New lithium-based solid electrolyte delivers dry air stability, efficient transport and high compatibility toward metallic lithium
21 October 2023
A team of researchers from the US and Canada have developed a new lithium-based solid-state electrolyte (SSE) material (Li9N2Cl3) that demonstrates excellent lithium compatibility and atmospheric stability and that enables high–areal capacity, long-lasting all–solid-state lithium metal batteries. An open-access paper on the work is published in Science Advances.
The Li9N2Cl3 facilitates efficient lithium-ion transport due to its disordered lattice structure and presence of vacancies. Notably, it resists dendrite formation at 10 mA/cm2 and 10 mAh/cm2 due to its intrinsic lithium metal stability. Furthermore, it exhibits robust dry-air stability.
Incorporating this SSE in Ni-rich LiNi0.83Co0.11Mn0.06O2 cathode-based all–solid-state batteries, we achieve substantial cycling stability (90.35% capacity retention over 1500 cycles at 0.5 C) and high areal capacity (4.8 mAh/cm2 in pouch cells). These findings pave the way for lithium metal batteries to meet electric vehicle performance demands.
—Li et al.
Calculated crystal structure of vacancy-rich Li9N2Cl3, Li+ (cyan), N3− (yellow), and Cl− (green). Li et al.
Resources
Weihan Li et al. (2023) “Lithium-compatible and air-stable vacancy-rich Li9N2Cl3 for high–areal capacity, long-cycling all–solid-state lithium metal batteries.” Sci. Adv. 9 doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adh4626
Sounds good - can anyone confirm this?
Posted by: mahonj | 21 October 2023 at 11:39 AM
I'd generally recommend to get away from Li as quick as possible. Li is not a scarce element but has few locations of procurement, can easily be monopolized and prices for the raw material are steadily on the rise even though already quite expensive. Additionally, its flammability - amongst other undesirable attributes - is not a favorable attribute.
Sodium, on the other hand, does not share such unwanted characteristics, is available everywhere, secures independence and is virtually cheap as dirt.
CATL has introduced a new chemistry based on Sodium that leaves almost no desires open. The sole deterrent is that it is manufactured in China.
https://www.catl.com/en/news/6015.html
Posted by: yoatmon | 22 October 2023 at 07:13 AM
This does look good. The cells have Production level life and are low cost (LiCL is cheap).
“ Incorporating this SSE in Ni-rich LiNi0.83Co0.11Mn0.06O2 cathode-based all–solid-state batteries, we achieve substantial cycling stability (90.35% capacity retention over 1500 cycles at 0.5 C) and high areal capacity (4.8 mAh/cm2 in pouch cells). ”
Researchers are from Canada, ORNL, and University of Maryland (UMD).
This could even have a Toyota connection. One of the researchers, Yifei Mo from UMD shares a patent with Toyota Research - US US 11,641,029
https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/53/30/a6/595ebc485509c2/US11641029.pdf
The Canadian team has a joint venture with GLABAT Solid State Battery (China), possible production capability.
https://glabat-ssb.com/project/global-news-report-on-glabat/
While this is a Choride SSE and Toyota prefers Sulfide SSE and is partnering with Idemitsu Kosan on the Sulfide SSE, remember Toyota has plans for Two All Solid State batteries (ASSB) - an LFP battery and a Nickel based “high performance” ASSB.
The low cost LFP battery could use the Sulfide SSE which works better with Silicon Anodes, while the Nickel battery could use this SSE.
Of course, only speculation at this point.
Posted by: Gryf | 22 October 2023 at 06:59 PM