Solar Energy

Second life of lithium-ion batteries may propel future space missions

Published

3 months ago

September 19, 2024

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Second life of lithium-ion batteries may propel future space missions

by Robert Schreiber

Berlin, Germany (SPX) Sep 19, 2024

Lithium-ion battery usage worldwide has doubled in the past four years, contributing to a growing volume of hazardous battery waste. This rise underscores the urgent need for more effective recycling solutions. Scientists from several Polish research institutions, including Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology (PBS), the Institute of Fundamental Technological Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the PAS in Warsaw, and Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, have introduced a promising approach in the journal ‘ChemElectroChem’.

The research focused on carbon materials extracted from the electrodes of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The team employed an acidic leaching process to recover valuable metals from these electrodes. Depending on experimental conditions, the extracted carbon materials retained trace amounts of metals like cobalt, commonly used in catalysis. The goal was to repurpose these materials for use in catalytic processes, with a particular emphasis on hydrogen peroxide production.

“Hydrogen peroxide is one of the fundamental chemical molecules, essential to numerous industries. Large-scale production of this substance typically demands high pressures and temperatures, costly catalysts, and various toxic electrolytes. Our focus was on developing a more environmentally friendly method for producing hydrogen peroxide: specifically, an electrochemical approach using catalysts derived from used lithium-ion batteries,” explains Dr. Eng. Magdalena Warczak (PBS), project leader and lead author.

The team’s electrochemical tests demonstrated that carbon nanostructures and cobalt recovered from the batteries exhibited catalytic properties for the oxygen reduction reaction. However, these properties were influenced by the composition and structure of the sample, which were determined by the types of etching baths used to clean the extracted electrodes.

“For potential future applications, the crucial finding is that, based on data gathered from experiments using a rotating electrode, we were able to determine the number of electrons involved in the reduction of a single oxygen molecule. The electrochemical reduction of oxygen can occur with either four or two electrons. In the case of four electrons, water is produced, but with two electrons, we obtain the desired hydrogen peroxide. In all the samples we tested, we observed the two-electron reduction,” explains Dr. Warczak.

To ensure accuracy, the measurements were repeated with battery powders suspended between two immiscible liquids, eliminating any influence from the glassy carbon electrode. The oxygen reduction reaction occurred spontaneously at the interface of these liquids, with the organic liquid containing decamethylferrocene, an electron donor. These experiments confirmed that all samples catalyzed the production of hydrogen peroxide, with concentrations measured by a scanning electrochemical microscope showing levels one to two orders of magnitude higher than those in systems without battery waste.

“Lithium-ion batteries have generally been viewed as just a secondary source of carbon materials, mainly graphite, and metals like lithium, cobalt, or nickel. Meanwhile, our group’s findings clearly demonstrate that battery waste can catalyze the reduction of oxygen to hydrogen peroxide, and in the future, this could lead to its use in producing this important chemical compound,” concludes Dr. Warczak.

Hydrogen peroxide, commonly found in pharmacies at a 3% concentration for disinfecting wounds, has a range of industrial applications. Solutions with up to 15% concentration are used in household cleaning products and cosmetics, while concentrations of around 30% are vital in industries such as chemical manufacturing, pulp and paper, textiles, electronics, and food processing. Hydrogen peroxide also serves as an oxidizer for fuels, including rocket propellants. During the 1940s, it was first used in early rockets capable of reaching space. Recently, hydrogen peroxide at concentrations exceeding 98% powered a suborbital rocket built by the Lukasiewicz Institute of Aviation in Warsaw.

The research on hydrogen peroxide production from spent lithium-ion batteries, initially funded by a SONATA grant from the Polish National Science Centre, will continue with a focus on enhancing the efficiency of electrochemical reactions for industrial use. The team also plans to explore four-electron reduction for potential applications in fuel cells.

