New 'layered-layered' materials promise to improve rechargeable lithium batteries
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ARGONNE, Ill. (May 8, 2007) — Researchers at the Department of Energy's
Argonne National Laboratory have developed a new approach to increasing the
capacity and stability of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
The technology is based on a new material for the positive electrode made
of a unique nano-crystalline, layered-composite structure.
Argonne's strategy uses a two-component composite structure — an active
component that provides for charge storage is embedded in an inactive component
that stabilizes the structure.
Details of the new developments will be presented Tuesday, May 8, at the
211th Meeting of The Electrochemical
Society, being held in Chicago, May 6-10.
In recent tests, the new materials yielded exceptionally high charge-storage
capacities, greater than 250 mAh/g, or more than twice the capacity of materials
in conventional rechargeable lithium batteries. Theories explaining the high
capacity of these manganese-rich electrodes and their stability upon charge/discharge
cycling will be discussed at the Electrochemical Society meeting.
In addition, the overall battery cost is reduced by focusing on manganese-rich
systems, instead of the more expensive cobalt and nickel versions of lithium
batteries.
Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that incorporate the new materials
with increased capacity and enhanced stability could be expected
in a diverse range of applications from consumer electronics, such as
cell phones and laptop computers, to cordless tools and medical devices, such
as cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators. In larger batteries, the technology
could be used in the next generation of hybrid-electric vehicles and plug-in
hybrid-electric vehicles.
The presentation on “Anomalous Capacity and Cycling Stability of Layered-Layered
Electrodes in Lithium Batteries” by Argonne researchers Chris Johnson, Naichao
Li, Christina Lefief, Jeom-Soo Kim, Jeremy Kropf, John Vaughey, and Michael
Thackeray, will be given by Chris Johnson.
Funding for the work was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office
of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies
Program.
Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology.
The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic
and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne
researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities,
and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific
problems, advance America 's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for
a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed
by UChicago
Argonne, LLC for
the U.S.
Department of Energy's Office
of Science.
For more information, please
contact Eleanor Taylor (630/252-5510 or media@anl.gov)
at Argonne.
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