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What is in a lithium ion battery

What is Inside a Lithium Ion Battery? An In-depth Exploration

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are integral to powering modern life, from mobile phones and laptops to electric vehicles and grid storage solutions. Understanding the components that make up these batteries is essential for appreciating their efficiency, versatility, and the cutting-edge technology behind them. This comprehensive guide details the internal workings of lithium-ion batteries and highlights the advantages of using Himax Electronics for your battery needs.

Introduction to Lithium-Ion Battery Components

A lithium-ion battery is more than just an energy storage unit; it is a complex assembly of chemistry and engineering designed to optimize energy density, longevity, and safety. Here are the key components:

  • Cathode (Positive Electrode): The cathode is a critical component that largely determines the capacity and voltage of the battery.  Mading from a lithium metal oxide compound such as lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), lithium manganese oxide (LiMn2O4), or newer materials like lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4).
  • Anode (Negative Electrode): The anode stores the lithium ions when the battery is charged. Commonly made from graphite, the anode allows lithium ions to embed within its structure during charging and releases them during discharge.
  • Electrolyte: The electrolyte is the medium through which lithium ions move between the cathode and anode when the battery charges and discharges. It is typically composed of a lithium salt dissolved in an organic solvent.
  • Separator: This porous polymer membrane plays a crucial safety role by preventing physical contact between the cathode and anode, which could lead to a short circuit while allowing ions to pass through.

Lithium-Ion Battery

How Lithium-Ion Batteries Work

The basic operation of a lithium-ion battery involves the movement of lithium ions between the anode and cathode through the electrolyte:

  • During Discharge: Lithium ions flow from the anode to the cathode through the electrolyte, while electrons flow through the external circuit to the device being powered, creating an electric current.
  • During Charge: The external power source forces the electrons and lithium ions back to the anode, storing energy for future use.

Benefits of Lithium-Ion Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries offer several advantages that make them the preferred choice for a wide range of applications:

  • High Energy Density: Li-ion batteries provide a significant amount of energy per weight, which is particularly valuable in portable electronics and electric vehicles.
  • Long Lifespan: They can typically handle hundreds to thousands of charge/discharge cycles.
  • Low Self-Discharge: Unlike other battery types, Li-ion batteries lose their charge very slowly when not in use.

Challenges and Safety Considerations

Despite their advantages, Li-ion batteries come with challenges:

  • Thermal Runaway Risks: If damaged or improperly managed, Li-ion batteries can overheat and lead to fires or explosions.
  • Cost and Resource Intensive: The materials used in Li-ion batteries can be expensive and involve complex manufacturing processes.

Applications of Lithium-Ion Batteries

From everyday consumer electronics to critical roles in renewable energy systems and electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries are ubiquitous in modern technology due to their efficiency and capacity.

Choosing Himax Electronics for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Himax Electronics stands out in the lithium-ion battery market for several reasons:

  • Quality and Reliability: We provide top-quality lithium-ion batteries that meet rigorous performance and safety standards.
  • Innovation and Technology: Our commitment to research and development ensures access to the latest advancements in battery technology.
  • Expertise and Support: With extensive experience in the battery industry, Himax offers unmatched customer support and technical guidance.

Lithium-Ion Battery

Conclusion

Understanding the internal components and operation of lithium-ion batteries provides valuable insights into their functionality and widespread use. For anyone seeking reliable and high-performance lithium-ion batteries, Himax Electronics offers innovative solutions backed by expert support and quality assurance.

 

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What is li ion battery

Understanding Lithium-Ion Batteries: Technology, Benefits, and Applications

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are at the forefront of modern battery technology, powering everything from the smallest electronic devices to large-scale electric vehicles and energy storage systems. This detailed guide explores lithium-ion batteries, how they work, their advantages, limitations, and why choosing Himax Electronics can enhance your experience with these batteries.
18650 li ion

Introduction to Lithium-Ion Batteries

A lithium-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery that has become the technology of choice for a wide range of electronics, electric vehicles, and renewable energy applications. It operates on the principle of moving lithium ions between the cathode and anode in an electrolyte.

