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Title: Chemical stability and long-term cell performance of low-cobalt, Ni-Rich cathodes prepared by aqueous processing for high-energy Li-Ion batteries

Abstract

Cobalt content in Li-ion battery cathodes has become a top concern due to its price volatility and limited source availability. Low-cobalt, Ni-rich active materials are promising candidates for next-generation cathodes due to their high capacities, and water-based processing of these materials can further reduce both cost and environmental impact. We systematically evaluated the water compatibility of four different LiNixMn1-x-yCoyO2 (NMC) powders with increasing nickel contents. Comprehensive characterization verified there is no major change to their bulk structures, and only slight surface modifications related to the removal of contaminant species. For the first time, we demonstrate that LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC 811) cathodes can be formulated in water and cycled 1000 times in full pouch cells with excellent capacity retention (~70% compared to ~76% for NMP-processed cells). When implemented in future battery production lines, aqueous processing of Ni-rich NMC will simultaneously enable cost reductions and higher cell energy densities.

Authors:
ORCiD logo; ; ORCiD logo; ORCiD logo; ORCiD logo; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Vehicle Technologies Office (EE-3V); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
OSTI Identifier:
1560330
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1561660; OSTI ID: 1601558
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-768524
Journal ID: ISSN 2405-8297; S2405829719309353; PII: S2405829719309353
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725; AC52-07NA27344
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Published Article
Journal Name:
Energy Storage Materials
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: Energy Storage Materials; Journal ID: ISSN 2405-8297
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
Netherlands
Language:
English
Subject:
25 ENERGY STORAGE; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; Lithium-ion battery; Low-cobalt cathode; Aqueous electrode processing; Ni-rich NMC; Green chemistry; Pouch cells

Citation Formats

Wood, Marissa, Li, Jianlin, Ruther, Rose E., Du, Zhijia, Self, Ethan C., Meyer, III, Harry M., Daniel, Claus, Belharouak, Ilias, and Wood, III, David L. Chemical stability and long-term cell performance of low-cobalt, Ni-Rich cathodes prepared by aqueous processing for high-energy Li-Ion batteries. Netherlands: N. p., 2019. Web. doi:10.1016/j.ensm.2019.08.020.
Wood, Marissa, Li, Jianlin, Ruther, Rose E., Du, Zhijia, Self, Ethan C., Meyer, III, Harry M., Daniel, Claus, Belharouak, Ilias, & Wood, III, David L. Chemical stability and long-term cell performance of low-cobalt, Ni-Rich cathodes prepared by aqueous processing for high-energy Li-Ion batteries. Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensm.2019.08.020
Wood, Marissa, Li, Jianlin, Ruther, Rose E., Du, Zhijia, Self, Ethan C., Meyer, III, Harry M., Daniel, Claus, Belharouak, Ilias, and Wood, III, David L. 2019. "Chemical stability and long-term cell performance of low-cobalt, Ni-Rich cathodes prepared by aqueous processing for high-energy Li-Ion batteries". Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensm.2019.08.020.
@article{osti_1560330,
title = {Chemical stability and long-term cell performance of low-cobalt, Ni-Rich cathodes prepared by aqueous processing for high-energy Li-Ion batteries},
author = {Wood, Marissa and Li, Jianlin and Ruther, Rose E. and Du, Zhijia and Self, Ethan C. and Meyer, III, Harry M. and Daniel, Claus and Belharouak, Ilias and Wood, III, David L.},
abstractNote = {Cobalt content in Li-ion battery cathodes has become a top concern due to its price volatility and limited source availability. Low-cobalt, Ni-rich active materials are promising candidates for next-generation cathodes due to their high capacities, and water-based processing of these materials can further reduce both cost and environmental impact. We systematically evaluated the water compatibility of four different LiNixMn1-x-yCoyO2 (NMC) powders with increasing nickel contents. Comprehensive characterization verified there is no major change to their bulk structures, and only slight surface modifications related to the removal of contaminant species. For the first time, we demonstrate that LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC 811) cathodes can be formulated in water and cycled 1000 times in full pouch cells with excellent capacity retention (~70% compared to ~76% for NMP-processed cells). When implemented in future battery production lines, aqueous processing of Ni-rich NMC will simultaneously enable cost reductions and higher cell energy densities.},
doi = {10.1016/j.ensm.2019.08.020},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1560330}, journal = {Energy Storage Materials},
issn = {2405-8297},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {Netherlands},
year = {Fri Aug 30 00:00:00 EDT 2019},
month = {Fri Aug 30 00:00:00 EDT 2019}
}

Journal Article:
Free Publicly Available Full Text
Publisher's Version of Record at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensm.2019.08.020

Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 131 works
Citation information provided by
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Figures / Tables:

Table 1 Table 1 : Experimental testing conditions for individual samples. Each NMC composition was mixed with aqueous solutions at three different pH values for three time durations to give nine total testing conditions.

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