Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society (전기화학회지)

The Korean Electrochemical Society (한국전기화학회)
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Chemical Prelithiation Toward Lithium-ion Batteries with Higher Energy Density

리튬이온전지 고에너지밀도 구현을 위한 화학적 사전리튬화 기술

  • Hong, Jihyun (Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST))
  • 홍지현 (한국과학기술연구원 (KIST) 청정신기술연구본부에너지소재연구센터)
  • Received : 2021.08.05
  • Accepted : 2021.09.09
  • Published : 2021.11.30
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Abstract

The energy density of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) determines the mileage of electric vehicles. For increasing the energy density of LIBs, it is necessary to develop high-capacity active materials that can store more lithium ions within constrained weight. The rapid progress made in cathode technology has realized the utilization of the near-theoretical capacity of cathode materials. In contrast, commercial LIBs have still exploited graphite as active material in anodes since the 1990s. The most promising way to increase anodes' capacity is to mix high-capacity and long-cycle-life silicon oxides (SiOx) with graphite. However, the low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) of SiOx limits its content below 15 wt%, impeding the capacity increase in anodes. To address this issue, various prelithiation techniques have been proposed, which can improve the ICE of high-capacity anode materials. In this review paper, we introduce the principles and expected effects of prelithiation techniques reported so far. According to the reaction mechanisms, the strategies are categorized. Mainly, we focus on the recent progress of solution-based chemical prelithiation methods with commercial viability, of which lithiation reaction occurs homogeneously at liquid-solid interfaces. We believe that developing a cost-effective and mass-scalable prelithiation process holds the key to dominating the anode market for next-generation LIBs.

전기자동차의 주행거리는 리튬이온전지의 에너지 밀도에 의해 결정된다. 리튬이온전지의 에너지 밀도 향상을 위해서는 단위 질량 당 많은 양의 리튬 이온을 저장할 수 있는 고용량 활물질 소재 개발이 필수적이다. 양극 기술의 급속한 발전은 이론적으로 구현 가능한 최대 용량에 근접한 수준의 가역 용량을 활용할 수 있는 수준에 이르렀다. 반면 음극은 90년대에 도입된 흑연을 현재까지도 주요 활물질로 활용하는데 머무르고 있다. 음극의 용량을 증가시키는 방법으로 고용량-장수명 특성을 지닌 실리콘 산화물 활물질을 음극에 첨가하는 방식이 가장 유력하게 검토되고 있다. 그러나 실리콘 산화물의 낮은 초기 쿨롱 효율은 음극 내 실리콘 산화물의 함량을 15% 이내로 제한하여 음극 용량 증가에 걸림돌이 되고 있다. 이에 따라 실리콘 산화물 등 고용량 음극의 초기 효율을 개선할 수 있는 사전리튬화 기술이 점점 많은 주목을 받고 있다. 본 리뷰논문에서는 사전리튬화 기술의 개념 및 효과에 대해 설명하고 현재까지 개발된 사전리튬화 기술을 반응 방식에 따라 분류하여 소개한다. 특히, 리튬화 반응의 균질성이 높고 대량 양산에 강점을 지닌 용액 기반 화학적 사전리튬화 기술의 최신 개발 동향을 집중적으로 소개하였다. 상용화가 가능한 사전리튬화 기술 개발이 가까운 미래의 차세대 리튬이온전지 음극재 시장의 주도권 확보의 핵심 조건이 될 것으로 기대한다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구는 한국과학기술연구원 기관고유과제(과제번호 2E30993)의 지원을 받아 수행되었음. 본 연구는 과학기술정보통신부(MSIT) 한국연구재단(NRF) 우수신진연구(과제번호 2021R1C1C1006721)의 지원을 받아 수행되었음.

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