STTR Phase I: Using Nanoparticle Oxide Coatings to Increase Cycle Life of Cathode Materials for Li-Ion Batteries

STTR 第一阶段：使用纳米颗粒氧化物涂层提高锂离子电池正极材料的循环寿命

• 批准号: 1010409
• 负责人: Walter Zeltner
• 金额: $ 14.99万
• 依托单位: SolRayo, Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-07-01 至 2011-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1010409&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: STTR; Phase; Using; Nanoparticle; Oxide

This Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I project will seek to improve the performance of the cathode materials used in lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. LiCoO2 is the primary cathode material, but it is relatively expensive, and has safety concerns. A safer alternative is LiMn2O4, but its utilization is limited by a relatively higher fade capacity; i.e. decrease in capacity with repeated cycling. The project will investigate the effects of nanoporous structure of ceramic coatings on the fade capacity of LiMn2O4. Different material composition and firing temperatures of thin-film coatings of titania and zirconia nanoparticles on LiMn2O4 will be studied. Fixed rate cycle tests (1C) will be performed at a temperature of 55C for different coating formulations to determine the number of cycles before the capacity decreases to 80% of the initial value. The best performing formulation will be tested further using both high-rate cycling for at least 200 cycles and progressive rate cycling. This formulation will also be tested on LiCoO2. The goal is to increase the life of the coated cathode material by an order of magnitude as compared to the uncoated material. This project is also expected to provide additional understanding of nanoparticle coating techniques that may be applicable to variety of energy storage applications.The broader/commercial impact of this project, if successful, will result in improvements in the cycle life of Li-ion batteries and allow the use of safer materials. Although lithium-ion batteries have gained wide acceptance in consumer electronic products, their use in other markets, particularly transportation applications, has been limited by their lifetimes and safety concerns. Improving the lifetime of the safer materials used in these batteries can enhance Li-ion batteries' penetration into transportation and other large markets, enabling access to a $7 billion end user market. The successful outcome of this project will impact applications where there is a need for enhanced cycle life and thermal stability.

这个小型企业技术转移第一阶段项目将寻求改善锂离子(Li-ion)电池所用正极材料的性能。LiCoO2是主要的正极材料，但它相对昂贵，而且有安全问题。一种更安全的替代品是LiMn2O4，但其利用受到相对较高的衰落容量的限制，即重复循环会降低容量。该项目将研究陶瓷涂层的纳米孔结构对LiMn2O4褪色能力的影响。研究了不同的原料组成和不同的烧成温度在LiMn2O4表面制备纳米二氧化钛和氧化锆薄膜。对于不同的涂层配方，将在55℃的温度下进行固定速率循环试验(1C)，以确定在容量降至初始值的80%之前的循环次数。性能最好的配方将使用至少200个周期的高速率循环和递增速率循环进行进一步测试。该配方也将在LiCoO2上进行测试。其目标是将有涂层的阴极材料的寿命与未涂层材料相比提高一个数量级。该项目还有望提供对纳米颗粒涂层技术的更多了解，这些技术可能适用于各种储能应用。如果成功，该项目将产生更广泛的商业影响，将延长锂离子电池的循环寿命，并允许使用更安全的材料。尽管锂离子电池在消费电子产品中得到了广泛的接受，但它们在其他市场，特别是交通应用中的使用受到了寿命和安全问题的限制。提高这些电池中使用的更安全材料的寿命可以加强锂离子电池对运输和其他大型市场的渗透，使其能够进入价值70亿美元的终端用户市场。该项目的成功结果将影响需要提高循环寿命和热稳定性的应用。