Energy Materials for Sustainable Development: Storage Batteries I
Sponsored by: ACerS Energy Materials and Systems Division
Program Organizers: Armin Feldhoff, Leibniz University Hannover; Kyle Brinkman, Clemson University; Krista Carlson, University of Nevada, Reno; Eva Hemmer, University of Ottawa; Nikola Kanas, Institute Biosense, University of Novi Sad; Kjell Wiik, Norwegian University of Science and Technology; Lei Zuo, Virginia Tech; Stephanie Lee, Stevens Institute of Technology; Muhammad Hajj, Stevens Institute of Technology; Mohammad Haik, Stevens Institute of Technology
Tuesday 2:00 PM
October 19, 2021
Room: A216
Location: Greater Columbus Convention Center
Session Chair: Jeffrey Fergus, Auburn University; Giovanni Fanchini, University of Western Ontario
2:00 PM Invited
Challenges and Opportunities of Oxide-based Cathodes for Aqueous Zn-ion Batteries: Kevin Huang1; 1University of South Carolina
Rechargeable zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) based on near-neutral aqueous electrolytes have been actively researched in recent years as an alternative large-scale stationary storage device for their outstanding merits in energy density, conductivity, safety, cost, and environmental impact. Although remarkable materials advancements have been reported recently, particularly in the area of Zn-ion storing cathodes, the commercialization of ZIBs is still being hindered by several key technical issues such as capacity, degradation and self-discharge, etc. The focus of this presentation is to specifically address the current development and critical challenges in practical ZIB electrodes and provide candid opinions for future ZIB commercialization. The presentation starts with a brief introduction to ZIBs and their unique advantages, and then moves onto the current understanding of Zn-ion storage mechanisms, recent progress and critical issues associated with cathodes. Finally, the presentation is concluded with perspectives and directions of future ZIB cathode development.
2:30 PM
Reducing the Sintering Temperature of Ceramic Solid-State Batteries with the Cold Sintering Process: Zane Grady1; Joo-Hwan Seo1; Arnaud Ndayishimiye1; Clive Randall1; 1The Pennsylvania State University
While a large portion of research focuses on developing sustainable chemistries for all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs), we argue that a second, hidden, bottleneck to these systems is the high temperature sintering process required by the ceramic components of ASSBs. We first expound on this point for a spectrum of solid-state chemistries to describe the severity and ubiquity of this problem. Second, we describe how low temperature sintering techniques can address this problem. In particular, we present recent applications of the cold sintering process to lithium and sodium ASSBs. In doing so, the sintering temperatures of numerous solid-state battery materials are reduced from ≥1200°C to ≤400°C, while retaining high conductivity and electrochemical activity. At these lower temperatures, it becomes possible to co-process active electrode materials (e.g. Li4Ti5O12, LiFePO4, Na3V2(PO4)3) with conductive additives (e.g. carbon, Na3Zr2Si2PO12, Li7La3Zr2O12), without decomposition. The conductive ceramic composites are then assembled into batteries and characterized.
2:50 PM Invited
Nanoscale Geometry and Point Defects in Supercapacitor Electrodes: Scott Misture1; 1Alfred University
Many 2-D oxides can be exfoliated and reassembled into high surface area solids, with applications in electrochemical charge storage and electrocatalysis, among others. The talk will begin with a review of the unique behavior of Mn ions in layered MnO2, and how Mn3+ point defects yield large improvements in electrochemical and catalytic properties. We then track, using in-operando structural methods, X-ray spectroscopy and Raman spectra, the nature of and effects of electrochemical strains that result from different geometries in free-standing random nanosheets vs. stacked nanosheets. Materials include single-layer and 1-, 2, and 3-layer perovskite-derived layers nanosheets. Highly ordered stacks of nanosheets show only interlayer strains while random assemblies show strains in the plane of the nanosheet (~1%) during charging. The cycling stability is notably better in random nanosheet floccules, which is linked to the strain relief mechanisms afforded by the nanosheet floccules and improved mass and electrical transport.
3:10 PM
Doping Study of Nanoscale Lithium Cobalt Oxide Surfaces and Grain Boundaries: Spencer Dahl1; Blas Uberuaga2; Ricardo Castro1; 1University of California, Davis; 2Los Alamos National Laboratory
Nanoscale cathode materials for high rate applications in lithium ion batteries are particularly unstable due to the high concentration of surfaces and interfaces. This work studied the interfaces of lithium cobalt oxide to fundamentally understand the stability of nanomaterials for cathode applications. The impact of dopant segregation on stability was explored through computational and experimental techniques. The segregation energies of dopants (La, Gd, Y, Sc, Sn, Zr, Ti, Mg, Ca, Sr) to surfaces and grain boundaries was studied using molecular dynamics with a Coulomb-Buckingham potential. The segregation energy of the dopants to a Sigma 3 and Sigma 5 grain boundary and a {001} and a {104} surface were compared to illustrate a trend of increasing segregation energy with ionic radii and ionic charge. Experimentally, doped samples of LiCoO2 were synthesized to confirm the impact of dopants on the interfacial energies and stability of the nanoparticles.