Challenge

Week 1 Understanding Different Battery Chemistry

SOLUTION 1 :

Li-ion batteries

Lithium ion is a dry rechargeable type of battery which comes usually in small size as compared to other batteries. It is usually used mostly in electronic devices like laptops, cellphones etc. They have also gained popularity in electric vehicles and military and aerospace applications.

Similar to the lead- and nickel-based architecture, lithium ion uses a cathode(positive electrode), an anode(negative electrode) and electrolyte as a conductor. The cathode is a metal oxide and the anode consist of porous carbon.During discharge, the ions flow from anode to cathode through the electrolyte and separator; charge reverses and ions flow from cathode to anode.The Figure below illustrates the process,

When the cell charges and discharges, ion shuttle between cathode (positive electrode) and anode (negative electrode).On discharge, the anode undergoes oxidation, or loss of electrons, and the cathode sees a reduction, or a gain of electrons. Charge reverses the motion

CHARGING:-

During discharge, the lithium ions are de-intercalated from the anode travel back through the electrolyte to the cathode. This also releases the electrons that were tying them to the anode, and these flow through an external wire, providing the electric current that we used to do work. It's the connection of external wires that allows the reaction to proceed - when the electrons are free to travel, so are the positively charged lithium ions that will balance the movement of their negative charge.

When the cathode becomes full of lithium ions, the reaction stops, and the battery is flat. Then when we recharge the Lithium ion batteries again, the external electric charge that we apply pushes the lithium ions back into the anode from the cathode.

DISCHARGING:-

Types of Li-ion Cells

  • Lithium Cobalt Oxide - (LCO):-

    Also known as lithium cobaltate or lithium-ion cobalt batteries, lithium cobalt oxide batteries are made from lithium carbonate and cobalt. Due to their very high specific energy, these batteries are used for cell phones, laptops and electronic cameras. They have a cobalt oxide cathode and use graphite carbon as their anode material; during discharge, lithium ions move from anode to cathode, with the flow reversing when the battery is charging.
    This type of battery has some drawbacks, including a relatively short battery life and limited specific power. Additionally,Battery University notes that these batteries are not as safe as other types. Even so, their characteristics make them the popular choice for cell phones and other portable electronic devices.
  • Lithium Manganese Oxide - (LMO):-

    Lithium manganese oxide batteries are also commonly called lithium manganate or lithium-ion manganese batteries and are sometimes referred to as li-manganese or manganese spinel.Lithium manganese oxide batteries are notable for their high temperature stability and are also safer than other lithium-ion battery types. For this reason, they are often used in medical equipment and devices, but they may also be used in power tools, electric bikes and more. It is also possible to use lithium manganese oxide batteries to power laptops and electric powertrain cars.

  • Lithium Iron Phosphate - (LFP):-

    Lithium iron phosphate batteries, also known as li-phosphate batteries, use phosphate as a cathode. They benefit from low resistance properties, which enhance their safety and thermal stability.Other benefits include durability and a long lifecycle — fully charged batteries can be stored with little change to the total lifespan of the battery’s charge. Li-phosphate batteries are often the most cost-effective option as well when their long battery life is taken into consideration. However, the lower voltage of the li-phosphate battery means that it has less energy than other types of lithium batteries.
    Accordingly, these batteries are often used in electric motorcycles as well as other applications that need a long lifecycle and significant safety. Electric vehicles often use these batteries as well.

  • Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide - (NMC):-

    Also known as lithium manganese cobalt oxide or NMC batteries, lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide batteries are made of several materials common in lithium-ion battery types. They include a cathode made of a combination of nickel, manganese and cobalt.
    Like other lithium-ion battery varieties, NMC batteries can have either a high specific energy density or a high specific power. They cannot, however, have both properties. This battery type is most common in power tools and in powertrains for vehicles.
    The cathode combination ratio is usually 60 percent nickel, 20 percent manganese and 20 percent cobalt. This battery type is commonly preferred for electric vehicles due to its very low self-heating rate.

  • Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminium Oxide - (NCA):-

    Lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide batteries are also called NCA batteries, and are becoming increasingly important in electric powertrains and in grid storage.NCA batteries are not common in the consumer industry, but are promising for the automotive industry. NCA batteries provide a high-energy option with a good lifespan, but they are not as safe as they could be compared to other lithium-ion battery types and are quite costly. NCA batteries must be accompanied by monitoring devices to ensure driver safety.

