skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Prospects for reducing the processing cost of lithium ion batteries

Journal Article · · Journal of Power Sources

A detailed processing cost breakdown is given for lithium-ion battery (LIB) electrodes, which focuses on: elimination of toxic, costly N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) dispersion chemistry; doubling the thicknesses of the anode and cathode to raise energy density; and, reduction of the anode electrolyte wetting and SEI-layer formation time. These processing cost reduction technologies generically adaptable to any anode or cathode cell chemistry and are being implemented at ORNL. This paper shows step by step how these cost savings can be realized in existing or new LIB manufacturing plants using a baseline case of thin (power) electrodes produced with NMP processing and a standard 10-14-day wetting and formation process. In particular, it is shown that aqueous electrode processing can cut the electrode processing cost and energy consumption by an order of magnitude. Doubling the thickness of the electrodes allows for using half of the inactive current collectors and separators, contributing even further to the processing cost savings. Finally wetting and SEI-layer formation cost savings are discussed in the context of a protocol with significantly reduced time. These three benefits collectively offer the possibility of reducing LIB pack cost from $502.8 kWh-1-usable to $370.3 kWh-1-usable, a savings of $132.5/kWh (or 26.4%).

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1249972
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1185532
Journal Information:
Journal of Power Sources, Journal Name: Journal of Power Sources Vol. 275 Journal Issue: C; ISSN 0378-7753
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
Netherlands
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 479 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (30)

A novel and efficient water-based composite binder for LiCoO2 cathodes in lithium-ion batteries journal November 2007
The effects of pulse charging on cycling characteristics of commercial lithium-ion batteries journal December 2001
A review of the features and analyses of the solid electrolyte interphase in Li-ion batteries journal September 2010
Chemistry, Impedance, and Morphology Evolution in Solid Electrolyte Interphase Films during Formation in Lithium Ion Batteries journal December 2013
Understanding Solid Electrolyte Interface Film Formation on Graphite Electrodes journal January 2001
Ageing mechanisms in lithium-ion batteries journal September 2005
Superior Performance of LiFePO 4 Aqueous Dispersions via Corona Treatment and Surface Energy Optimization journal January 2012
Dispersion properties of aqueous-based LiFePO4 pastes and their electrochemical performance for lithium batteries journal September 2008
Improvements of Dispersion Homogeneity and Cell Performance of Aqueous-Processed LiCoO[sub 2] Cathodes by Using Dispersant of PAA–NH[sub 4] journal January 2006
Lithium Ion Cell Performance Enhancement Using Aqueous LiFePO 4 Cathode Dispersions and Polyethyleneimine Dispersant journal November 2012
Optimization of LiFePO 4 Nanoparticle Suspensions with Polyethyleneimine for Aqueous Processing journal February 2012
The Origin of Stress in the Solid Electrolyte Interphase on Carbon Electrodes for Li Ion Batteries journal October 2013
Using Poly(4-Styrene Sulfonic Acid) to Improve the Dispersion Homogeneity of Aqueous-Processed LiFePO[sub 4] Cathodes journal January 2010
Theory of SEI Formation in Rechargeable Batteries: Capacity Fade, Accelerated Aging and Lifetime Prediction journal December 2012
Electrochemical intercalation of lithium into a natural graphite anode in quaternary ammonium-based ionic liquid electrolytes journal February 2006
A Novel Dual-Current Formation Process for Advanced Lithium-Ion Batteries journal January 2005
The effect of solid electrolyte interface formation conditions on the aging performance of Li-ion cells journal October 2010
Effects of PAA-NH[sub 4] Addition on the Dispersion Property of Aqueous LiCoO[sub 2] Slurries and the Cell Performance of As-Prepared LiCoO[sub 2] Cathodes journal January 2005
