Improving the high-temperature operations of fast-charging lithium-ion batteries

锂离子电池的挑战之一是在-20到60摄氏度的温度范围内保持良好的循环寿命(1000次循环)，几乎所有应用都要求如此。锂离子电池的工作原理是阴阳极之间的离子移动。理论上，这样的机制应该永远有效，但循环或在高温下储存会随着时间的推移而降低性能。Echion开发了一系列基于混合NbO(XNO)的独特且获得专利的商业负极材料，并应用于快速充电的锂离子电池，在25dC下实现了出色的循环寿命，可执行数千次循环。然而，在一些设计中，在60dC下，电池可能只达到数百个循环。本项目旨在了解60dC下的老化机理，以提高高温下的循环寿命。这将通过循环后对电池的分析来完成，以了解为什么会出现这种情况。A4I项目将Echion Technologies Ltd、国家物理实验室和卢瑟福·阿普尔顿实验室结合在一起，以更好地了解一些电池设计中在60dC下的老化机理，并提高它们在这种高温下的循环寿命。如果我们能够理解和解决这个问题，它可能会加速下一代超高功率、快速充电电池材料系统的采用和商业化，用于e-Mobility等新的新兴应用。采用这种解决方案可以减少运输部门的有毒气体和有害颗粒，从而对环境和公众健康产生重大好处。这与政府的净零排放是一致的。

One of the challenges of the Li-ion batteries is a good cycle life (\>1000 cycles) for a temperature range between -20 and 60 degrees Celsius required by almost all the applications. The lithium-ion cell works on ion movement between the cathode and anode electrodes. In theory, such a mechanism should work forever, but cycling or storage at an elevated temperature decreases performance over time.Echion has developed a range of unique and patented commercial anode materials based on mixed niobium oxide (XNO) with applications in fast-charging lithium-ion batteries, where they achieve an excellent cycle life at 25dC, performing thousands of cycles. However, at 60dC, the cells may only reach hundreds of cycles in some designs. This project aims to understand the ageing mechanism at 60dC to improve the cycle life at high temperatures. This will be done via analysis of the cells after cycling to understand why this is the case.A4I project brings together Echion Technologies Ltd, National Physical Laboratory and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory to better understand the ageing mechanism at 60dC in some cell designs and improve their cycle life at this high temperature. If we are able to understand and resolve this problem it could accelerate the adoption and commercialization of a next-generation ultra-high power, fast-charging cell material system for new emerging applications such as e-Mobility. Adoption of such solutions could provide significant environmental and public health benefits by reducing the transport sector's toxic gases and harmful particulates. Which is in line with the government's Net Zero emissions.