Next Generation Li-Ion Rechargeable Batteries Featuring Nano-Engineered Anode Architectures

采用纳米工程负极架构的新一代锂离子充电电池Nikhil Koratkar、Catalin PICU和Toh-ming LuRensselaer理工学院硅是最有前途的锂离子充电电池负极材料之一，因为它拥有已知最高的理论充电容量，也是地球上第二丰富的元素。然而，由于锂的插入和提取带来的巨大体积变化，硅阳极的应用受到了限制。这会导致阳极破裂和粉化，从而导致失去电接触并最终导致容量衰减。本项目的目标是开发具有高容量和长寿命的新型抗应力纳米结构硅阳极结构。我们将系统地研究各种负极结构，以期了解和控制纳米结构锂离子电池负极的失效。更具体地说，我们建议研究三类纳米结构的阳极：(1)硅和其他有希望的材料如铝和锡的纳米棒/纳米弹簧阵列；(2)传统硅膜阳极的纳米顺应支撑结构；(3)由电化学惰性材料组成的纳米棒上沉积的硅勺。除了实验之外，还提出了原子尺度的模拟来研究锂在纳米结构中扩散和应力积累的物理过程。这些信息将被用来开发连续介质模型，以确定纳米涂层电极的最佳结构。可充电锂离子电池是当今信息丰富、移动社会不可或缺的一部分。拟议的工作将提供必要的基本理解，以开发和完善纳米结构阳极的设计，使锂离子电池的充电容量、充放电倍率能力和循环寿命能够提高数量级。这可能导致革命性的新的高性能电池技术，除了便携式电子产品外，这些技术还可以在下一代无线通信设备、固定存储电池、微芯片、国防应用中发挥核心作用，甚至在混合动力和所有电动汽车中发挥核心作用。

Next Generation Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Batteries Featuring Nano-Engineered Anode ArchitecturesNikhil Koratkar, Catalin Picu and Toh-Ming LuRensselaer Polytechnic InstituteSilicon is one of the most promising anode materials for Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries because it has the highest known theoretical charge capacity and is the second most abundant element on earth. However Silicon anodes have limited applications because of the huge volume change associated with the insertion and extraction of Lithium. This causes cracking and pulverization of the anode, which leads to a loss of electrical contact and eventual fading of capacity. The objective of this project is to develop novel stress-resistant nanostructured Silicon anode architectures with a high capacity and long life. We will systematically study various anode architectures with a view to understanding and controlling failure in nanostructured Lithium-ion battery anodes. More specifically, we propose to study three categories of nanostructured anodes: (1) Nano-rod/nano-spring arrays of Silicon and other promising materials such as Aluminum and Tin, (2) nano-compliant support structures for conventional Silicon film anodes and (3) Silicon scoops deposited on nanorods composed of an electrochemically inert material. In addition to the experiments, atomic scale simulations are proposed to investigate the physics of Lithium diffusion and stress build-up in nanostructures. This information will be used to develop continuum models in order to determine the optimal structure of the nanopatterned electrode.Rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries are integral to today's information-rich, mobile society. The proposed work will provide the fundamental understanding necessary to develop and refine the design of nanostructured anodes to enable order of magnitude enhancements in charge capacity, charge/discharge rate capability and cycle life of Lithium-ion batteries. This can lead to revolutionary new high performance battery technologies which in addition to portable electronics could also play a central role in next generation wireless communication devices, stationary storage batteries, microchips, defense applications, and even in hybrid and all electric vehicles.