains the cell temperature and ensure retention of cell and prevent electrolyte leak under different crash loads. TIM can be in the form of adhesives, gels, gap fillers. In this paper, TIM is considered as structural, and requires design balance with respect to thermal and mechanical requirements. Improving structural strength of TIM will have negative impact on its thermal conductivity; hence due care needs to be taken to determine optimal strength that meets both structural and thermal performance. During various crash conditions, due to large inertial force of cell and module assembly, TIM is undertaking significant loads on tensile and shear directions. LS-DYNA® is used as simulation solver for performing crash loading conditions and evaluate structural integrity of TIM
Seshadri, Srirambhavsar, TejasR, NarayanaGH, Shivaprakash
Accelerating demand for renewable energy and electric vehicles is sparking a high demand for the batteries that store generated energy and power engines. But the batteries behind these sustainability solutions aren’t always sustainable themselves. In a paper published in the journal Matter, scientists created a zinc battery with a biodegradable electrolyte from an unexpected source — crab shells
Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are one of the most used batteries that support modern ITC society, including smartphones and EVs. These batteries are repeatedly charged and discharged by Li-ions passing back and forth between the positive and negative electrodes, with the Li-ion electrolyte acting as a passageway for the ions
Redox flow batteries are stationary batteries in which the energy is located in the electrolyte, outside of the cell itself, as in a fuel cell. They are often marketed with the prefix “eco” since they open the possibility of storing excess energy from, for example, the Sun and wind. It appears that they can be recharged an unlimited number of times; however, redox flow batteries often contain vanadium, a scarce and expensive metal. The electrolyte in which energy is stored in a redox flow battery can be water-based, which makes the battery safe to use but results in a lower energy density
Researchers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) are developing a novel microthruster that could provide easy-to-control propulsion during spaceflight. Using solid silver as the fuel source, this innovative microthruster provides thrust via electrospray without heating the fuel reservoir or transporting liquid metals. Instead of transporting a molten metal, this design transports metal ions via a solid electrolyte film
Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed lithium-ion batteries that perform well at freezing cold and scorching hot temperatures, while packing a lot of energy. The researchers accomplished this feat by developing an electrolyte that is not only versatile and robust throughout a wide temperature range, but also compatible with a high energy anode and cathode
Open Circuit Potential (OCP) is the potential established between the working electrode (the metallic surface to be studied) and the environment, with respect to a reference electrode, which will be placed in the electrolyte close to the working electrode. It is very important to measure the electric potentials of various metallic materials in order to know their corrosion behavior in various environments. But perhaps if there is brazing joint involved, as in the case of aluminium heat exchanger components, there are some challenges involved in knowing the potential of the fillet part which includes the selective masking of the areas within the same sample for testing. Firstly, getting reliable & accurate data due to masking process is one concern. Secondly, about the aluminium heat exchanger sample, the variation in OCP values within a single sample are possible due to various factors i.e. presence of cladding on the surface of the materials, presence of sacrificial Zn coating on the
Shandily, Prem MohanGuruprasanna, PraveenKumar, RajSoni, Sunil
A team of researchers led by chemists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory has learned that an electrolyte additive allows stable high-voltage cycling of nickel-rich layered cathodes. Their work could lead to improvements in the energy density of lithium batteries that power electric vehicles
The element niobium (Nb), a transition metal, stands ready to improve the performance of one of the lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery’s confusing array of possible electrode chemistries — the LTO (lithium titanium oxide) anode, which after graphite is the second most-produced. During battery charging, lithium ions leave the positive cathode and move through the battery’s electrolyte to take up positions of higher energy in the anode. During discharge, this process reverses and drives electrons through an external circuit to power the load
Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed lithium-ion batteries that perform well at freezing cold and scorching hot temperatures, while packing a lot of energy. The researchers accomplished this feat by developing an electrolyte that is not only versatile and robust throughout a wide temperature range, but also compatible with a high energy anode and cathode