Optimizing the surfactant for the aqueous processing of LiFePO4 composite electrodes journal May 2010
Design of Aqueous Processed Thick LiFePO[sub 4] Composite Electrodes for High-Energy Lithium Battery journal January 2009
Capacity Fade Mechanisms and Side Reactions in Lithium-Ion Batteries journal January 1998
Effect of Carboxymethyl Cellulose on Aqueous Processing of LiFePO[sub 4] Cathodes and Their Electrochemical Performance journal January 2008
Optimization of multicomponent aqueous suspensions of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) nanoparticles and carbon black for lithium-ion battery cathodes journal September 2013
Aqueous processing of lithium-ion battery cathodes using hydrogen peroxide-treated vapor-grown carbon fibers for improvement of electrochemical properties journal December 2007
LiFePO4 water-soluble binder electrode for Li-ion batteries journal January 2007
Improved MCMB Anodes by Surface Modification with Self-Assembling Nonionic Surfactants journal January 2004
Effects of pH on the dispersion and cell performance of LiCoO2 cathodes based on the aqueous process journal April 2007
Studies of Lithium Intercalation into Carbons Using Nonaqueous Electrochemical Cells journal January 1990
Preparation and performances of LiFePO4 cathode in aqueous solvent with polyacrylic acid as a binder journal April 2009
Morphology of the Solid Electrolyte Interphase on Graphite in Dependency on the Formation Current journal January 2011

Cited By (86)

Microstructure Evolution of Concentration Gradient Li[Ni 0.75 Co 0.10 Mn 0.15 ]O 2 Cathode for Lithium-Ion Batteries journal May 2018
High‐Performance, Low‐Cost, and Dense‐Structure Electrodes with High Mass Loading for Lithium‐Ion Batteries journal July 2019
Water‐Based Paintable LiCoO 2 Microelectrodes: A High‐Rate Li‐Ion Battery Free of Conductive and Binder Additives journal August 2019
An Aqueous Ca-Ion Battery journal October 2017
Nanostructured Anode Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries: Progress, Challenge and Perspective journal June 2016
Conveying Advanced Li-ion Battery Materials into Practice The Impact of Electrode Slurry Preparation Skills journal July 2016
Improved Cycling Stability of Li[Ni 0.90 Co 0.05 Mn 0.05 ]O 2 Through Microstructure Modification by Boron Doping for Li-Ion Batteries journal July 2018
Microstructure‐Controlled Ni‐Rich Cathode Material by Microscale Compositional Partition for Next‐Generation Electric Vehicles journal February 2019
A Comparison of Formation Methods for Graphite//LiFePO 4 Cells journal January 2019
A Functionally Graded Cathode Architecture for Extending the Cycle‐Life of Potassium‐Oxygen Batteries journal April 2019
Stable Acetals of Glyoxal as Electrolyte Solvents for Lithium‐Ion Batteries journal August 2019
Influence of the Formation Current Density on the Transport Properties of Galvanostatically Formed Model‐Type Solid Electrolyte Interphases journal September 2019
Artificial Intelligence Investigation of NMC Cathode Manufacturing Parameters Interdependencies journal November 2019
High‐Voltage Performance of Ni‐Rich NCA Cathodes: Linking Operating Voltage with Cathode Degradation journal August 2019
In Situ Coating of Li[Ni 0.33 Mn 0.33 Co 0.33 ]O 2 Particles to Enable Aqueous Electrode Processing journal April 2016
Iron-Based Electrodes Meet Water-Based Preparation, Fluorine-Free Electrolyte and Binder: A Chance for More Sustainable Lithium-Ion Batteries? journal May 2017
Concept for the Analysis of the Electrolyte Composition within the Cell Manufacturing Process: From Sealing to Sample Preparation journal April 2019
Influence of the Cell Format on the Electrolyte Filling Process of Lithium‐Ion Cells journal April 2019
Investigation of the Adhesion Strength along the Electrode Manufacturing Process for Improved Lithium‐Ion Anodes journal May 2019
Extrusion‐Based Processing of Cathodes: Influence of Solid Content on Suspension and Electrode Properties journal May 2019
An Innovative Process for Ultra‐Thick Electrodes Elaboration: Toward Low‐Cost and High‐Energy Batteries journal April 2019
Influence of Separator Material on Infiltration Rate and Wetting Behavior of Lithium‐Ion Batteries journal May 2019
