Energy Storage: Materials, Systems and Applications: Na-Batteries
Program Organizers: Zhenguo "Gary" Yang, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Terry Holesinger, Los Alamos National Laboratory; Xingbo Liu, West Virginia University; Chun Lu, Siemens Energy, Inc.
Wednesday 8:00 AM
October 19, 2011
Room: C223
Location: Greater Columbus Convention Center
Session Chair: Leon Shaw, University of Connecticut; Jeffrey Fergus, Auburn University
8:00 AM Invited
Planar Sodium Metal Halide Battery for Renewable Integration and Grid Applications: John P. Lemmon1; Xiaochuan Lu1; Guosheng Li1; Gary Z. Yang1; 1Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Widespread penetration of renewable energy and increasing demands on reliability/security of the electrical grid require extensive advances in energy storage technologies that are modular and scalable (kW-MW). Among the most promising technologies is the sodium-beta battery (NBB) based on Na+ conducting beta-alumina (ß″-Al2O3) electrolytes (BASE) and operated at elevated temperatures (300-350°C). These batteries have demonstrated round-trip efficiencies >90%, storage capacity up to MWhs for hours of duration, and millisecond response times. However, current (NBB), constructed with 1-3 millimeter thick, tubular, electrolytes, have high capital cost, performance/safety issues, and high temperature operation (300-350°C) that limit widespread adoption of this technology into the market. In this work we will present a sodium ß”-alumina cell designed for widespread renewable energy integration and electrical grid applications. The new generation of NBBs are built upon a planar ß″-Al2O3 based electrolyte. The planar design uses a thin BASE that reduces the area of specific resistance (ASR) and may be operated at reduced temperatures (250oC) facilitated by optimized electrodes and cell components. The operation at low temperature allows for the use of lower cost cell materials and decreases adverse temperature effects that impact cycle life and overall cost. In this presentation, recent results generated from small-scale button cells and large cell format will be presented. This includes cathode design and chemistry along with base line cell performance and cycle life. A path to higher capacity planar designs and crucial materials metrics will also be presented.
8:40 AM Cancelled
Energy Applications Enhanced by Nanomaterials: Randy Vander Wal1; 1Penn State University
Many forms of energy utilization, conversion and storage and generation are dominated by interfacial reactions. Therein nanomaterials as an interfacial modifier will play a critical role in these processes. This talk will provide an overview of their synthesis, integration and value in energy storage, conservation, transfer, efficiency, control and generation. Specific energy applications we have explored include the following: 1) Storage: Increased energy density in Li ion batteries and supercapacitors using carbon nanotubes 2) Efficiency: Reduced friction using nanolubricants between moving parts 3) Transfer: Improved thermal management using nanofluids in heat transfer applications 4) Conservation: Lightweight polymeric composites incorporating nanotubes, nanoclays and graphene oxide for vehicle composites 5) Control: Gas sensors based on nanoscale metal oxide semi-conductors for process control and monitoring 6) Generation: Catalysts and photocatalysts using nanostructured oxides for accelerated charge transfer and minimal recombination losses Highlights in each application will be presented.
9:00 AM Invited
Development of Low-Temperature Molten Na Batteries with NaSICON Ceramics: Chett Boxley1; Matthew Robins1; Grover Coors1; Jeongsoo Kim2; Youngshol Kim2; Jehyun Chae2; 1Ceramatec; 2SK Innovation/ Advanced Battery Development Team
Ceramatec, Inc. and its partners have been working to develop a low temperature molten Na based secondary battery for use in grid-scale energy storage projects. Our novel battery system operates at temperatures near the melting point of Na metal, and employs a NaSICON ceramic primary electrolyte separator. The NaSICON ceramic has been shown to exhibit long-term stability against molten Na and aqueous positive electrode electrolytes. Owing to the high Na+ selectivity of the ceramic, the utilization of a molten Na anode and an aqueous cathode is now feasible.