    Given the consistent use of NCA batteries in electric vehicles, it is possible that demand for these batteries will rise as electric vehicles become more common.

  • Lithium Titanate - (LTO):-

    Finally, lithium titanate, also known as li-titanate, is a`C6+LiCoO2 leftrightarrow LiC6+CoO2` class of battery that allows for ever-increasing applications. The main advantage of the li-titanate battery is its remarkably fast recharge time due to its nanotechnology.
    Currently, manufacturers of electric vehicles and bikes use li-titanate batteries, and there is potential for this type of battery to be used in electric buses for public transportation. However, these batteries have lower inherent voltage, or lower energy density, than other lithium-ion battery varieties, which can present issues with powering vehicles efficiently. Even so, the density of lithium titanate batteries is still higher than other non-lithium-ion batteries, which is a plus.
    Applications for these batteries can include military and aerospace uses, and they may also be used for storing wind and solar energy and creating smart grids. Furthermore, Battery Space suggests these batteries could also be used in system-critical backups for power systems.

The materials & chemical reactions occurring at the anode and cathode and the overall chemical reactions of all types of Li-ion cells have been mentioned in the table given below:

Name Anode Cathode Seperator Electrolyte Anode Reaction Cathode Reaction Overall Reaction
Lithium Cobalt Oxide(LCO) Graphite Lithium Cobalt Oxide Polyolefin Ethylene Carbonate `LiC6 leftrightarrow C6+Li^++e^-` `CoO2+Li^++e^(-) leftrightarrow LiCoO2` `C6+LiCoO2 leftrightarrow LiC6+CoO2`
Lithium Manganese Oxide(LMO) Graphite Lithium Manganese Polyolefin Lithium Halide `LiC6 leftrightarrow C6+Li^++e^-` `MnO2+Li^++e^(-) leftrightarrow LiMnO2` `C6+LiMn2O4 leftrightarrow LiC6+Mn2o4`
Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminium Oxide(NCA) Graphite Nickel Cobalt Aluminium Polyolefin Ethylene Carbonate `LiC6 leftrightarrow C6+Li^++e^-` `NiCoAlO2+Li^++e^(-) leftrightarrow LiNiCoAlO2` `C6+LiNiCoAlO2 leftrightarrow LiC6 + NiCoAlO2`
Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide(NMC) Graphite Nickel Manganese Polyolefin Lithium Salt `LiC6 leftrightarrow C6+Li^++e^-` `NiMnCoO2 + Li^+ + e^(-) leftrightarrow LiNiMnCoO2` `C6+LiNiMnCoO2 leftrightarrow LiC6 + NiMnCoO2`
Lithium Iron Phosphate(LFP) Graphite Lithium Iron Phosphate Polyolefin Ethylene Carbonate `LiC6 leftrightarrow C6+Li^++e^-` `FePO4 + Li^++e^(-) leftrightarrow LiFePO4` `C6 + LiFePO4 leftrightarrow LiC6 + FePO4`
Lithium Titanate(LTO) Graphite Lithium Titanate Polyolefin Lithium Salt `Li4Ti5O12 leftrightarrow Ti5O12 + Li^+ + 4e^-` `4Mn2O4 +Li^+ + 4e^(-) leftrightarrow 4LiMn2o4` `4Mn2O4 +Li4Ti5o12 leftrightarrow 4LiMn2o4 + Ti5o12`

SOLUTION 2:-

On the basis of characteristics, the Li+ ion batteries can be compared in the following ways :

Lithium Cobalt Oxide(LiCoO2):-

The lithium cobalt oxide battery has been the battery of choice for most personal electronics (laptops, cameras, tablets, etc.) due to their high energy density, long life cycle and ease of manufacturing. Lithium cobalt batteries are very reactive and therefore suffer from poor thermal stability and must be monitored during operation to ensure safe use.The limited availability of cobalt also makes it more expensive and difficult to be a viable option for use in EVs. Nevertheless, this high energy dense battery powers the Tesla Roadster and Smart Fortwo electric drive (ED).
Lithium Nickel Oxide(LiNiO2):-
LiNiO2 was recognized as a promising material for high voltage batteries (i.e., an approx. 4 V vs. Li/Li+ electrode potential), because it is a lower cost material (it is Co free) and has a high theoretical capacity of 250 Ah/kg. However, difficulties with its use, especially the formation of a self-passivation layer at the surfaces caused difficulties with its use.Because stoichiometric LiNiO2 requires great care in manufacture, and is a somewhat less practical electrode material, solid solutions of this material with Co [31], Fe [32], Mn [33], Al [34], Ti [35], and Mg were developed [36], fromwhich the current “NMC 811” (i.e., “Nickel 0.8 Manganese 0.1 Cobalt 0.1”) and related materials were developed.

