Elucidating 'Transfer-Lithiation' from Graphite to Si within Composite Anodes during Pre-Lithiation and Regular Charging.

Si-based anodes can increase specific energy and energy density of Li ion batteries. However, the volume-induced material stress and capacity loss necessitates only a partial Si utilization within composite anodes, typically with state-of-the-art graphite, so called Si/Gr composites. In this work, various Si nanowires (SiNWs), a promising Si architecture for these composites, are investigated and modified via pre-lithiation.

Enabling Aqueous Processing of Ni-Rich Layered Oxide Cathode Materials by Addition of Lithium Sulfate.

Aqueous processing of Ni-rich layered oxide cathode materials is a promising approach to simultaneously decrease electrode manufacturing costs, while bringing environmental benefits by substituting the state-of-the-art (often toxic and costly) organic processing solvents. However, an aqueous environment remains challenging due to the high reactivity of Ni-rich layered oxides towards moisture, leading to lithium leaching and Al current collector corrosion because of the resulting high pH value of the aqueous electrode paste. Herein, a facile method was developed to enable aqueous processing of LiNi Co Mn O (NCM811) by the addition of lithium sulfate (Li SO ) during electrode paste dispersion.

Practical Implementation of Magnetite-Based Conversion-Type Negative Electrodes via Electrochemical Prelithiation.

We report the performance of a conversion-type magnetite-decorated partially reduced graphene oxide (FeO@PrGO) negative electrode material in full-cell configuration with LiNiCoAlO (NCA) positive electrodes. To enable practical implementation of the conversion-type negative electrodes in full cells, the beneficial impact of electrochemical prelithiation on mitigating active lithium losses and improving cycle life is shown here for the first time in the literature. The initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) of the full cells is improved from 70.

Opportunities and Challenges of Li C O as Pre-Lithiation Additive for the Positive Electrode in NMC622||Silicon/Graphite Lithium Ion Cells.

Silicon (Si)-based negative electrodes have attracted much attention to increase the energy density of lithium ion batteries (LIBs) but suffer from severe volume changes, leading to continuous re-formation of the solid electrolyte interphase and consumption of active lithium. The pre-lithiation approach with the help of positive electrode additives has emerged as a highly appealing strategy to decrease the loss of active lithium in Si-based LIB full-cells and enable their practical implementation. Here, the use of lithium squarate (Li C O ) as low-cost and air-stable pre-lithiation additive for a LiNi Mn Co O (NMC622)-based positive electrode is investigated.

Investigation of Lithium Polyacrylate Binders for Aqueous Processing of Ni-Rich Lithium Layered Oxide Cathodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Ni-rich layered oxide cathodes are promising candidates to satisfy the increasing energy demand of lithium-ion batteries for automotive applications. Aqueous processing of such materials, although desirable to reduce costs and improve sustainability, remains challenging due to the Li /H exchange upon contact with water, resulting in a pH increase and corrosion of the aluminum current collector. Herein, an example was given for tuning the properties of aqueous LiNi Co Mn O electrode pastes using a lithium polyacrylate-based binder to find the "sweet spot" for processing parameters and electrochemical performance.

Synergistic Effects of Surface Coating and Bulk Doping in Ni-Rich Lithium Nickel Cobalt Manganese Oxide Cathode Materials for High-Energy Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Invited for this month's cover is a combined work of the Helmholtz Institute Münster together with the MEET Battery Research Center and the Universities of Münster and Mainz. The cover shows multiple treatment choices for the modification of cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries. Similar to a car wash program, the treatment will typically result in an improvement of the status quo.

Synergistic Effects of Surface Coating and Bulk Doping in Ni-Rich Lithium Nickel Cobalt Manganese Oxide Cathode Materials for High-Energy Lithium Ion Batteries.

Ni-rich layered oxide cathodes are promising candidates to satisfy the increasing energy demand of lithium-ion batteries for automotive applications. Thermal and cycling stability issues originating from increasing Ni contents are addressed by mitigation strategies such as elemental bulk substitution ("doping") and surface coating. Although both approaches separately benefit the cycling stability, there are only few reports investigating the combination of two of such approaches.

Porous Graphene-like Carbon from Fast Catalytic Decomposition of Biomass for Energy Storage Applications.

A novel carbon material made of porous graphene-like nanosheets was synthesized from biomass resources by a simple catalytic graphitization process using nickel as a catalyst for applications in electrodes for energy storage devices. A recycled fiberboard precursor was impregnated with saturated nickel nitrate followed by high-temperature pyrolysis. The highly exothermic combustion of in situ formed nitrocellulose produces the expansion of the cellulose fibers and the reorganization of the carbon structure into a three-dimensional (3D) porous assembly of thin carbon nanosheets.

Iron-Catalyzed Graphitic Carbon Materials from Biomass Resources as Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Graphitized carbon materials from biomass resources were successfully synthesized with an iron catalyst, and their electrochemical performance as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) was investigated. Peak pyrolysis temperatures between 850 and 2000 °C were covered to study the effect of crystallinity and microstructural parameters on the anodic behavior, with a focus on the first-cycle Coulombic efficiency, reversible specific capacity, and rate performance. In terms of capacity, results at the highest temperatures are comparable to those of commercially used synthetic graphite derived from a petroleum coke precursor at higher temperatures, and up to twice as much as that of uncatalyzed biomass-derived carbons.

Performance of biomorphic Silicon Carbide as particulate filter in diesel boilers.

Biomorphic Silicon Carbide (bioSiC) is a novel porous ceramic material with excellent mechanical and thermal properties. Previous studies have demonstrated that it may be a good candidate for its use as particle filter media of exhaust gases at medium or high temperature. In order to determine the filtration efficiency of biomorphic Silicon Carbide, and its adequacy as substrate for diesel particulate filters, different bioSiC-samples have been tested in the flue gases of a diesel boiler.