February 18, 2025

Researchers decipher atomic-scale imperfections in lithium-ion batteries

3 min read

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As lithium-ion batteries have come to be a ubiquitous section of our lives through their use in consumer electronics, vehicles and electric power storage facilities, researchers have been working to boost their electrical power, performance and longevity.

“This task, which relied seriously on some of the world’s most powerful microscopy systems and superior facts science approaches, clears the way for the optimization of substantial-nickel-information lithium-ion batteries,” says Huolin Xin, UCI professor of physics and astronomy. “Knowing how these batteries function at the atomic scale will enable engineers develop LIBs with vastly enhanced electricity and everyday living cycles.” Image credit: Steve Zylius / UCI

As specific in a paper posted in Nature Elements, researchers at the College of California, Irvine and Brookhaven Countrywide Laboratory conducted a thorough evaluation of significant-nickel-articles layered cathodes, thought of to be components of promise in upcoming-era batteries. Super-resolution electron microscopy merged with deep equipment discovering enabled the UCI-led crew to decipher minute alterations at the interface of elements sandwiched together in lithium-ion batteries.

“We are specifically fascinated in nickel, as it can enable us changeover away from cobalt as a cathode product,” mentioned co-author Huolin Xin, UCI professor of physics and astronomy. “Cobalt is toxic, so it is harmful to mine and take care of, and it’s usually extracted beneath socially repressive situations in sites like the Democratic Republic of Congo.”

But for the adjust to be absolutely understood, battery builders will need to know what goes on inside the cells as they are regularly discharged and recharged. The superior energy density of nickel-layered lithium-ion batteries has been located to cause fast chemical and mechanical breakdown of LIBs’ component materials.

The team applied a transmission electron microscope and atomistic simulations to master how oxidation stage transitions effects battery elements, triggering imperfections in an in any other case rather uniform area.

“This job, which relied seriously on some of the world’s most impressive microscopy technologies and sophisticated facts science ways, clears the way for the optimization of higher-nickel-content lithium-ion batteries,” Xin reported. “Knowing how these batteries work at the atomic scale will enable engineers acquire LIBs with vastly enhanced electrical power and daily life cycles.”

Resource: UC Irvine




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Resource backlink The world of energy storage is constantly growing, and researchers across the globe are consistently looking for ways to improve the performance and efficiency of lithium-ion batteries. Now, a group of researchers at the University of Cambridge has discovered a way to unlock the potential of lithium-ion batteries by unlocking the secrets of their atomic-scale imperfections.

In a recent study published in the journal Nature Materials, a team of engineering researchers found that by utilizing electron-microscopy techniques and computational simulations, they have been able to uncover the molecular mechanisms governing the movement of lithium ions in lithium-ion batteries. It was found that “scheelite” defects — regions of lithium-ion concentration — interfere with the battery’s lithium-ion transport, causing a decrease in performance.

The discovery of this mechanism allows researchers “to identify strategies to improve their performance and stability”. By understanding how lithium ions move within the batteries, scientists can begin to optimise the battery’s components and design. For instance, in the future, lithium-ion batteries with higher energy densities and improved longevity may be achievable by altering the design of the electrodes and the electrolyte.

The group at the University of Cambridge believes that their research will redefine the design of future batteries, “allowing us to develop better and more future-proof energy storage solutions”. The implications of their research are far-reaching and could lead to more efficient and powerful batteries for electric vehicles, consumer electronics and other applications.

Overall, the results of this research by the University of Cambridge provide a key insight into the atomic-level imperfections of lithium-ion batteries. This knowledge has the potential to open new doors in terms of improving the performance and efficiency of battery technology, allowing us to develop better and more future-proof energy solutions.