DOCSLIB.ORG

The STFC Global Challenge Network in Batteries & Electrochemical

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The STFC Global Challenge Network in Batteries & Electrochemical LONDON’S GLOBAL UNIVERSITY The STFC Global Challenge Network in Batteries & Electrochemical Energy Devices Introduction Membership of the Network is open Events to all stakeholders with an interest in the application of large-scale The Network supports a range of events, The STFC Global Challenge Network facilities – access to associated which are free to all to attend including: in Batteries and Electrochemical funding is reviewed by the Energy Devices, brings together • Annual scientifi c meetings Network’s steering committee. leading researchers in industry and • Annual early-career researchers’ meetings academia with a shared interest in • Industry workshops the application of large-scale user The objectives of the Network are: facilities, to address key challenges • Early-career training workshops and summer schools in battery science and technology. 1. Bringing together an international community of researchers from • Technique development workshops industry, academia and national • Fieldtrips to synchrotron laboratories. and neutron sources 2. Seeding lasting collaborations which will lead to cutting edge science. 3. Establishing cross-technique linking between diff erent users of large-scale facilities. 4. Standardising new techniques (especially for applications to electrochemical devices). 5. Establishing and disseminating best-practice methodologies. 6. Ensuring best use of large- scale facilities resources and complementary science. 7. Providing advice and feedback to inform future infrastructure investment. 8. Promote the engagement of Large scale user facilities play a pivotal industry with large scale facilities. role in the development of new and improved electrochemical energy devices including batteries and fuel cells. The Network will promote collaboration between world-class users and developers of large-scale research facilities and provide a forum to draw together researchers from a range of disciplines. Network members are encouraged to share latest technique Contact www.stfcbatteries.org developments and help disseminate cutting- edge research ahead of publication. This is Prof Paul Shearing Dr Rema Abdulaziz achieved through targeted network events. [email protected] [email protected] 2 STFCBATTERIES.ORG STFCBATTERIES.ORG 3 Early Career Researchers’ Meeting Beam-Time Application Workshop Hosted at The Cosener’s House, Abingdon, the two-day Early Career Researchers’ Meeting continues to Aimed at fi rst time users, the workshop provide an opportunity for those in the was held at the Faraday Institution early stages of their research career, at Harwell and included talks on PhDs and Post-Docs, to present best practice in application writing, and discuss their work in a relaxing preparing for beam time, Synchrotron environment and creating links and and Neutron source capabilities, collaborations. The meeting also and the research that can be done in included four senior keynote speakers batteries and electrochemical devices. presenting their recent research in the fi elds of batteries, fuel cells and other The workshop included tours of both facilities: Diamond Light Source and electrochemical applications; as well as ISIS Neutron and Muon Source. an Industry Speed Dating afternoon. 4 STFCBATTERIES.ORG STFCBATTERIES.ORG 5 Funding Experimental Design Awards 10 experimental design awards The Network provides funding were funded in Phase 2, enabling to individuals and organisations the development of new research to promote its scientifi c goals, capability in the UK, including: these include: • Dr Oliver Pecher (University of Cambridge): • The STFC Early Career Award – who, alongside beam line I11 staff , has to enable mobility of students developed a new high-temperature XRD and early career researchers cell for long duration battery experiments • The STFC Experimental Design which is yielding insight into the Award – to enable researchers degradation of Li-ion battery materials, to develop new methodology leveraging Diamond’s unique Long and concepts Duration Experiments beamline. • Bursaries to support student • Dr Julia Parker (Diamond): who is places at training events developing a novel electrochemical cell (see Figure) for incorporation • Flexible funds to support into the I14 beamline for a range of workshops, conferences electrochemical studies. and meetings The following pages provide • Dr Paddy Cullen (UCL/ISIS): who some examples of activities that has developed an in-situ environment the Network has supported. for battery studies using neutron scattering and diff raction, which will be made available to the wider neutron user community. Figure: New hardware developed through the Network’s Experimental Design scheme is enhancing UK research capability. 6 STFCBATTERIES.ORG STFCBATTERIES.ORG 7 Case Study 1 We have since received funding from NASA to further explore the relationship STFC Experimental Design Award between internal dynamics and external risks for Li ion batteries. Case Study: Identifying the risks of Li ion battery failure Dr Donal Finegan – National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL) The funding has led to the following publications: 1. Finegan, Donal P., et al. “Modelling and experiments to identify high-risk failure scenarios for testing the safety This project aimed to link internal of lithium-ion cells.” Journal of Power phenomena that occur during Sources 417 (2019): 29-41. catastrophic failure of Li ion batteries with external risks. The project 2. Finegan, Donal P., et al. “Identifying the involved design of in-situ containment Cause of Rupture of Li-Ion Batteries vessels that facilitated simultaneous during Thermal Runaway.” Advanced X-ray