• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.57-65
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• 2020

It is crucial to investigate the thermal degradation of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) to understand the possible malfunction at high temperature. Herein, we investigated the effects of surface film formation on the thermal degradation of lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO₂, LCO) cathode that is one of representative cathode materials. Cycling test at 60℃ exhibited poorer cycleability compared with the cycling at 25℃. Cathodes after the initial 5 cycles at 60℃ (60-LCO) exhibited higher impedance compared to the cathode after initial 5 cycles at 25℃ (25-LCO), resulting in the lower rate capability upon subsequent cycling at 25℃, although the capacity values were similar at the lowest C-rate of 0.1C. In order to understand degradation of the LCO cathode at the high temperature, we analyzed the cathodes surface using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Among various peaks, intensity of lithium hydroxide (LiOH) increased substantially after the operation at 60℃, and the C-C signal that represents the conductive agent was distinctly lower on 60-LCO compared to 25-LCO. These results pointed to an excessive formation of cathode-electrolyte interphase including LiOH at 60℃, leading to the increase in the resistance and the resultant degradation in the electrochemical performances.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.78-89
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• 2022

ANODE-free Li-metal batteries (AFLMBs) operating with Li of cathode material have attracted enormous attention due to their exceptional energy density originating from anode-free structure in the confined cell volume. However, uncontrolled dendritic growth of lithium on a copper current collector can limit its practical application as it causes fatal issues for stable cycling such as dead Li formation, unstable solid electrolyte interphase, electrolyte exhaustion, and internal short-circuit. To overcome this limitation, here, we report a novel dual-salt electrolyte comprising of 0.2 M LiPF₆ + 3.8 M lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide in a carbonate/ester co-solvent with 5 wt% fluoroethylene carbonate, 2 wt% vinylene carbonate, and 0.2 wt% LiNO₃ additives. Because the dual-salt electrolyte facilitates uniform/dense Li deposition on the current collector and can form robust/ionic conductive LiF-based SEI layer on the deposited Li, a Li/Li symmetrical cell exhibits improved cycling performance and low polarization for over 200 h operation. Furthermore, the anode-free LiFePO₄/Cu cells in the carbonate electrolyte shows significantly enhanced cycling stability compared to the counterparts consisting of different salt ratios. This study shows an importance of electrolyte design guiding uniform Li deposition and forming stable SEI layer for AFLMBs.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.384-388
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• 2013

Fluorine-doping on the $Li_{1+x}Mn_{1.9-x}Al_{0.1}O_4$ spinel cathode materials is found to alter crystal shape, and enhance initial interfacial reactivity and solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation, leading to improved initial coulombic efficiency in the voltage region of 3.3-4.3 V vs. Li/$Li^+$ in the room temperature electrolyte of 1 M $LiPF_6$/EC:EMC. SEM imaging reveals that the facetting on higher surface energy plane of (101) is additionally developed at the edges of an octahedron that is predominantly grown with the most thermodynamically stable (111) plane, which enhances interfacial reactivity. Fluorine-doping also increases the amount of interfacially reactive $Mn^{3+}$ on both bulk and surface for charge neutrality. Enhanced interfacial reactivity by fluorine-doping attributes instant formation of a stable SEI layer and improved initial cyclic efficiency. The data contribute to a basic understanding of the impacts of composition on material properties and cycling behavior of spinel-based cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2011

[ $^7Li$ ]Magic Angle Spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy has been used to study the lithium local environments in $Li_4P_2O_7$ and$LiFePO_4$ materials. The purpose of this study was to know the structure of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) in lithium ion cells composed of $LiFePO_4$ as cathode material. $Li_4P_2O_7$ and $LiFePO_4$ were prepared by a solid-state reaction. The $^7Li$ MAS NMR experiments were carried out at variable temperatures in order to observe the local structure changes at the temperatures in $Li_4P_2O_7$ system. The $^7Li$ MAS NMR spectra of in $Li_4P_2O_7$ indicate that the lithium local environments in $Li_4P_2O_7$ were not changed in the temperature range between $27^{\circ}C$ and $97^{\circ}C$ Through this work, we confirmed that the small amount of $Li_4P_2O_7$ less than 5.0 wt% in $LiFePO_4$ could be clearly measured by the $^7Li$ MAS NMR spectroscopy at high spinning rate over than 11 kHz.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.169-176
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• 2013

Solid state lithium oxide compounds of layered structure, which has high stability of structure, are mainly used as the cathode materials in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Recently, the investigation of Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) between active materials and electrolyte has been focusing to improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries. For the investigation of the SEI, the study of surface properties of cathode materials and anode materials is also required in advance. $LiNiO_2$ and $LiCoO_2$ are very similar layered structure of cathode active materials and representative solid state lithium oxide compounds in LIBs. Various experimental and theoretical studies have been doing for $LiCoO_2$. The theoretical investigation of $LiNiO_2$ is not sufficient, however, even if experimental studies of $LiNiO_2$ are enough. In this study, the surface energies of nine facets of $LiNiO_2$ crystal facets were calculated by Density Functional Theory. In XRD data of $LiNiO_2$, (003), (104), (101), et al. facets are main surfaces in order. However, the results of calculation are different with XRD data. Thus, both (104) and (101) facets, which are energetically stable and measured in XRD, are mainly exposed in the surface of $LiNiO_2$ and it is expected that intercalation and de-intercalation of Li-ion will be affected by them.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2017

Using a precursor of $LiNi_{0.6}Co_{0.2}Mn_{0.2}O_2$ as a starting material, a surface-modified cathode material was obtained by coating with KCl, where the added KCl reduces residual Li compounds such as $Li_2CO_3$ and LiOH, on the surface. The resulting electrochemical properties were investigated. The amounts of $Li_2CO_3$ and LiOH decreased from 8,464 ppm to 1,639 ppm and from 8,088 ppm to 6,287 ppm, respectively, with 1 wt% KCl added $LiNi_{0.6}Co_{0.2}Mn_{0.2}O_2$ that had been calcined at $800^{\circ}C$. X-ray diffraction results revealed that 1 wt% of KCl added $LiNi_{0.6}Co_{0.2}Mn_{0.2}O_2$ did not affect the parent structure but enhanced the development of hexagonal crystallites. Additionally, the charge transfer resistance ($R_{ct}$) decreased dramatically from $225{\Omega}$ to $99{\Omega}$, and the discharge capacity increased to 182.73mAh/g. Using atomic force microscopy, we observed that the surface area decreased by half because of the exothermic heat released by the Li residues. The reduced surface area protects the cathode material from reacting with the electrolyte and hinders the development of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) film on the surface of the oxide particles. Finally, we found that the introduction of KCl into $LiNi_{0.6}Co_{0.2}Mn_{0.2}O_2$ is a very effective method of enhancing the electrochemical properties of this active material by reducing the residual Li. To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first to demonstrate this phenomenon.