Core Components of Lithium-Ion Batteries

  • Cathode: The cathode is responsible for the voltage of the battery and is made from a lithium metal oxide.
  • Anode: Typically made from graphite, the anode stores and releases lithium ions as the battery charges and discharges.
  • Electrolyte: Composed of salts, solvents, and additives, the electrolyte is the medium through which the lithium ions move.
  • Separator: This critical component prevents physical contact between the anode and cathode while allowing ion transfer.

How Lithium-Ion Batteries Work

The operation of a lithium-ion battery is based on the movement of lithium ions:
  • Charging: During charging, lithium ions move from the cathode to the anode and are stored in the graphite layers of the anode.
  • Discharging: When discharging, the ions move back to the cathode, releasing stored energy that powers devices.

Advantages of Lithium-Ion Batteries

  • High Energy Density: One of the biggest advantages of Li-ion batteries is their high energy density. They can store more energy per unit of weight than most other types of rechargeable batteries, making them ideal for weight-sensitive applications.
  • Long Lifespan: These batteries can endure hundreds to thousands of charge and discharge cycles.
  • Low Self-Discharge: Lithium-ion batteries have a much lower rate of self-discharge than other types of rechargeable batteries.
  • Flexibility in Design: Engineers can shape lithium-ion batteries in numerous ways, which can be particularly advantageous for customizing product designs.

Limitations and Safety Considerations

Despite their many benefits, lithium-ion batteries come with challenges that must be managed:
  • Cost: They are generally more expensive to manufacture than other types of batteries.
  • Sensitivity to High Temperatures: They can degrade quickly if exposed to high temperatures.
  • Safety Risks: If damaged or improperly handled, lithium-ion batteries pose risks such as thermal runaway, which can lead to potential fires or explosions.

Applications of Lithium-Ion Batteries

  • Consumer Electronics: From smartphones to laptops, lithium-ion batteries are used due to their efficiency and long life.
  • Electric Vehicles are favored for their ability to provide a high power-to-weight ratio, enhancing vehicle performance.
  • Renewable Energy Systems: Lithium-ion batteries store excess energy generated by solar panels and wind turbines, facilitating a consistent energy supply regardless of weather conditions.

Choosing Himax Electronics for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Opting for Himax Electronics offers significant benefits:
  • Innovative Solutions: We stay at the cutting edge of battery technology, constantly developing and refining our products.
  • Superior Quality and Safety: Our batteries are engineered to meet strict safety and performance standards, ensuring reliability and durability.
  • Expert Support: Himax Electronics provides comprehensive customer support, from selecting the right battery to optimizing its usage and maintenance.

lithium ion cells

Conclusion

Lithium-ion batteries represent a dynamic and critical element in the global shift towards more efficient and renewable energy sources. Understanding these batteries’ construction, function, and care requirements can help users optimize their use and lifespan. For your lithium-ion battery needs, consider the reliability and innovation offered by Himax Electronics, where we commit to delivering high-quality, advanced battery solutions tailored to meet and exceed your expectations.
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How to properly maintain UPS lithium battery during use?

ups-system

If the UPS lithium-ion battery is not used and maintained in the correct way, the life of the battery will be shortened. Therefore, on the basis of selecting a regular standard battery, the battery must be properly protected and used.

To ensure the normal operation of UPS lithium-ion battery. We recommended to maintain the lithium battery UPS power system from the following aspects.

Pay attention to various parameters of the UPS

When using a UPS lithium battery, you should pay attention to various parameters of the UPS, such as input voltage range, output waveform, output power, power supply time and conversion time. What’s more, lithium battery brand, machine noise, volume, weight and other parameters. All kinds of UPS are not suitable for working at full load. More than 20% of the power margin should be reserved, and the load should be controlled between 40% and 60% of the rated output power of the UPS.

Proper discharge

When the UPS lithium battery is not used for a long time. We recommended to turn it on every one month and let the UPS be in the inverter working state for at least 2 to 3 minutes in order to activate the battery and extend the service life of the battery. When charging, over-current and over-voltage charging should be avoided as much as possible. Proper discharge helps activate the battery.