imaging, thermal imaging, and Science5.1 (2018): 1700369. heat measurements, from commercial Li ion batteries as they undergo 3. Finegan, Donal P., et al. “Tracking Internal thermal runaway. The containment Temperature and Structural Dynamics vessels were constructed using the during Nail Penetration of Lithium-Ion STFC design award and have been Cells.” Journal of The Electrochemical utilized at the ESRF and Diamond Society 164.13 (2017): A3285-A3291. Light Source for experiments that have since significantly advanced our understanding of the mechanisms that lead to failure of Li ion cells. This work attracted the attention of NASA and the US DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), where I now work. The award directly contributed to improving my post-PhD career opportunities, continuing my research pursuits at NREL, and for bringing international recognition to the advanced X-ray diagnostic capabilities of the ESRF and Diamond Light Source. 8 STFCBATTERIES.ORG STFCBATTERIES.ORG 9 Case Study 2 Case Study 3 STFC Experimental Design Award STFC Experimental Design Award Case Study: In-situ electrochemical XPS Case Study: Design of an electrochemical cell for in-situ spectroscopy Dr Alex Walton – University of Manchester Dr Rosa Arrigo – University of Salford This funding allowed me to develop a of the biggest challenges in carbon dioxide new methodology to study the electrode/ reduction. Through this work, it was possible electrolyte interface in XPS. This would to clarify that Fe(II) sites coordinated to allow operando XPS of electrochemical N-functionalities on the carbon support are systems (battery electrolytes amongst responsible for the C-C coupling. Moreover, others), but is highly technically it was possible to identify that the structural challenging. transformation of FeOOH species into metallic Fe leads to the parasitic hydrogen The development was done using our lab- evolution reaction. This is a major scientifi c source NAP-XPS instrument in Manchester breakthrough, which was published recently but with a view to rolling out the same (R. Arrigo, Nature Communication 2018), methodology at Diamond (B07 beamline). and the research is still ongoing and other This rollout is still ongoing. publications are in preparation. The proof-of-concept paper and follow- This award enabled me to engage with on funding resulting from this award has the wider UK scientifi c community to raised my profi le, led to a number of new study in-situ electro-catalytic processes, collaborations and to receiving an EPSRC specifi cally with the following institutions: New Investigator Award EP/S004335/1. a) UCL to study ORR over Pt based The funding has led to the following The aim of the project was the electrodes; publication: development of an in-situ electrochemical cell for investigating electro-catalytic b) University of Bath and Cardiff and the Booth, S. G., et al. “The off set droplet: a processes by means of synchrotron MAXNet to study the OER over IrOx; new methodology for studying the solid/ based hard X-ray absorption water interface using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy at the synchrotron c) University of Oxford to study single spectroscopy.” Journal of Physics: facility DLS. metal sites graphene-based electrode Condensed Matter 29.45 (2017): 454001. for HER and NH3 synthesis. Using this in-situ cell, I was able to gain new The funding has led to the following insights into the electro-catalytic reduction publication: of carbon dioxide over FeOOH supported on C electro-catalysts. Genovese, Chiara, et al. “Operando spectroscopy study of the carbon dioxide In a previous study, I found that the reactivity electro-reduction by iron species on of Fe oxides can be tuned by the interaction nitrogen-doped carbon.” Nature with the carbon support such that it communications 9.1 (2018): 935. catalyses the C-C coupling, which is one 10
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Exciting Phd Opportunity with the Faraday Institution
    Exciting PhD opportunity with the Faraday Institution. Looking for a battery related career that contributes to creating a sustainable future? Keen to join a dynamic community of pioneering battery researchers seeking to find solutions to support a fully electric future? The Faraday Institution Cluster PhD researchers receive an enhanced stipend over and above the standard EPSRC offer. The total annual stipend is approximately £20,000 (plus London weighting) plus an additional training package worth £7,000. Recipients will have access to multiple networking opportunities, industry visits, mentorship, internships, as well as quality experiences that will further develop knowledge, skills, and aspirations. Read more. Take a look at the bespoke training programme on offer. Project: Cell designs and testing methods for battery parameterisation This 4 year PhD project is based in the school of Metallurgy and Materials at the University of Birmingham. It is aimed at developing new and novel methodologies for the parameterisation of interfaces and ageing of cells in conjunction with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). Very little is known about the electrochemistry of the interfaces in a battery, particular the thermodynamics and kinetics of the formation and growth of these interfaces during the manufacturing processes, or during the ageing processes. This project aims to develop monitoring and analytical tools for the interface formation and growth in a battery. This information would provide parameterisation details to ageing models that will be developed as part of the Faraday Institution - Multi-scale modelling project, and has a direct impact for predictive models and industrial application. This project is multi-disciplinary with a focus upon electrochemistry and electrochemical techniques for analysis of electrodes and cells.