Research Report:Insights into the High Catalytic Activity of Li-ion Battery Waste Toward Oxygen Reduction to Hydrogen Peroxide

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Solar Energy

‘Capture the oxygen’ strategy boosts lithium-ion battery lifespan

Published

4 days ago

December 27, 2024

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‘Capture the oxygen’ strategy boosts lithium-ion battery lifespan

by Riko Seibo

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Dec 27, 2024

A team of researchers from POSTECH, led by Professor Jihyun Hong of the Department of Battery Engineering and Dr. Gukhyun Lim, has unveiled a key method to extend the durability of lithium-rich layered oxide (LLO) material, a promising cathode for next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Their findings, published in Energy and Environmental Science, represent a major step forward in the development of high-energy-density, sustainable battery technologies.

LLO materials provide a 20% increase in energy density over traditional nickel-based cathodes by substituting nickel and cobalt with lithium and manganese. This makes them a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative for electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS). However, widespread adoption has been hindered by capacity fading and voltage decay during repeated charge-discharge cycles.

Addressing these challenges, the POSTECH researchers focused on the destabilizing effect of oxygen release during battery operation. By improving the chemical stability of the cathode-electrolyte interface, they minimized oxygen release, a primary cause of structural instability. Enhancing the electrolyte composition, they achieved an 84.3% energy retention rate after 700 cycles, compared to just 37.1% retention after 300 cycles with conventional electrolytes.

The team also identified structural surface changes in LLO as critical to stability and lifespan. By targeting these changes, they reduced detrimental reactions such as electrolyte decomposition, further improving battery performance.

“Using synchrotron radiation, we analyzed chemical and structural differences between the cathode surface and its interior,” said Professor Jihyun Hong. “We discovered that surface stability is essential for maintaining the material’s structural integrity and performance. This work opens new pathways for developing advanced cathode materials.”

The research highlights the critical importance of optimizing both electrolyte composition and cathode surface structure to overcome the limitations of LLO materials, paving the way for longer-lasting, high-performance lithium-ion batteries.

Research Report:Decoupling capacity fade and voltage decay of Li-rich Mn-rich cathodes by tailoring surface reconstruction pathways

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Solar Energy

Breakthrough new material brings affordable, sustainable future within grasp

Published

1 week ago

December 22, 2024

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Breakthrough new material brings affordable, sustainable future within grasp

by Rashda Khan for Canepa News

Houston TX (SPX) Dec 23, 2024

While lithium-ion batteries have been the go-to technology for everything from smartphones and laptops to electric cars, there are growing concerns about the future because lithium is relatively scarce, expensive and difficult to source, and may soon be at risk due to geopolitical considerations. Scientists around the world are working to create viable alternatives.

An international team of interdisciplinary researchers, including the Canepa Research Laboratory at the University of Houston, has developed a new type of material for sodium-ion batteries that could make them more efficient and boost their energy performance – paving the way for a more sustainable and affordable energy future.

The new material, sodium vanadium phosphate with the chemical formula NaxV2(PO4)3, improves sodium-ion battery performance by increasing the energy density – the amount of energy stored per kilogram – by more than 15%. With a higher energy density of 458 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg) compared to the 396 Wh/kg in older sodium-ion batteries, this material brings sodium technology closer to competing with lithium-ion batteries.

“Sodium is nearly 50 times cheaper than lithium and can even be harvested from seawater, making it a much more sustainable option for large-scale energy storage,” said Pieremanuele Canepa, Robert Welch assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at UH and lead researcher of the Canepa Lab. “Sodium-ion batteries could be cheaper and easier to produce, helping reduce reliance on lithium and making battery technology more accessible worldwide.”

From Theory to Reality

The Canepa Lab, which uses theoretical expertise and computational methods to discover new materials and molecules to help advance clean energy technologies, collaborated with the research groups headed by French researchers Christian Masquelier and Laurence Croguennec from the Laboratoire de Rea’ctivite’ et de Chimie des Solides, which is a CNRS laboratory part of the Universite’ de Picardie Jules Verne, in Amiens France, and the Institut de Chimie de la Matie`re Condense’e de Bordeaux, Universite’ de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France for the experimental work on the project. This allowed theoretical modelling to go through experimental validation.