Maintain a suitable ambient temperature

An important factor affecting the life of UPS lithium battery is the ambient temperature. Generally, the optimal ambient temperature required by battery manufacturers is between 20-25°C. Once the ambient temperature exceeds 25°C, the battery life will be shortened by half for every 10°C increase.

Replace damaged batteries promptly

In the continuous operation and use of UPS lithium battery, due to differences in performance and quality, it is inevitable that the performance of individual batteries will decline and the storage capacity will not meet the requirements and be damaged. When certain batteries/batteries in the battery pack are damaged, maintenance personnel should inspect and test each battery to eliminate damaged batteries.

Lithium-ion battery

Do not frequently turn off and on the UPS lithium battery power supply

Generally, the UPS power supply must be turned off for 6 seconds before it can be turned on again. Otherwise, the UPS power supply may be in a “start-up failure” state.  In other words, the UPS power supply is in a state where there is neither mains output nor inverter output.

 

UPS power supply has gradually become the protector of important equipment. Due to the uncertainty of the status of UPS lithium-ion batteries, system paralysis and loss of important data have resulted in disastrous consequences and huge losses. Therefore, it is very important to use and maintain UPS lithium-ion batteries correctly.

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Which is safer, lithium batteries(Li-ion) or nickel metal hydride(Ni-MH) batteries?

NI-MH-Battery-Pack

Compared with lithium batteries(Li-ion), nickel-metal hydride batteries(Ni-MH) are superior in terms of safety.

Mainly because the specific heat capacity and energy density of nickel-metal hydride batteries(Ni-MH)are relatively low, but the melting point is as high as 400°C. When the nickel metal hydride battery is subjected to collision, extrusion, puncture, short circuit, etc., the temperature of the battery will not rise sharply and cause spontaneous combustion.

Ni-MH-battery-7.2v-3.3ah

After years of technological development, the mature manufacturing process and stable quality of nickel-metal hydride batteries have greatly improved the safety of the batteries.

In comparison, lithium batteries(Li-ion) are not as safe as nickel-metal hydride batteries, mainly because lithium ions(Li-ion) are more active and have higher energy density. At the same time, the raw materials of lithium batteries(Li-ion) are flammable. Once the battery is short-circuited due to various destructive factors and the temperature rises, the internal electrolyte will undergo a violent chemical reaction, which may cause the battery to spontaneously combust.

lithium 7.4V 8ah

As a professional battery pack manufacturer, HIMAX can not only provide high-quality nickel-metal hydride battery packs, but also provide customers with lithium-ion battery packs with reasonable design and higher safety.

For example, for lithium-ion batteries, we will equip them with PCB and BMS, and can also add additional protection if needed, such as NTC, PTC, etc.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact HIMAX.

HIMAX is a professional manufacturer of LiFePO4, Lithium-ion, Li-Polymer, Ni-MH battery packs with factory. After 12 years of continuous study and exploration, HIMAX has become a global-oriented multinational company integrating R&D and production, providing specialized and customized products.

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Investigating the origins of critical deformations in Li-ion batteries

Lithium ion batteries presently are the ubiquitous source of electrical energy in mobile devices, and the key technology for e-mobility and energy storage. Massive interdisciplinary research efforts are underway both to develop practical alternatives that are more sustainable and environmentally friendly, and to develop batteries that are safer, more performing, and longer-lasting—particularly for applications demanding high capacity and very dense energy storage.

Understanding degradations and failure mechanisms in detail opens opportunities to better predict and mitigate them.

In a new study, a team of researchers led by the Institute of Interdisciplinary Research of the CEA, the Institut Laue Langevin (ILL) and the European Synchrotron (ESRF) in collaboration has examined Lithium ion batteries during their lifetime using state-of-the-art, non-intrusive imaging techniques available at neutron and X-ray sources.

The team’s paper is published in the journal Energy & Environmental Science.

Neutrons and photons are largely complementary. Neutrons are particularly good at seeing lithium and other light elements, while X-rays are sensitive to heavy elements, such as nickel and copper. Their sophisticated combination allowed the researchers to gain multidimensional information on the components and elements inside working battery cells.