    [Show full text]
  • Lithium-Sulfur Batteries: Lightweight Technology for Multiple Sectors
    FARADAY INSIGHTS - ISSUE 8: JULY 2020 Lithium-sulfur batteries: lightweight technology for multiple sectors Lithium-sulfur technology has the potential to offer cheaper, lighter-weight batteries that also offer safety advantages. After initially finding use in niche markets such as satellites, drones and military vehicles, the technology has the potential to transform aviation in the long-term. Electric aircraft offering short-range flights or vertical take-off and landing (including personalised aviation and flying taxis in cities) are distinct possibilities by 2050. The UK, which is already home to established lithium-sulfur battery manufacturers and to leading academics in the field, has a great opportunity to be the global leader in this ground-breaking technology. Introduction mechanism,2 in which Li-ions are shuttled between electrodes where they are stored, Li-S batteries operate by Batteries that extend performance beyond the fundamental a ‘conversion mechanism’. In this process, elemental sulfur limits of lithium-ion (Li-ion) technology are essential for the and lithium react to form a series of lithium-containing sulfur transition away from fossil fuels. Amongst the most mature of these ‘beyond Li-ion’ technologies are lithium-sulfur (Li-S) Figure 1: A comparison of the benefits toward key metrics batteries. Li-S cells replace the metal rich cathode of Li-ion offered by current and future Li-S and Li-ion battery cells with comparatively cheap and abundant elemental technology sulfur, a material that also offers the theoretical potential Current Li-S for a five-fold improvement in capacity1 for the same weight Future Li-S compared with materials widely used in Li-ion cells.
    [Show full text]
  • Quad One, Becquerel Avenue, Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0RA, UK +44 (0)1235 425300 Tel Faraday.Ac.Uk Statement of Requiremen
    Statement of requirement Reducing the cost and improving the performance of battery technologies for use in developing countries and emerging economies Introduction The Faraday Institution is the UK’s independent institute for electrochemical energy storage science and technology, supporting research, training, and analysis. We bring together scientists, industry partners, and government funding with a common goal. We invest in collaborative research to reduce battery cost, weight, and volume; to improve performance and reliability; to develop scalable designs; to improve our manufacturing; to develop whole-life strategies from mining to recycling to second use; and to accelerate commercialisation. Bringing together expertise from universities and industry, and as part of the Faraday Battery Challenge, the Faraday Institution endeavours to make the UK the go-to place for the research, development, manufacture and production of new electrical storage technologies for both the automotive and the wider relevant sectors. With respect to this call, the Faraday Institution has received funding from UK aid to research new battery technologies and conduct relevant techno-economic and related studies that have the potential to increase the uptake of cheap, clean and reliable energy in Overseas Development Assistance (ODA)-eligible countries. The UK aid support is provided as part of the Transforming Energy Access programme, which supports early stage testing and scale up of innovative technologies and business models that will accelerate access to affordable, clean energy based services to poor households and enterprises, especially in Africa. Overview The Faraday Institution is launching a research programme which will develop the potential of new battery technologies for use in developing countries and emerging economies.