Researchers have developed new polymer electrolytes for redox flow batteries that are flexible, efficient, and environmentally friendly
Currently the preferred technology to power electric vehicles, lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, has become too expensive for long-duration grid-scale energy storage systems — not to mention that lithium itself is becoming more and more elusive
Researchers from the University of Waterloo, Canada, who are members of the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR), headquartered at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, have discovered a new solid electrolyte that offers several important advantages
An optimally functioning SLI (Starting Lighting and Ignition) battery is a primordial element in the unimpaired operation of an ICE vehicle. Designed to deliver the highest current momentarily during ignition, and not intended for deep discharge, these batteries have been observed to suffer from premature degradation, attributed to misuse and lack of maintenance. Focused on the cell chemistry, a wet-cell lead-acid battery’s degradation is initiated by the reduction of active electrode area through sulfation in each charge-discharge cycle. While the formation and dissolution of sulfate crystals is a normal phenomenon, in scenarios of deep discharge the formation and agglomeration of larger insoluble sulfate crystals reduce the cell capacity leading to overall poor reserve capacity and cold cranking ability of the battery. While these problems have been countered through the implementation of passive modifications in battery venting and advanced grid materials in the passenger car
Saha, SatyaPatidar, AmitJewalkar, HemantPatra, Arka
Among the limitations of electric vehicles (EVs) is the lack of a long-lasting, high-energy-density battery that reduces the need to fuel up on long-haul trips. The same is true for houses during blackouts and power grid failures— small, efficient batteries able to power a home for more than one night without electricity don’t yet exist. A major issue is that while rechargeable lithium metal anodes play a key role in how well this new wave of lithium batteries functions, during battery operation, they are highly susceptible to the growth of dendrites — microstructures that can lead to dangerous short-circuiting, catching on fire, and even exploding
As researchers push the boundaries of battery design, seeking to pack ever greater amounts of power and energy into a given amount of space or weight, one of the more promising technologies being studied is lithium-ion batteries that use a solid electrolyte material between the two electrodes, rather than the typical liquid. But such batteries have been plagued by a tendency for branch-like projections of metal called dendrites to form on one of the electrodes, eventually bridging the electrolyte and shorting out the battery cell
Lithium-ion batteries now in widespread use for everything from mobile electronics to electric vehicles rely on a liquid electrolyte to carry ions back and forth between electrodes within the battery during charge and discharge cycles. The liquid uniformly coats the electrodes, allowing free movement of the ions
Lithium-ion batteries are critical for modern life, powering laptops, cellphones, and other devices; however, there is a safety risk — the batteries can catch fire. Zinc-based aqueous batteries avoid the fire hazard by using a water-based electrolyte instead of the conventional chemical solvent. But uncontrolled dendrite growth limits their ability to provide the high performance and long life needed for practical applications
Single-use diagnostic tests often aren’t practical for health professionals or patients in resource-limited areas, where cost and waste disposal are big concerns. So, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces have turned to a surprising material, Tootsie Roll® candy, to develop an inexpensive and low-waste device. The candy was used as an electrode, the part of the sensor that detects salt and electrolyte levels in saliva, to monitor ovulation status or kidney health
Lithium-ion batteries are critical for modern life, powering laptops, cellphones, and other devices; however, there is a safety risk — the batteries can catch fire. Zinc-based aqueous batteries avoid the fire hazard by using a water-based electrolyte instead of the conventional chemical solvent. But uncontrolled dendrite growth limits their ability to provide the high performance and long life needed for practical applications
Lithium-metal batteries hold almost twice the energy of their widely used lithium-ion counterparts and they’re lighter. That combination offers the prospect of an electric vehicle that would be lighter and go much farther on a single charge. But lithium-metal batteries in the laboratory have been plagued by premature death, lasting only a fraction of the time of today’s lithium-ion batteries
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