The team identified macroscopic deformations in the wound structure of the copper current collector. The deformed areas already existed in fresh battery cells that had only gone through the initial activation cycle (the first charging-discharging cycle). Further investigations revealed that these defects were due to local accumulations of silicon occurring during electrode manufacturing. Upon activation, the largest agglomerates expanded heavily, which led to deformations in the current collector, wasting capacity before the cell ever went into use.

 

sodium ion battery

It was possible to determine how large these accumulations must be to become a problem: cell structure and functioning is compromised for silicon agglomerations with a size above 50 microns. This is crucial information for both quality control and future developments. Erik Lübke, Ph.D. student at ILL and the main author of the study, summarizes, “In fact, resources are wasted when this happens, and we have quantified the effects and understood their causes.”

Full-field, high-resolution 3D transmission tomography enabled the inspection of the entire volume of the battery cell, revealing the presence of a number of defect features. These were more closely investigated at selected cross-sectional 2D slices.

The neutron tomography scans (with simultaneous low intensity X-ray computed tomography scans) were carried out at the NeXT instrument of the ILL. Synchrotron X-ray tomography scans of the very same cells were then measured at the ESRF using two beamlines, BM05 and the high-energy ID31 beamline for phase-contrast and scattering tomography respectively.

At NeXT, 3D high resolution neutron tomography is coupled with X-ray tomography to image the entire cell. Erik Lübke explains, “X-rays give the basic structure, making it possible to know exactly where we are when we use neutrons to examine the spatial distribution of lithium in detail,” benefiting from “the best neutron resolution you can get anywhere in the world.”

Selected parts of the cell were then examined in further detail using several different X-ray tomography techniques at the ESRF high-energy beamlines. Acquiring data during the battery charging process (a so-called operando experiment) made it possible to gather more information about the reaction dynamics in the defective regions: Lithium diffusion is partly blocked there, and even when most of the cell is fully charged these areas remain without lithium in their center.

To ensure the industrial relevance of the results, the team tested cylindrical silicon-based lithium ion battery cells manufactured according to industry standards. Cells of this format are in commercial use in small electronic devices such as medical sensors, headphones, and smart devices. However, the size was reduced for a better compatibility with the experimental requirements. Both fresh cells and aged ones (cycled over 700 times with roughly 50% remaining capacity) were imaged, in charged and discharged states. The different techniques were applied to the very same cells.

More information: Erik Lübke et al, The origins of critical deformations in cylindrical silicon based Li-ion batteries, Energy & Environmental Science (2024). DOI: 10.1039/D4EE00590B

Journal information: Energy & Environmental Science

Provided by Institut Laue-Langevin

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Scientists determine disorder improves lithium-ion battery life

18650 Battery 3.7V

What determines the cycle life of batteries? And, more importantly, how can we extend it? An international research team led by TU Delft has discovered that local disorder in the oxide cathode material increases the number of times  lithium ion battery can be charged and discharged. Their results have been published in Nature.

Rechargeable batteries are a key ingredient of the energy transition, especially now that more and more renewable energy is becoming available. Among the many types of rechargeable batteries, Lithium ion battery pack are among the most powerful and widely used ones.

To electrically connect them, layered oxides are often used as electrodes. However, their atomic structure becomes unstable when the battery is being charged. This ultimately affects the battery cycle life.

To solve this problem, the “Storage of Electrochemical Energy” group at TU Delft teamed up with international researchers. Qidi Wang, the paper’s lead author says, “The layered oxide used as cathode material for Li-ion batteries is neatly ordered. We conducted a structure design study to introduce chemical short-range disorder into this material through an improved synthesis method. As a result, it became more stable during battery use.”

Himax - decorating image

The improved structural stability almost doubled the battery’s capacity retention after 200 charging/discharging cycles. In addition, this chemical short-range disorder increases the charge transfer in the electrode, resulting in shorter charging times. The team demonstrated these advantages for well-established commercial cathodes such as lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) and lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC811).

The outcomes could lead to a new generation of Li-ion batteries, with a lower manufacturing cost and smaller CO2 footprint per unit of energy stored over its lifetime. The team will next investigate if the same material design principles can be used to build cathodes from raw materials that are less scarce.

