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Title: An intermediate temperature garnet-type solid electrolyte-based molten lithium battery for grid energy storage

Journal Article · · Nature Energy
 [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [2];  [3];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [4]
  1. Tsinghua Univ., Beijing (China); Zhengzhou Univ., Zhengzhou (China)
  2. Tsinghua Univ., Beijing (China)
  3. Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA (United States)
  4. Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA (United States); SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)

Batteries are an attractive grid energy storage technology, but a reliable battery system with the functionalities required for a grid such as high power capability, high safety and low cost remains elusive. Here, we report a solid electrolyte-based molten lithium battery constructed with a molten lithium anode, a molten Sn–Pb or Bi–Pb alloy cathode and a garnet-type Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 (LLZTO) solid electrolyte tube. We show that the assembled Li||LLZTO||Sn–Pb and Li||LLZTO||Bi–Pb cells can stably cycle at an intermediate temperature of 240 °C for about one month at current densities of 50 mA cm–2 and 100 mA cm–2 respectively, with almost no capacity decay and an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.98%. Furthermore, the cells demonstrate high power capability with current densities up to 300 mA cm–2 (90 mW cm–2) for Li||LLZTO||Sn–Pb and 500 mA cm–2 (175 mW cm–2) for Li||LLZTO||Bi–Pb. Lastly, our design offers prospects for grid energy storage with intermediate temperature operations, high safety margin and low capital and maintenance costs.

Research Organization:
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-76SF00515
OSTI ID:
1475485
Journal Information:
Nature Energy, Journal Name: Nature Energy Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 3; ISSN 2058-7546
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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A Game Changer: Functional Nano/Micromaterials for Smart Rechargeable Batteries journal August 2019
The Challenge of Lithium Metal Anodes for Practical Applications journal April 2019
Designing solid-state interfaces on lithium-metal anodes: a review journal September 2019
Designing solid-state electrolytes for safe, energy-dense batteries journal February 2020
Electrochemical Diagram of an Ultrathin Lithium Metal Anode in Pouch Cells journal July 2019
Extended Electrochemical Window of Solid Electrolytes via Heterogeneous Multilayered Structure for High‐Voltage Lithium Metal Batteries journal January 2019
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Uniform Lithium Deposition Assisted by Single‐Atom Doping toward High‐Performance Lithium Metal Anodes journal March 2019
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