9:40 AM Break
10:00 AM Invited
Development of Sodium-Based Secondary Batteries for Energy Storage: Anil Virkar1; Greg Tao2; Joonho Koh2; Neill Weber2; 1University of Utah; 2Materials and Systems Research, Inc.
Sodium anode-based secondary batteries for energy storage are currently under development. The sodium-sulfur battery is targeted for load-leveling. NGK in Japan has several MWh class NAS batteries on various sites and have demonstrated service life in excess of 7 years. The sodium-metal chloride (ZEBRA) batteries are being developed for transportation. The ZEBRA batteries have also demonstrated life > 3 years. The key component of the NAS and the ZEBRA batteries is the electrolyte, Na-beta”-alumina (BASE), which is a highly refractory, stable, mechanically strong ceramic. The NAS and the ZEBRA batteries are typically operated at > 300oC. Our current work is on the development of several Na-metal salt batteries for a wide range of operating temperatures from 100 to 400oC. Typical BASE degrades in moist atmospheres. MSRI has developed highly water-resistant BASE which can be used in water-containing environments. A number of electrochemical systems based on MSRI’s BASE will be discussed.
10:40 AM Invited
The Promise of Low Cost Bulk Energy Storage: Aqueous Electrolyte Asymmetric/Hybrid Electrochemical Devices: Jay Whitacre1; Sneha Shanbhag; 1CMU
In this talk, an overview of the promise of using asymmetric (ie. half battery/half superacapacitor) devices to store energy in bulk for low cost will be explored. A survey of recent results in the literature will be presented, and data from Carnegie Mellon and a spin off company, Aquion Energy, will be disclosed showing that very large battery packs with excellent performance attributes can be economically manufactured. These devices are based on a manganese oxide cathode/activated carbon anode unit cell that use a sodium based electrolyte, can be charged to around 2 V, and have extremely good long term performance attributes. Focus will be given to materials processing and implementation needs, as well as potential future directions for this field.
11:20 AM
NASICON-Type Electrolytes for Low Temperature Sodium Battery Applications: Hui Zhang1; Xingbo Liu1; 1West Virginia University
Typical Na-S and other Na-chlorides batteries operate at 250C and beyond. The development of low temperature Na batteries requires electrolytes that can exhibit facile Na-ion transport at the reduced temperatures. NASICON-type materials with the general formula NaM2(PO4)3, where M is usually the tetravalent cation, have been considered to be suitable alternatives of beta-alumina due to their excellent Na-ion conductivity in the temperature range of 150-300◦C. However, grain boundary blocking effects and difficulties in obtaining dense products restrict their applications. In this study, several sodium-ion conductors composed of Na3+xZr2-xYxSi2PO12 (0≤x≤0.5) with NASICON-type structure are successfully prepared by solid-state reaction. The microstrucural features of as-prepared electrolytes are investigated by SEM, XRD and other characterization techniques. The effect of chemical composition on ionic conductivity and porosity of the solid electrolytes is evaluated. The potential applications for these materials as low temperature Na batteries are discussed.
11:40 AM
Physical and Electrochemical Properties of Ionic Liquids for Na-Based Batteries: Jack Shamie1; Leon Shaw1; 1University of Connecticut
In this study, we investigate the physical and electrochemical properties of two ionic liquids (IL) (1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide and 1-butyl-1-methylpiperidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) for their potential as part of the new cathode and electrolyte chemistry in Na-based batteries. The ionic conductivity, electrochemical potential window, and viscosity of both ionic liquids are measured from room temperature to 150oC. Effects of moisture on these properties are also investigated, while the conductivity as a function of the Na ion concentration and temperature is studied. The stability of the ionic liquids in the presence of Na metal is tested and monitored up to 150oC. The results reveal that the ionic conductivity and potential window are sensitive to moisture, and the correlation between the ionic conductivity and viscosity has been established. Furthermore, the ionic liquids possess wide electrochemical windows of over 4 volts, showing their great potential as key components for the next generation Na-based batteries.