Briefly Describe What Methods Are There for Activating Aged Lithium Batteries?
Lithium batteries, including lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries, are widely used in various applications due to their high energy density and long cycle life. However, over time, these batteries can degrade and lose their performance, leading to reduced capacity and shorter cycle life. Fortunately, there are several methods to activate aged lithium batteries and restore their performance. In this article, we will briefly describe some of these methods.
1. Physical Activation
Physical activation involves modifying the physical structure of the battery to improve its performance. One example of physical activation is the use of high electron-ion mixed conductive active materials as the cathode to achieve a fully electrochemical active all-solid-state battery. This method involves pairing a metal lithium anode with a cathode that has 100% active material, resulting in a high energy density battery with improved cycle performance.
2. Chemical Activation
Chemical activation involves introducing chemical compounds or additives to the battery to improve its performance. One example of chemical activation is the use of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with undercoordinated Zr4+ sites as electrode additives. These MOFs can enhance the ion transport properties of the battery and improve its cycle life. Another example is the use of electrolyte additives, such as lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate, which can supplement lithium ions and extend the cycle life of the battery.
3. Electrochemical Activation
Electrochemical activation involves applying an electrical current to the battery to induce chemical reactions that can improve its performance. One example of electrochemical activation is the redistribution of selenium on the electrode of a lithium-selenium battery through electrochemical activation. This method can significantly improve the cycle performance of the battery.
4. Pulse Charging
Pulse charging is a charging protocol that involves applying pulses of current to the battery instead of a constant current. This method can inhibit lithium plating on the graphite anode and improve the fast-charging capability and cycle performance of the battery. Pulse charging redistributes the accumulated Li+ species at the electrolyte/anode interface periodically, which mitigates the anode potential drop and prevents consequent Li plating.
5. Electrolyte Additives
As mentioned earlier, electrolyte additives can be used to chemically activate aged lithium batteries. These additives can supplement lithium ions, stabilize the electrode/electrolyte interphase, and improve the performance of the battery. Examples of electrolyte additives include lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate and various functional additives for lithium-sulfur batteries.
For more information on activating aged lithium batteries and improving their performance, visit CNS Battery’s solution page.
Image:
A visual representation of the methods for activating aged lithium batteries.
Source:
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/adma.202008723 (Authoritative resource on materials science and technology)
