Research Area

The next generation Li-ion batteries (LIBs) need reasonable matching of electrode and electrolyte to achieve the best performance, including longer cycling and better safety. For the cathode materials, the current commercialization and research mainly focuses on lithium metal oxides (LiNi_xCo_yMn_zO₂, x+y+z=1) with layered structure. Layered lithium metal oxides have high energy densities, but the use of expensive and toxic cobalt elements greatly restricts their application in widespread commercialization of electric vehicles. In this context, a new spinel type oxide LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ (LNMO) is of great focus with a theoretical capacity of 147 mAh/g and average working voltage as high as 4.7 V. More importantly, it does not contain expensive cobalt, which makes LNMO cathode cost-effective and suitable for applications in the field of power batteries and large-scale energy storage.

The objective of this project is to research, develop, and demonstrate a spinel type LNMO electrode and novel electrolyte formulation for use in next-generation LIBs. Our proposed cathode is 100% free of cobalt and its novel architecture will have porosity less than 20% and designed tortuosity for high rate capability. In addition, to guide our research to determine which electrolyte system is more stable and compatible for LNMO electrode materials under high voltage cycling, we will develop a series of characterization techniques such as ex-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ex-situ cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), ex-situ cryogenic focused ion beam microscope (cryo-FIB) and in situ time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS).

Highlighted Publications:

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1. W. Li, Y. Cho, W. Yao, Y. Li, A. Cronk, R. Shimizu, M. A. Schroeder, Y. Fu, F. Zou, V. Battaglia, A. Manthiram, M. Zhang and Y. S. Meng, “Enabling high areal capacity for Co-free high voltage spinel materials in next-generation Li-ion batteries“, Journal of Power Sources 2020, 473, 228579

2. J. Alvarado, M. A. Schroeder, M. Zhang, O. Borodin, E. Gobrogge, M. Olguin, M. S. Ding, M. Gobet, S. Greenbaum, Y. S. Meng, K. Xu, “A carbonate-free, sulfone-based electrolyte for high-voltage Li-ion batteries” “supplementary data” Materials Today, 2018, 21(4), 341