As lithium-ion batteries have become an integral part of our lives through their use in consumer electronics, automobiles and electrical storage, researchers are working to improve their power, efficiency and longevity. As detailed in a paper published today in Nature Materials, scientists from the University of California, Irvine National Laboratory, and Brookhaven conducted a detailed analysis of advanced cathodes of nickel, believed to be promising materials, and subsequent batteries. A high-resolution electron microscope combined with deep machine learning enabled the UCI-led team to detect (Researchers identify atomic imperfections in lithium-ion batteries) minute changes in the properties of materials embedded in lithium-ion batteries.
“We are particularly interested in nickel because it can help us move away from cobalt as a cathode material,” said co-author Huolin Xin, professor of physics and astronomy at UCI. “Cobalt is a toxic substance, so it is dangerous for me to handle it, and it is often extracted under conditions of social repression in regions like the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
But for this change to be successful, battery manufacturers need to know what happens inside the cells as they are repeatedly removed and transported. The high energy density of nickel-based lithium-ion batteries has been found to lead to rapid chemical and structural repair of LIBs.
The team used a transmission electron microscope and atomistic simulations to understand how changing the oxidation time affects the battery material, causing imperfections on the surface to be measured.
“This project, based on some of the world’s most powerful microscopy technology and advanced data science methods, paves the way for the optimization of advanced nickel-based lithium-ion batteries.” Xin said. “Knowing how these batteries work and the number of atoms will help engineers develop LIBs with dramatic improvements in energy and cycle life.”
