Horizons for Li-Ion Batteries Relevant to Electro-Mobility: High-Specific-Energy Cathodes and Chemically Active Separators.

Li-ion batteries (LIBs) today face the challenge of application in electrified vehicles (xEVs) which require increased energy density, improved abuse tolerance, prolonged life, and low cost. LIB technology can significantly advance through more realistic approaches such as: i) stable high-specific-energy cathodes based on Li Ni Co Mn O (NCM) compounds with either Ni-rich (x = 0, y → 1), or Li- and Mn-rich (0.1 < x < 0.

On the Oxidation State of Manganese Ions in Li-Ion Battery Electrolyte Solutions.

We demonstrate herein that Mn and not Mn, as commonly accepted, is the dominant dissolved manganese cation in LiPF-based electrolyte solutions of Li-ion batteries with lithium manganate spinel positive and graphite negative electrodes chemistry. The Mn fractions in solution, derived from a combined analysis of electron paramagnetic resonance and inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy data, are ∼80% for either fully discharged (3.0 V hold) or fully charged (4.

Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Doping in Lead-Acid Batteries: A New Horizon.

The addition of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) to lead-acid battery electrodes is the most efficient suppresser of uncontrolled sulfation processes. Due to the cost of SWCNT, we studied the optimization loading of SWCNT in lead-acid battery electrodes. We optimized the SWCNT loading concentrations in both the positive and negative plates, separately.

Combined Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy/Inductively Coupled Plasma Analysis As Diagnostics for Soluble Manganese Species from Mn-Based Positive Electrode Materials in Li-ion Cells.

Manganese dissolution from positive electrodes significantly reduces the durability of lithium-ion batteries. Knowledge of dissolution rates and oxidation states of manganese ions is essential for designing effective mitigation measures for this problem. We show that electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) combined with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) or inductively coupled plasma (ICP) can determine both manganese dissolution rates and relative Mn(3+) amounts, by comparing the correlation between EPR and AAS/ICP data for Mn(2+) standards with that for samples containing manganese cations dissolved from active materials (LiMn2O4 (LMO) and LiNi(0.