“Both cobalt and nickel are so-called critical materials for energy technologies and it would be a good thing to reduce the use these materials in batteries,” says the paper’s senior author, Marnix Wagemaker.

More information: Qidi Wang, Chemical short-range disorder in lithium oxide cathodes, Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07362-8. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07362-8

Journal information: Nature

Provided by Delft University of Technology

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Cost-effective, high-capacity and cyclable lithium-ion battery cathodes

LiTypes of Lithium-ion

Charge-recharge cycling of lithium-super-rich iron oxide, a cost-effective and high-capacity cathode for new-generation lithium-ion batteries, can be greatly improved by doping with readily available mineral elements.

The energy capacity and charge-recharge cycling (cyclability) of lithium-iron-oxide, a cost-effective cathode material for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, is improved by adding small amounts of abundant elements. The development, achieved by researchers at Hokkaido University, Tohoku University, and Nagoya Institute of Technology, is reported in the journal ACS Materials Letters.

Lithium ion batteries have become indispensable in modern life, used in a multitude of applications including mobile phones, electric vehicles, and large power storage systems.

A constant research effort is underway to increase their capacity, efficiency, and sustainability. A major challenge is to reduce the reliance on rare and expensive resources. One approach is to use more efficient and sustainable materials for the battery cathodes, where key electron exchange processes occur.

The researchers worked to improve the performance of cathodes based on a particular lithium-iron-oxide compound. In 2023, they reported a promising cathode material, Li5FeO4, that exhibits a high capacity using iron and oxygen redox reactions. However, its development encountered problems associated with the production of oxygen during charging-recharging cycling.

“We have now found that the cyclability could be significantly enhanced by doping small amounts of abundantly available elements such as aluminum, silicon, phosphorus, and sulfur into the cathode’s crystal structure,” says Associate Professor Hiroaki Kobayashi at the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University.

18500 3.7v 1100mah Lithium battery

A crucial chemical aspect of the enhancement proved to be the formation of strong ‘covalent’ bonds between the dopant and oxygen atoms within the structure. These bonds hold atoms together when electrons are shared between the atoms, rather than the ‘ionic’ interaction between positive and negatively charged ions.

“The covalent bonding between the dopant and oxygen atoms makes the problematic release of oxygen less energetically favorable, and therefore less likely to occur,” says Kobayashi.

The researchers used X-ray absorption analysis and theoretical calculations to explore the fine details of changes in the structure of the cathode material caused by introducing different dopant elements. This allowed them to propose theoretical explanations for the improvements they observed. They also used electrochemical analysis to quantify the improvements in the cathode’s energy capacity, stability and the cycling between charging and discharging phases, showing an increase in capacity retention from 50% to 90%.

“We will continue to develop these new insights, hoping to make a significant contribution to the advances in battery technology that will be crucial if electric power is to widely replace fossil fuel use, as required by global efforts to combat climate change,” Kobayashi concludes.

The next phase of the research will include exploring the challenges and possibilities in scaling up the methods into technology ready for commercialization.

More information: Hiroaki Kobayashi et al, Toward Cost-Effective High-Energy Lithium-Ion Battery Cathodes: Covalent Bond Formation Empowers Solid-State Oxygen Redox in Antifluorite-Type Lithium-Rich Iron Oxide, ACS Materials Letters (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialslett.4c00268

Provided by Hokkaido University

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Using sodium to develop rechargeable batteries may bolster the EU’s green ambitions

portable device decorate img

A green industrial future for Europe may depend on an element that is part of a household staple: table salt. Dr. John Abou-Rjeily, a researcher at Tiamat Energy in France, is using sodium to develop rechargeable batteries. Sodium is a part of sodium chloride, an ionic compound that is the technical name for ordinary salt.

 

The idea behind sodium-ion batteries is to reduce Europe’s reliance on the lithium-ion ones that power everything from toothbrushes and mobile phones to mopeds and cars.

Today’s batteries include materials such as lithium, nickel and cobalt that are both scarce and toxic, whereas sodium is one of the most plentiful elements on Earth.