    [Show full text]
  • Modelling Degradation Phenomena in Linio2 Project Description High-Voltage Electrode Materials Are Crucial to Developing Li-Ion Batteries with High Energy Densities
    Modelling degradation phenomena in LiNiO2 Project Description High-voltage electrode materials are crucial to developing Li-ion batteries with high energy densities. A promising class of high-voltage cathode materials are Ni-rich transition metal oxides such as lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxides (NMC). These cathode materials enable high operating voltages that can be tuned through controlling the materials’ Ni content. They tend to suffer, however, from structural instabilities. Phase transformations have been observed to cause battery degradation, e.g. a build-up in impedance and an overall loss in electrochemical performance. The mechanistic details of the structural transformations and how they impair electrochemical performance are to date unclear. Join the Faraday Undergraduate Summer Experience (FUSE) internship programme to learn more about extending battery lifetimes and about careers in the fields of battery technology and energy storage. In this project, we will model, using density functional theory and semi-empirical techniques, degradation phenomena in LiNiO2, a prototype material for NMC cathodes. The goal of this project is to identify and characterise the structural transformations occurring in the charge and discharge process. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the entire project will be running remotely. Project Goals Understanding of materials design principles for high-voltage cathodes First experience with high-performance computing, submitting batch jobs Running density functional theory calculations Performing semi-empirical simulations Analysis of structural data and electronic structures (densities of states) FUSE students will invited to participate in a Faraday Institution event to share their posters with UK battery researchers and industry partners. Prizes will be awarded.
    [Show full text]
  • The Faraday Institution / Fast Start Projects 2018
    THE FARADAY INSTITUTION / FAST START PROJECTS 2018 EXTENDING Materials Cloud BATTERY Tests BMS Synthesis LIFE Crack (GU, CAM, UCL) ing loss O 2 Magnetometry (CAM) Led by the University of Cambridge with nine other university and 10 industry Dissolution Li plating . Corrosion Raman partners, this project will omp (LIV, CAM) SEI Dec examine how environmental u d d - m/z and internal battery stresses XPS (MAN, NU) e XAS (MAN, ICL) Neutrons DEMS (SOT) (such as high temperatures, XRD (GU, UCL) SIMS (STR, GU) (ICL, NU) charging and discharging Muon SPM SEM (WMG) NMR (CAM) (ICL, NU, GU) (NU, UCL) TEM (CAM, LIV) EPR (MAN) rates) damage electric vehicle (EV) batteries ABOVE: The many possible causes of performance degradation in lithium ion batteries and the comprehensive suite of techniques being used to unravel their mechanisms. over time. are not present in ‘normal’ operating failure, and accelerate the development of Results will include the optimization of conditions. A key goal for the automotive new battery chemistries through the battery materials and cells to extend industry is to better understand the holistic and coordinated efforts of the battery life (and hence EV range), reduce causes and mechanisms of degradation to research. An ability to fully understand the battery costs, and enhance battery safety. enable improved control and prediction of causes of low lifetime in lithium ion With Cambridge, university partners the state of health of battery systems. batteries will place the UK at the forefront include University of Glasgow, University of the next generation of battery electric College London, Newcastle University, Degradation mechanisms can occur on vehicle technology.
    [Show full text]
  • Exciting Phd Opportunity with the Faraday Institution. Looking for a Battery Related Career That Contributes to Creating a Susta
    Exciting PhD opportunity with the Faraday Institution. Looking for a battery related career that contributes to creating a sustainable future? Keen to join a dynamic community of pioneering battery researchers seeking to find solutions to support a fully electric future? The Faraday Institution Cluster PhD researchers receive an enhanced stipend over and above the standard EPSRC offer. The total annual stipend is approximately £20,000 (plus London weighting) plus an additional training package worth £7,000. Recipients will have access to multiple networking opportunities, industry visits, mentorship, internships, as well as quality experiences that will further develop knowledge, skills, and aspirations. Read more. Take a look at the bespoke training programme on offer. Project: Novel Cathodes for Lithium-ion Batteries A fully funded 4-year studentship (PhD) is available in the School of Metallurgy and Materials, at the University of Birmingham under the supervision of Prof Emma Kendrick and Prof Peter Slater. This PhD is part of an exciting large interdisciplinary project, CATMAT (Cathode Materials), funded by the Faraday Institution, a £42 million initiative to accelerate the electric vehicle revolution by overcoming the related battery challenges. The project brings together researchers from five universities across the UK to develop a new generation of Li-ion cathodes. CATMAT is investigating the fundamental mechanisms at work within next generation cathodes, and is exploiting this new knowledge to inform the discovery of novel cathode materials with enhanced properties. We will identify the most promising new cathode materials, scaling up their synthesis and assimilating them into fully battery cells to demonstrate performance. This exciting PhD project will investigate the materials synthesis, manufacturing and electrochemical testing of novel cathode materials.