Lithium Manganese oxide(LiMn2O4):-

The architecture forms a three-dimensional spinel structure that improves ion flow on the electrode, which results in lower internal resistance and improved current handling. Low internal cell resistance enables fast charging and high-current
discharging. Li-manganese can be discharged at currents of 20–30 A with moderate heat buildup in an 18,650 package. This chemistry provides better thermal stability than the lithium cobalt oxide battery but results in approximately 33% lower capacity and a lower life span.Most Li-manganese batteries blend with lithium manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) to improve the
specific energy and prolong the life span. The LMO-NMC has been used by multiple EV manufacturers in the past including Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt and BMW i3.
One of the main research efforts in the field of lithium-manganese oxide electrodes for Li-ion batteries involves developing composite electrodes using structurally integrated layered Li2MnO3 and spinel LiMn2O4, with a chemical formula of xLi2MnO3
(1−x)Li1+yMn2−yO4. The combination ofboth structures provides increased structural stability during electrochemical cycling while achieving higher capacity and rate-capability. A rechargeable capacity in excess of 250 Ah/kg was reported in 2005 using this material, which has nearly twice the capacity of current commercialized rechargeable batteries of the same dimensions.

Lithium Iron Phosphate(LiFePO4):-

In 1996, researchers at the University of Texas in Austin found that phosphate materials could be used in Li-ion battery positive electrodes.LiFePO4 (LFP) offers good electrochemical performance with low resistance, besides high current rating and long cycle life.The phosphate helps to stabilize the electrode against overcharging and provides a higher tolerance to heat which limits the breakdown of the material.
These batteries have a wide temperature range and can operate between +60◦C to−30◦C and are much less likely to suffer from a thermal runaway. LiFePO4 has a higher self-discharge than other Li-ion batteries, which can cause balancing issues with aging. This can be mitigated through the use of sophisticated control electronics, at increased battery pack cost. Further, moisture seems to significantly limit the lifetime of the battery.
With the efficient power-to-weight ratios, high safety features and the chemistry’s resistance to thermal runaway, LiFePO4
batteries are achieving popularity for use in motorhomes. A consortium of German companies (ElektroFahrzeuge Stuttgart and WOF, located in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) has teamed up to bring to market the first all-electric motorhome: the Iridium E Mobil, and this electric powertrain includes a lithium iron phosphate battery.


Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide(NMC):-

Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC) electrodes can be designed for high specific energy or power with high density. The secret of NMC lies in combining nickel and manganese: nickel is known for its high specific energy but poor stability; manganese has the benefit of forming a spinel structure to achieve low internal resistance but offers a low specific energy.
Researchers are using nickel-rich electrodes to increase energy density, while reduction in cobalt is also helpful since it lowers costs.
Combining nickel and manganese enhances each other’s strengths, making NMC the most successful Li-ion system and suitable for EV powertrains. These batteries are currently in high demand given the high specific energy and excellent thermal characteristics. As mentioned above, NMC has been used by many EV manufacturers, including Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt and BMW i3.

Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminium Oxide(NCA):-

Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide (NCA) has been around since 1999 for special applications. It shares similarities with NMC by offering high specific energy and specific power (the rate at which the battery can deliver energy), and a long life span. NCA is not as safe as the others listed above and as such, require special safety monitoring measures to be employed for use in EVs. They are also more costly to manufacture, limiting their viability for use in other applications. So far, Tesla is known as the only EV manufacturer who uses NCA chemistry, and claims their NCA battery in production has even less Cobalt than NMC811. The NCA batteries used in the Tesla Model 3 and the first Model S in 2012 had only 15% Cobalt content.


Comparisons of different types of Li-ion batteries used in EVs from the following perspectives: specific energy (capacity), specific power, safety, performance, life span, and cost (the outer hexagon is most desirable). Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC), Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) and Lithium Manganese Oxide stand out as being superior among these six candidates.

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