“Sodium-ion batteries are based on more abundant and safer materials than lithium-ion batteries,” said Abou-Rjeily. “There’s not enough lithium ions and cobalt and nickel to meet everyone’s needs.”

He is a research and development engineer at Tiamat, which designs and manufactures sodium-ion batteries.

Abou-Rjeily led a research project to develop sodium-ion batteries that have commercial appeal and can serve as a new foundation for European manufacturing.

Called NAIMA, the project ran from December 2019 through May 2023. It featured companies, research institutions and universities in Bulgaria, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

Battery charge

Batteries are central to Europe’s drive to replace fossil fuels with renewable-energy sources such as wind and solar power. More clean energy in Europe requires new storage capacity that batteries can provide.

The European battery market could be worth as much as €250 billion a year as of 2025. Europe aims to increase its share of global battery-cell production to as high as 25% this decade from 3% in 2018, chipping away at Asia’s 85% dominance.

The research covers all segments of the supply chain—from access to raw materials needed to make batteries and the infrastructure required for storing energy to “smart grids” that automatically charge vehicles when power is cheapest and battery designs that ensure recycling.

Lithium-ion batteries can store lots of energy in a small space, making them winners for smart phones and electric cars. Sodium-ion batteries are slightly bigger and potentially cheaper, making them candidates for storing energy in places such as homes, power tools and small vehicles.

French connection

Abou-Rjeily, a trained chemist from Lebanon, moved to France in 2016 to pursue an interest in environmental sustainability.

He is at home with Tiamat, whose sodium-ion batteries exclude lithium, cobalt and copper and largely avoid nickel too. The company is a spinoff from the French National Center for Scientific Research, or CNRS, which was among the NAIMA participants.

Lithium, cobalt, copper and nickel are on an EU list of critical raw materials, highlighting concerns in Europe about reliance on foreign suppliers and supply squeezes.

For example, when it comes to lithium-ion batteries worldwide, China manufactured almost 80% of them in 2021.

Furthermore, most global production of lithium-ion batteries is expected to go to the automotive industry.

Tiamat plans in 2026 to open a gigafactory in the French city of Amiens to produce sodium-ion batteries suitable initially for equipment such as power tools, according to Abou-Rjeily.

He said NAIMA helped advance the company’s battery know-how.

https://youtu.be/ojLGPk4UltE

The project also helped partners move forward with a type of sodium-ion battery for renewable-energy storage. This kind of battery could also one day be suitable for some cars.

While it wouldn’t ever challenge the 500-kilometer capacity of lithium-ion batteries, this sodium-ion type could be more competitive for smaller stretches, according to Abou-Rjeily.

“They could be cheaper for short and medium driving distances,” he said.

Home base

An energy link between cars and homes through sodium-ion batteries is a vision of Dr. Magdalena Graczyk-Zajac, a visiting professor at the Technical University Darmstadt in Germany.

Also an electrochemist at the German energy company EnBW, she is involved in a project to develop a sodium-ion battery for homes. Called SIMBA, the project is due to wrap up in June 2024 after three and a half years.

Graczyk-Zajac paints a future where energy captured by photovoltaic panels on homes is stored in a rechargeable household sodium-ion battery. The battery would then power the homes and charge the inhabitants’ electric vehicles.

Graczyk-Zajac said such a scenario would mean a big cut in transportation costs.

“You could be driving your car for free for eight to nine months of the year,” she said.
best battery -sodium battery

Household gains

While sodium-ion and lithium batteries work in a similar way, sodium is a larger ion than lithium. That’s one reason that a sodium-ion battery takes up a little more space.

For home storage, such a battery would be placed underground or in a garage, so a slightly larger battery wouldn’t matter much, according to Graczyk-Zajac.

SIMBA, which involves almost 20 research institutes, universities and companies from across Europe, has put together some essential components of a home sodium-ion battery for laboratory testing.

One part, the anode, is made from hard carbon, which can be manufactured from wood or biowaste. Another—the cathode—can be made of a material called Prussian white.

While lithium-ion cathodes frequently contain cobalt, this Prussian white cathode contains iron, which is a more abundant and cheaper metal.