The Effects of Mechanical and Thermal Loads during Lithium‐Ion Pouch Cell Formation and Their Impacts on Process Time journal May 2019
Toward Data‐Driven Applications in Lithium‐Ion Battery Cell Manufacturing journal May 2019
Manufacturing Process for Improved Ultra‐Thick Cathodes in High‐Energy Lithium‐Ion Batteries journal June 2019
Drying of Lithium‐Ion Battery Anodes for Use in High‐Energy Cells: Influence of Electrode Thickness on Drying Time, Adhesion, and Crack Formation journal September 2019
Modelling of the Calendering Process of NMC‐622 Cathodes in Battery Production Analyzing Machine/Material–Process–Structure Correlations journal September 2019
Solid versus Liquid—A Bottom‐Up Calculation Model to Analyze the Manufacturing Cost of Future High‐Energy Batteries journal December 2019
Delamination‐Free Multifunctional Separator for Long‐Term Stability of Lithium‐Ion Batteries journal February 2019
Rapid electrolyte wetting of lithium-ion batteries containing laser structured electrodes: in situ visualization by neutron radiography journal February 2019
Eco-friendly process toward collector- and binder-free, high-energy density electrodes for lithium-ion batteries journal January 2017
Lithium ion, lithium metal, and alternative rechargeable battery technologies: the odyssey for high energy density journal May 2017
The application of a water-based hybrid polymer binder to a high-voltage and high-capacity Li-rich solid-solution cathode and its performance in Li-ion batteries journal January 2016
Sintered electrode full cells for high energy density lithium-ion batteries journal August 2018
Optimization of synthesis condition of water-resistant and thin titanium oxide layer-coated Ni-rich layered cathode materials and their cathode performance journal November 2018
Chronoamperometry as an electrochemical in situ approach to investigate the electrolyte wetting process of lithium-ion cells journal January 2020
Globally regional life cycle analysis of automotive lithium-ion nickel manganese cobalt batteries journal August 2019
Life cycle assessment of electric vehicles and buses in Brazil: effects of local manufacturing, mass reduction, and energy consumption evolution journal April 2019
Toward Low-Cost, High-Energy Density, and High-Power Density Lithium-Ion Batteries journal June 2017
A high-capacity and long-life aqueous rechargeable zinc battery using a metal oxide intercalation cathode journal August 2016
Current status and challenges for automotive battery production technologies journal April 2018
Characterization and performance evaluation of lithium-ion battery separators journal December 2018
Dopamine-grafted heparin as an additive to the commercialized carboxymethyl cellulose/styrene-butadiene rubber binder for practical use of SiOx/graphite composite anode journal July 2018
Synthesis of snowflake-shaped Co 3 O 4 with a high aspect ratio as a high capacity anode material for lithium ion batteries journal January 2015
Anatase TiO 2 nanocubes for fast and durable sodium ion battery anodes journal January 2015
Interfacial modification of a lightweight carbon foam current collector for high-energy density Si/LCO lithium-ion batteries journal January 2017
Alternative binders for sustainable electrochemical energy storage – the transition to aqueous electrode processing and bio-derived polymers journal January 2018
Coral-like directional porosity lithium ion battery cathodes by ice templating journal January 2018
Molecular dynamics investigation of reduced ethylene carbonate aggregation at the onset of solid electrolyte interphase formation journal January 2019
Emerging investigator series: capacitive deionization for selective removal of nitrate and perchlorate: impacts of ion selectivity and operating constraints on treatment costs journal January 2020
Silica from diatom frustules as anode material for Li-ion batteries journal January 2019
Carbon-coated CoSe 2 nanoparticles confined in N-doped carbon microboxes with enhanced sodium storage properties journal January 2019
Suppressing detrimental phase transitions via tungsten doping of LiNiO 2 cathode for next-generation lithium-ion batteries journal January 2019
Low-tortuosity and graded lithium ion battery cathodes by ice templating journal January 2019
