With the widespread adoption of electric vehicles and alternative energy sources, the demand for high-density batteries is growing, and it is necessary to improve the stability and capacity of lithium-ion batteries. Current lithium-ion battery technology typically uses nickel, which is less stable at extreme temperatures, leading to overheating due to temperature and high voltage. These batteries also tend to wear out quickly. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1449240174198-2′); });
To solve this problem, researchers are working on new chemical combinations that can address these shortcomings. In a recent study, scientists have shown how the addition of solvents and inorganic compounds can improve the stability and performance of lithium-ion batteries with a nickel cathode.
Whether you’re considering an industrial lithium-ion battery or a regular household AA battery, the battery works the same way. The cathode is the positive electrode, the anode is the negative electrode, and inside the battery there is a solution called electrolyte in between. Positively and negatively charged ions pass through the electrolyte and chemical reactions generate electricity. In this study, researchers identified a sulfolane-based liquid electrolyte with lithium perchlorate added as a potential solution to common lithium-ion battery pitfalls.
“For nickel-based cathodes, good low temperature electrochemical performance is usually achieved at the expense of performance and safety at room temperature. This is because electrolytes with low melting point solvents deteriorate drastically. The high volatility and flammability of these electrolytes also limits their application at high temperatures,” said Fang Lian, a professor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Beijing University of Science and Technology in China. Researchers have found that adding lithium perchlorate to sulfolane can improve many of these shortcomings.
Sulfolane is a solvent originally used in the oil and gas industry but is now used in many different industrial environments because it is stable at high temperatures. Lithium perchlorate is an inorganic compound that, when combined with sulfolane, helps maintain electrolyte stability. A third chemical is added to dilute the electrolyte and help keep it stable over a wide temperature range.
To test how well the proposed electrolyte works, the researchers made a battery using the electrolyte and performed a series of tests and theoretical calculations.
They found that the solvent was able to maintain conductivity over a wide temperature range from -60 to 55 degrees Celsius. In contrast, traditional electrolytes tend to cure at temperatures below -20 degrees Celsius. The addition of lithium perchlorate to the electrolyte improves the interaction of various chemicals in the electrolyte, reducing the energy required and making the electrolyte easier to operate at lower temperatures.
“The dilute, highly concentrated sulfolane-based electrolyte with the addition of lithium perchlorate allows it to be used in high-voltage batteries over a wide temperature range. This combination improves lithium ion transport and reduces desolvation energy while suppressing the electrolyte’s resistance to degradation and cathode rupture at high temperatures. Lian said. “Our work provides a comprehensive understanding of the molecular structure of electrolytes, facilitating the development of high energy density lithium batteries.”
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