This cathode was developed by Altris, a spinoff in 2017 from Uppsala University in Sweden—one of the SIMBA participants.

Altris made headlines in November 2023 when its industry partner, Sweden-based Northvolt, announced that it would make batteries in Europe with the cathode.

In general, sodium-ion batteries promise households in Europe the chance for cheaper and cleaner energy.

The batteries also offer the prospect of financial gains through the storage and then either sale of spare electricity to the grid when home production is higher than needed or later use in the home.

Graczyk-Zajac recommends the later-use option. “A householder would save more money by just keeping that energy,” she said.

More information:

  • NAIMA
  • SIMBA
  • EU energy research and innovation
  • European Battery Alliance

Provided by Horizon: The EU Research & Innovation Magazine

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Solid-state batteries are popular again? Introduction to the differences between solid-state batteries and lithium-ion batteries

Himax Decorative Pictures - battery pro

A solid-state battery is a battery that uses solid electrodes and solid electrolytes. Solid-state batteries generally have lower power density and higher energy density. Because solid-state batteries have a relatively high power-to-weight ratio, they are an ideal battery for electric vehicles. What is the difference between solid-state batteries and lithium ion battery?

The main difference between solid-state batteries and lithium ion battery is the electrolyte. The electrolyte of lithium ions is liquid and exists in the form of gels and polymers, making it difficult to reduce the weight of the battery. In addition, a single lithium ion battery cell does not have high energy, so multiple battery cells must be connected in series and parallel, further increasing the weight. The cost of engineering, manufacturing and installing the battery pack accounts for a large proportion of the overall cost of an electric vehicle.

In addition to weight issues, the electrolyte of lithium-ion batteries is flammable, unstable at high temperatures, and has thermal runaway problems. In the event of a car accident, a serious fire may result. The electrolytes of the batteries also tend to freeze at low temperatures, which will reduce the battery life. In addition, the electrolyte will corrode the internal components of the battery, and the charging and discharging process will also produce dendrites, reducing the battery’s capacity, performance and lifespan.

Himax - 18650 Li-ion Battery 3.7V 45Ah

Instead of a liquid electrolyte inside a solid-state battery, there is a solid electrolyte in the form of glass, ceramic, or other materials. The overall structure of solid-state batteries is similar to traditional lithium-ion batteries, and the charging and discharging methods are also similar. However, because there is no liquid, the battery is more compact inside, smaller in size, and has increased energy density.

If the lithium-ion battery in an electric vehicle is replaced by a solid-state battery of the same size, the capacity can theoretically be increased by more than 2 times.

Moreover, solid-state lithium batteries are lighter in weight and do not require the monitoring, cooling and insulation systems of lithium-ion batteries. The chassis can free up more space for batteries, greatly increasing the endurance of electric vehicles.

In addition, solid-state batteries charge faster than lithium-ion batteries, have no corrosive problems, and have a longer life. Regarding the operating temperature, solid-state batteries are thermally stable and will not freeze at low temperatures. For users living in mid-to-high latitudes, this can ensure the endurance of electric vehicles.

The technical problem currently encountered by solid-state batteries is that the durability of the batteries is insufficient. Because the battery will repeatedly expand and contract during charging and discharging, causing the solid electrolyte to crack and causing the battery to have a short life.

Overall, solid-state battery technology is still in the transition stage from mature technology to industrialization, and it still needs lower material prices, process improvements, and a more stable supply chain system. The advancement of solid-state battery technology will be a gradual process. At present, lithium batteries will still be the mainstream batteries in va

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New materials discovered for safe, high-performance solid-state lithium-ion batteries