The researchers created a battery prototype using the new material, NaxV2(PO4)3, demonstrating significant energy storage improvements. NaxV2(PO4)3, part of a group called “Na superionic conductors” or NaSICONs, is designed to let sodium ions move smoothly in and out of the battery during charging and discharging.

Unlike existing materials, it has a unique way of handling sodium, allowing it to work as a single-phase system. This means it remains stable as it releases or takes in sodium ions. This allows the NaSICON to remain stable during charging and discharging while delivering a continuous voltage of 3.7 volts versus sodium metal, higher than the 3.37 volts in existing materials.

While this difference may seem small, it significantly increases the battery’s energy density or how much energy it can store for its weight. The key to its efficiency is vanadium, which can exist in multiple stable states, allowing it to hold and release more energy.

“The continuous voltage change is a key feature,” said Canepa. “It means the battery can perform more efficiently without compromising the electrode stability. That’s a game-changer for sodium-ion technology.”

Possibilities for a Sustainable Future

The implications of this work extend beyond sodium-ion batteries. The synthesis method used to create NaxV2(PO4)3 could be applied to other materials with similar chemistries, opening new possibilities for advanced energy storage technologies. That could in turn, impact everything from more affordable, sustainable batteries to power our devices to help us transition to a cleaner energy economy.

“Our goal is to find clean, sustainable solutions for energy storage,” Canepa said. “This material shows that sodium-ion batteries can meet the high-energy demands of modern technology while being cost-effective and environmentally friendly.”

A paper based on this work was published in the journal Nature Materials. Ziliang Wang, Canepa’s former student and now a postdoctoral fellow at Northwestern University, and Sunkyu Park, a former student of the French researchers and now a staff engineer at Samsung SDI in South Korea, performed much of the work on this project.

Research Report:Obtaining V2(PO4)3 by sodium extraction from single-phase NaxV2(PO4)3 (1 < x < 3) positive electrode materials

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Solar Energy

Pioneering advancements in solid-state battery technology for energy storage

Published

1 week ago

December 22, 2024

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Pioneering advancements in solid-state battery technology for energy storage

by Riko Seibo

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Dec 23, 2024

Recent strides in solid-state battery technology are setting the stage for a transformative era in energy storage. These advancements hold promise for revolutionizing electric vehicles and renewable energy systems through improved performance and safety. A focus on electrolyte innovation has been key to this progress, enabling the development of high-performance all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs).

A new review paper provides a comprehensive summary of advancements in inorganic solid electrolytes (ISEs), materials that are central to ASSBs. Researchers examined the roles of oxides, sulfides, hydroborates, antiperovskites, and halides not only as electrolytes but also as catholytes and interface layers, which collectively enhance battery performance and safety.

“We highlighted the recent breakthroughs in synthesizing these materials, honing our attention on the innovative techniques that enable the precise tuning of their properties to meet the demanding requirements of ASSBs,” said Eric Jianfeng Cheng, associate professor at Tohoku University’s Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR). “Precise tuning is crucial for developing batteries with higher energy densities, longer life cycles, and better safety profiles than conventional liquid-based batteries.”

The review also delves into the electrochemical properties of ISEs, including ionic conductivity, stability, and electrode compatibility. Researchers evaluated current ASSB models and suggested emerging strategies that could drive the next generation of energy storage solutions.

However, challenges persist in the development of ASSBs, notably the limited compatibility between ISEs and electrodes, which can trigger interfacial reactions. Addressing these compatibility issues is vital to improving battery efficiency and longevity. The review outlines these challenges and provides insights into efforts aimed at overcoming them.

“Our comprehensive review underscores the importance of continued research and development in the field of solid-state batteries. By developing new materials, improving synthesis methods, and overcoming compatibility issues, current efforts are driving innovation toward practical ASSBs that could transform how we store and use energy,” Cheng added.

Research Report:Inorganic solid electrolytes for all-solid-state lithium/sodium-ion batteries: recent developments and applications