    [Show full text]
  • Battery System Modelling
    THE FARADAY INSTITUTION / FAST START PROJECTS 2018 THE FARADAY INSTITUTION/RESEARCH PROJECTS BATTERYMULTI-SCALE SYSTEM MODELLINGMODELLING Imperial College London (ICL) to test every new material, or new type ABOVE: To advance current models and Accurateand configuration simulations ofof batteriesthe cells willthat givemake upABOVE: develop To advance design tools current which models can accurately and Imperialis leading College a consortium London of(ICL) us thea pack. ability Simulations to design advancedalso offer batteriesvaluable developpredict design the performance tools which canand accuratelylifetime of willseven lead othera consortium university of and six 17 withoutinsight the into cost how of creating existing numerousmaterials work, predictexisting the performanceand future batteries and lifetime requires of a prototypesenabling to us test to identifyevery new the material, limiting or existingfully integratedand future andbatteries tightly requires coordinated a otherindustry university partners and to 17 equip newprocesses type and configurationand develop rational of the cellsstrategies fullyprogramme, integrated anddrawing tightly together coordinated the key industry and academia with whichto overcomemake up a them pack. or Simulations design new also programme,modelling drawing capabilities together into a the multi-scale key industry partners to equip offermaterials, valuable leadinginsight intoto significant how existing modellingapproach, capabilities across length into a and multi-scale time scales. industrynew software and academia tools to with materialsimprovements work, enabling of battery us toperformance identify the and approach, across length and time scales. limitinglifetime. processes Models and for developcontrol will rational also newunderstand software andtools predict to battery strategiesenable tous overcome to extend themthe lifetime or design and/or maintain a high degree of usefulness and understandperformance, and by predict connecting newperformance materials, leading and reduce to significant the cost of accuracy.
    [Show full text]
  • Exciting Phd Opportunity with the Faraday Institution. Looking for A
    Exciting PhD opportunity with the Faraday Institution. Looking for a battery related career that contributes to creating a sustainable future? Keen to join a dynamic community of pioneering battery researchers seeking to find solutions to support a fully electric future? The Faraday Institution Cluster PhD researchers receive an enhanced stipend over and above the standard EPSRC offer. The total annual stipend is approximately £20,000 (plus London weighting) plus an additional training package worth £7,000. Recipients will have access to multiple networking opportunities, industry visits, mentorship, internships, as well as quality experiences that will further develop knowledge, skills, and aspirations. Read more. Take a look at the bespoke training programme on offer. Project: Recycling of high power Li ion battery anodes This 4 year PhD project is based in the School of Chemistry at the University of Birmingham. A current growth area in the field of Li ion batteries is the development of improved high power Li-ion cells, driven from the commercial side by a range of market needs. This project is aimed at developing new methodologies for the recycling of the metal oxide anode materials used in such batteries. The project is multidisciplinary and will utilise a range of methods (e.g. X-ray and neutron diffraction, microscopy, elemental analysis) to evaluate the changes that have taken place in end of life metal oxide based anodes. This detailed information will help to identify the degradation pathways that have taken place in these materials under operation. It will then allow us to identify potential avenues to mitigate these under operation, and develop low cost, effective strategies to recycle these materials into new pristine anodes.
    [Show full text]
  • Molecular-Level Simulations for the Predictions of Li-Ion Diffusivity Through Solid Sulphur and Solid Sulphides
    Molecular-level simulations for the predictions of Li-ion diffusivity through solid sulphur and solid sulphides Project Description This project is under the umbrella of the LiSTAR project, a Faraday-funded project on Lithium- Sulphur (Li-S) batteries. Shuttling of polysulphides between cathode and anode is a major problem in Li-S batteries, reducing battery capacity and lifetime. The latest cathodes under research are composites of sulphur impregnated in a porous carbon scaffold. In designing the pore size distribution of this scaffold, it has been speculated that small micropores could hold the sulphur and subsequently generated sulphides and, thus, reduce the “shuttling” effect. The question is then if Li+ ions can diffuse through the solid sulphur or sulfur softened by the electrolyte solvents, and how fast this diffusion might be. The aim of this project is to employ molecular simulations to investigate the diffusion of Li+ ions though solid or solvent-softened sulphur. The FUSE intern, supported by researchers at the University of Surrey, will create sulphur and solvent-sulphur models using software such as AVOCADRO or PACKMOL. DFT simulations will be then employed to determine the diffusion coefficient of Li+ ions. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the entire project will be running remotely. Project Goals Join the Faraday Undergraduate Summer Experience (FUSE) internship programme and learn more about the art of using molecular modelling which will help in the development of a career in the field of battery technology and energy storage. In conducting the project, you will develop skills in the use of molecular modelling software such as Avocadro, PACKMOL and Materials Studio.
