A high nickel concentration in lithium-ion batteries could be a bonus for mobility devices, if we could contain the risk of thermal runaway. This potentially catastrophic event occurs after traditional organic liquid electrolyte overheats, or a short-circuit occurs inside a battery. But now, researchers from Republic of Korea may have finally resolved this high-nickel lithium battery drawback.
Safety in High-Nickel Lithium Batteries
Scientists from four academic institutions gathered together, to write the report we link to below. They were concerned about the safety of lithium-ion batteries, especially since their demand seemed never-ending to them.
They were aware of the potential of high-nickel lithium battery chemistry for electric vehicles, and other mobility devices. And so they set their minds to addressing the significant potential of these high-density batteries to catch fire.
Before the scientists began their work, they noted that broad scientific interest was focussed on enhancing the driving range of electric vehicles. And that this in turn necessitated improving the ability of lithium-ion batteries to store energy.
This high-profile need motivated the researchers’ interest in energy-dense high-nickel chemistry. The team from Republic of Korea decided to find a way to avert thermal runaway in these otherwise promising batteries.
How the Scientists Improved the Recipe
The scientists believed their solution lay in replacing the traditional liquid electrolyte, with a new, non-flammable one. But first, they needed to develop a thermally durable interphase at the cathode and anode interfaces.
They derived their non-flammable liquid electrolyte from a fluorinated-carbonate, and standard lithium salt-based concentration.This delivered the stable, non-flammable result they needed.
But they achieved a second, perhaps unexpected bonus. Their prototype high-nickel lithium battery pouch-cell achieved 600 charge-discharge cycles at one degree centigrade. At that point it still retained 81% of its original capacity, without a sign of any lithium dendrites!
More Information
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