Pumped thermal grid storage with heat exchange journal July 2017
Technical and economic analysis of solvent-based lithium-ion electrode drying with water and NMP journal August 2017
Active formation of Li-ion batteries and its effect on cycle life journal August 2019
Energy storage through intercalation reactions: electrodes for rechargeable batteries journal December 2016
The ‘use-by date’ for lithium-ion battery components
  • Gorman, Scott F.; Pathan, Tanveerkhan S.; Kendrick, Emma
  • Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 377, Issue 2152 https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2018.0299
journal July 2019
A brief review: Past, present and future of lithium ion batteries journal December 2016
Localized Swelling Inhomogeneity Detection in Lithium Ion Cells Using Multi-Dimensional Laser Scanning journal January 2019
Introduction to Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy as a Measurement Method for the Wetting Degree of Lithium-Ion Cells journal January 2018
Influence of the Electrolyte Quantity on Lithium-Ion Cells journal January 2019
X-ray Based Visualization of the Electrolyte Filling Process of Lithium Ion Batteries journal December 2018
Energy Density of Cylindrical Li-Ion Cells: A Comparison of Commercial 18650 to the 21700 Cells journal January 2018
Characterization of Surface Free Energy of Composite Electrodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries journal January 2018
Development of Non-Fluorinated Cathodes Based on Li 3 V 1.95 Ni 0.05 (PO 4 ) 3 /C with Prolonged Cycle Life: A Comparison among Na-Alginate, Na-Carboxymethyl Cellulose and Poly(acrylic acid) Binders journal January 2017
Electron Beam Curing of Composite Positive Electrode for Li-Ion Battery journal January 2016
Interrelation between Redox Molecule Transport and Li + Ion Transport across a Model Solid Electrolyte Interphase Grown on a Glassy Carbon Electrode journal January 2017
The Influence of Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) Binder Properties on LiNi 0.33 Co 0.33 Mn 0.33 O 2 (NMC) Electrodes Made by a Dry-Powder-Coating Process journal January 2019
An Approach for Pre-Lithiation of Li 1+ x Ni 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 Cathodes Mitigating Active Lithium Loss journal January 2019
Enhanced Fast Charging and Reduced Lithium-Plating by Laser-Structured Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries journal January 2019
Review—SEI: Past, Present and Future journal January 2017
Review—Practical Challenges Hindering the Development of Solid State Li Ion Batteries journal January 2017
Evaluation Residual Moisture in Lithium-Ion Battery Electrodes and Its Effect on Electrode Performance journal January 2016
Understanding the structure and structural degradation mechanisms in high-voltage, lithium-manganese–rich lithium-ion battery cathode oxides: A review of materials diagnostics journal January 2015
Industrial applications of ultrafast laser processing journal December 2016
Full Cell Parameterization of a High-Power Lithium-Ion Battery for a Physico-Chemical Model: Part I. Physical and Electrochemical Parameters text January 2018
Improved Capacity Retention of SiO2-Coated LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 Cathode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries journal September 2019
The Ultrafast Laser Ablation of Li(Ni0.6Mn0.2Co0.2)O2 Electrodes with High Mass Loading journal September 2019
Exploring the Economic Potential of Sodium-Ion Batteries journal January 2019
Life Cycle Analysis of Lithium-Ion Batteries for Automotive Applications journal June 2019
Exploring the Effect of Increased Energy Density on the Environmental Impacts of Traction Batteries: A Comparison of Energy Optimized Lithium-Ion and Lithium-Sulfur Batteries for Mobility Applications journal January 2018
Influence of Electrode Density on the Performance of Li-Ion Batteries: Experimental and Simulation Results journal February 2016
Environmental Screening of Electrode Materials for a Rechargeable Aluminum Battery with an AlCl3/EMIMCl Electrolyte journal June 2018
Tailoring of Aqueous-Based Carbon Nanotube–Nanocellulose Films as Self-Standing Flexible Anodes for Lithium-Ion Storage journal April 2019