    [Show full text]
  • Identifying Infrastructure and Collaborative Expertise for Electrochemical Energy Storage Applications
    School of School of Engineering Physical Sciences Identifying Infrastructure and Collaborative Expertise for Electrochemical Energy Storage Applications Principal Investigators: Nigel D. Browning & Laurence J. Hardwick 2 | Identifying Infrastructure and Collaborative Expertise for Electrochemical Energy Storage Applications Contents | 3 IDENTIFYING INFRASTRUCTURE Contents Executive Summary………………………………………………………………………..… ................................................................................................................1 AND COLLABORATIVE EXPERTISE 1. Overview Of Characterisation Methods and Expertise in the UK.. .................................................................................................3 FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY 1.1. Methods in Large Scale National User Type Facilities………….. ...............................................................................................4 STORAGE APPLICATIONS 1.2. Methods in Mid-Scale National User Type Facilities……………. ............................................................................................... 13 1.3. Methods in Single Investigator Type Facilities…………………….. ..............................................................................................25 Principal Investigators: 2. Calibrated Observations and Data Driven Experimental Design…. .............................................................................................. 31 Nigel D. Browning & Laurence J. Hardwick 2.1. Metrology and Standards…………………………………………………….. ................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Macroscale Modelling of Lithium-Air Batteries
    Macroscale modelling of lithium-air batteries Project Description Li-air batteries offer great advantages over Li-ion batteries, particularly for transport applications, by possessing an order of magnitude more energy density. However, despite a considerable amount of research, commercialisable Li-air batteries have yet to be demonstrated. This project aims to create a model to bridge between the properties of individual cell components and the performance of a full cell. This model would assist in producing a practical Li-air battery as a step on the road to commercialisation. The project involves constructing a cell-scale model of the battery based on readily available/obtainable input data such as cyclic voltammograms, viscosity, diffusion and chemical reaction rates, to obtain parameters such as voltage, spatially resolved state-of-charge and local chemical compositions. This model would include simulating the effect of redox mediators (small molecules introduced to the electrolyte to assist with electron transfer) on overall cell performance. In order to achieve this, the FUSE intern will first need to become familiar with the fundamental equations and physical phenomena that govern the operation of Li-Air batteries. Then, in collaboration with other researchers, the FUSE intern will construct, an initially simple, but modular model to investigate the effects of these parameters on battery operating. This model will be designed to be modular to allow continual improvement and expansion as more physical phenomena are added. Should time allow the FUSE intern will then proceed to introduce these additional physics. A background in physical simulation and/or programming, although desirable, is not required for an application.
    [Show full text]
  • Understanding Degradation to Advance Lithium-Ion Battery Performance
    FARADAY INSIGHTS - ISSUE 10: MARCH 2021 Why Batteries Fail and How to Improve Them: Understanding Degradation to Advance Lithium-Ion Battery Performance Melanie Loveridge and Martin Dowson, Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick Fundamental research on lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) dates to the 1970s, with their successful commercialisation delivered by Sony in 1991. Since then, LIBs have revolutionised the world of portable electronics, owing to their high energy density and long lifespan. Whilst LIB uptake initially powered small devices, they are now enabling global growth in electric vehicles (EVs), as well as having an increasing presence in new areas such as grid storage. Whilst LIBs will continue to lead electrification in multiple sectors, there are still requirements for improvements in lifetime, performance and safety. To achieve these researchers need to better understand – and find ways to mitigate – the many causes of battery degradation. Introduction Battery degradation is a collection of events that leads to loss of performance over time, impairing the ability of the battery In 2021, the battery industry will mark the 30th anniversary to store charge and deliver power. It is a successive and of a remarkable scientific invention that led to great complex set of dynamic chemical and physical processes, commercial success, and the awarding of the 2019 Nobel slowly reducing the amount of mobile lithium ions or charge Prize in Chemistry: the rechargeable lithium-ion battery. carriers. To visualise battery degradation, it is useful to first Three decades of performance improvements have consider what cells2 are composed of. Figure 1 represents occurred because of innovative research, with enhanced a simplified view of a typical battery cell, i.e., two opposing manufacturing efficiency bringing about mass-market electrodes impregnated by an electrolyte solvent and penetration.
    [Show full text]