Solar Energy
High-Temperature Single Crystals Could Revolutionize Electric Vehicle Longevity
High-Temperature Single Crystals Could Revolutionize Electric Vehicle Longevity
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jul 15, 2024
A research team led by Professor Kyu-Young Park from the Graduate Institute of Ferrous and Eco Materials Technology and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, alongside Kyoung Eun Lee, a PhD candidate, and alumna Yura Kim from the Graduate Institute of Ferrous and Eco Materials Technology at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), has made a significant advancement in the synthesis of single-crystal cathode materials for electric vehicles. This breakthrough, achieved in collaboration with the POSCO Holdings N.EX.T Hub, was published in ACS Materials and Interfaces.
Lithium (Li) secondary batteries, prevalent in electric vehicles, function by converting electrical energy into chemical energy and vice versa through the movement of Li- ions between the cathode and anode. Nickel (Ni) cathode materials are commonly used for their high lithium-ion storage capacity. However, traditional nickel-based materials have a polycrystalline structure composed of numerous small crystals, which can degrade during charging and discharging, thus reducing their lifespan.
To overcome this limitation, the researchers developed a method to produce nickel-based cathode materials in a “single-crystal” form. These single crystals are synthesized as large particles, enhancing their structural and chemical stability and durability. While it is known that single-crystal materials are hardened at high temperatures, the specifics of this process and the conditions required were previously unclear.
The research team aimed to identify the “critical temperature” necessary for synthesizing high-quality single-crystal materials. They experimented with various temperatures to optimize the synthesis conditions for nickel-based cathode material (N884), observing the effects on capacity and long-term performance.
They found that polycrystalline materials synthesized below a certain temperature degrade more quickly in secondary batteries. However, when synthesized above this critical temperature, high-quality single crystals are formed, significantly enhancing durability. This improvement is attributed to a process called “densification,” where internal grain size increases and empty spaces within the material are densely filled, resulting in extremely hard and degradation-resistant single crystals.
Professor Kyu-Young Park explained, “We have introduced a new synthesis strategy to enhance the durability of nickel-based cathode materials.” He added, “We will continue our research to make secondary batteries for electric vehicles cheaper, faster, and longer-lasting.”
The study received support from POSCO Holdings and the Basic Research Program of the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Related Links
Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com
DGIST enhances quantum dot solar cell performance
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Oct 04, 2024
A research team led by Professor Jongmin Choi from the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at DGIST, in collaboration with Gyeongsang National University’s Professor Tae Kyung Lee and Kookmin University’s Professor Younghoon Kim, has developed a new method that significantly boosts the performance and longevity of perovskite quantum dot solar cells. Their innovative approach addresses a key issue: surface distortions on quantum dots that hinder solar cell efficiency.
Perovskite quantum dots are widely regarded as essential for next-generation solar cells due to their high light-to-electricity conversion efficiency and scalability. However, the process of replacing the “ligands” on their surface often causes distortions, akin to crumpled paper, that degrade solar cell performance.
The research team tackled this problem by introducing short ligands that firmly grip both sides of the quantum dots. This method effectively restores the quantum dot’s distorted surface, resembling the process of flattening crumpled paper. By smoothing the surface, they significantly reduced defects and improved both the performance and the stability of the solar cells. The power conversion efficiency rose from 13.6% to 15.3%, and the cells maintained 83% of their performance over 15 days, marking a major advancement in solar cell technology.
“Through this research, we could minimize surface defects on the quantum dots and stabilize their surfaces by newly adopting these amphiphilic ligands, thereby significantly improving the efficiency and stability of the solar cells,” explained Professor Jongmin Choi. He also noted the team’s intention to extend this approach to other photoelectric devices in the future.
This study, a collaborative effort by DGIST, Gyeongsang National University, and Kookmin University, was supported by the National Research Council of Science and Technology, the DGIST R and D Program, and the New Faculty Research Foundation at Gyeongsang National University. The findings were published in the ‘Chemical Engineering Journal’ on September 15, 2024.
Research Report:Multifaceted anchoring ligands for uniform orientation and enhanced cubic-phase stability of perovskite quantum dots
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Philippines’ Marcos opens first EV battery plant
by AFP Staff Writers
Manila (AFP) Sept 30, 2024
President Ferdinand Marcos inaugurated on Monday the first factory for electric vehicle batteries in the Philippines, calling it the “future” of clean energy.
The Australian-owned lithium-iron-phosphate factory aims to produce two gigawatt-hours of batteries per year by 2030, powering about 18,000 electric vehicles or nearly half a million home battery systems.
“We have worked very hard and tried to do our best to bring this kind of technology to the Philippines with a clear recognition that this is the future,” Marcos said in a livestreamed speech.
“As the first manufacturing plant in the Philippines for advanced iron phosphate batteries… (it) sets the stage for the Philippines to become a player in clean energy storage in our part of the world.”
Located in New Clark city north of Manila, the StB Giga Factory Inc. facility will create 2,500 local jobs and channel five billion pesos ($89.2 million) into the economy each year, Marcos said.
The investment aligns with the government’s efforts to “transition our country to renewable energy”, and would help Manila “entice more investors in renewable energy facilities in the country”, he added.
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Fire breaks out at Chinese battery giant CATL plant
by AFP Staff Writers
Beijing (AFP) Sept 29, 2024
A fire broke out Sunday at a factory belonging to Chinese battery giant CATL, which supplies electric vehicle makers including Tesla, but only a “relatively small” impact on operations is expected, the company said.
A CATL spokesperson said no injuries or casualties had occurred at the plant in the coastal city of Ningde, and that “the reasons behind this accident are still under investigation”.
Emergency services were sent to the plant to fight the fire and to organise the evacuation of any people who were inside the 15,000 square metre (160,000 square feet) site, a statement by the Dongqiao Economic and Technological Development Zone said.
Firefighters were alerted to the blaze just before 11:30 AM local time (0330 GMT).
It was not immediately clear what was produced at the plant, CATL’s base in the eastern province of Fujian, but the company said the effect of the now extinguished fire would not be significant.
“The impact to CATL’s overall production operation is relatively small,” the spokesperson said.
Videos published by the Chinese business media outlet Cailianshe, and posted on the Weibo social network, showed parts of a large white building in flames with thick gray smoke rising into the air.
AFP could not immediately verify the authenticity of the images.
CATL was founded in 2011 and produces more than a third of the electric vehicle batteries sold worldwide for automakers that include Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, Toyota, Honda and Hyundai.
ehl-reb/des
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