18650 Lithium Ion Battery Pack 14.8V 12Ah

Scientists have discovered a stable and highly conductive lithium-ion conductor for use as solid electrolytes for solid-state lithium ion battery. All-solid-state lithium ion battery with solid electrolytes are non-flammable and have higher energy density and transference numbers than those with liquid electrolytes. They are expected to take a share of the market for conventional liquid electrolyte Li-ion batteries, such as electric vehicles.
However, despite these advantages, solid electrolytes have lower Li-ion conductivity and pose challenges in achieving adequate electrode-solid electrolyte contact. While sulfide-based solid electrolytes are conductive, they react with moisture to form toxic hydrogen disulfide. Therefore, there’s a need for non-sulfide solid electrolytes that are both conductive and stable in air to make safe, high-performance, and fast-charging solid-state Li-ion batteries.
In a recent study published in Chemistry of Materials on 28 March 2024, a research team led by Professor Kenjiro Fujimoto, Professor Akihisa Aimi from Tokyo University of Science, and Dr. Shuhei Yoshida from Denso Corporation, discovered a stable and highly conductive Li-ion conductor in the form of a pyrochlore-type oxyfluoride.
According to Prof. Fujimoto, “Making all-solid-state lithium-ion secondary batteries has been a long-held dream of many battery researchers. We have discovered an oxide solid electrolyte that is a key component of all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries, which have both high energy density and safety. In addition to being stable in air, the material exhibits higher ionic conductivity than previously reported oxide solid electrolytes.”

The pyrochlore-type oxyfluoride studied in this work can be denoted as Li2-xLa(1+x)/3M2O6F (M = Nb, Ta). It underwent structural and compositional analysis using various techniques, including X-ray diffraction, Rietveld analysis, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, and selected-area electron diffraction.
Specifically, Li1.25La0.58Nb2O6F was developed, demonstrating a bulk ionic conductivity of 7.0 mS cm⁻¹ and a total ionic conductivity of 3.9 mS cm⁻¹ at room temperature. It was found to be higher than the lithium-ion conductivity of known oxide solid electrolytes. The activation energy of ionic conduction of this material is extremely low, and the ionic conductivity of this material at low temperature is one of the highest among known solid electrolytes, including sulfide-based materials.

Himax - 14.8v-2500mAh 18650 battery pack
Even at –10°C, the new material has the same conductivity as conventional oxide-based solid electrolytes at room temperature. Furthermore, since conductivity above 100 °C has also been verified, the operating range of this solid electrolyte is –10 °C to 100 °C. Conventional lithium-ion batteries cannot be used at temperatures below freezing. Therefore, the operating conditions of lithium-ion batteries for commonly used mobile phones are 0 °C to 45 °C.
The Li-ion conduction mechanism in this material was investigated. The conduction path of pyrochlore-type structure cover the F ions located in the tunnels created by MO6 octahedra. The conduction mechanism is the sequential movement of Li-ions while changing bonds with F ions. Li ions move to the nearest Li position always passing through metastable positions. Immobile La3+ bonded to F ion inhibits the Li-ion conduction by blocking the conduction path and vanishing the surrounding metastable positions.
Unlike existing lithium-ion secondary batteries, oxide-based all solid-state batteries have no risk of electrolyte leakage due to damage and no risk of toxic gas generation as with sulfide-based batteries. Therefore, this new innovation is anticipated to propel future research.
“The newly discovered material is safe and exhibits higher ionic conductivity than previously reported oxide-based solid electrolytes. The application of this material is promising for the development of revolutionary batteries that can operate in a wide range of temperatures, from low to high,” says Prof. Fujimoto. “We believe that the performance required for the application of solid electrolytes for electric vehicles is satisfied.”
Notably, the new material is highly stable and will not ignite if damaged. It is suitable for airplanes and other places where safety is critical. It is also suitable for high-capacity applications, such as electric vehicles, because it can be used under high temperatures and supports rapid recharging. Moreover, it is also a promising material for miniaturization of batteries, home appliances, and medical devices.
In summary, researchers have not only discovered a Li-ion conductor with high conductivity and air stability but also introduced a new type of superionic conductor with a pyrochlore-type oxyfluoride. Exploring the local structure around lithium, their dynamic changes during conduction, and their potential as solid electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries are important areas for future research.
More information: Akihisa Aimi et al, High Li-Ion Conductivity in Pyrochlore-Type Solid Electrolyte Li2–xLa(1+x)/3M2O6F (M = Nb, Ta), Chemistry of Materials (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.3c03288
Journal information: Chemistry of Materials