Week 1 Understanding Different Battery Chemistry

1.Prepare a table which includes materials & chemical reactions occurring at the anode and cathode of LCO, LMO, NCA, NMC, LFP and LTO type of lithium ion cells.Give your detailed explanation on it

Lithium Cobalt Oxide(LiCoO₂) — LCO

Its high specific energy makes Li-cobalt the popular choice for mobile phones, laptops and digital cameras. The battery consists of a cobalt oxide cathode and a graphite carbon anode. The cathode has a layered structure and during discharge, lithium ions move from the anode to the cathode. The flow reverses on charge. The drawback of Li-cobalt is a relatively short life span, low thermal stability and limited load capabilities (specific power).

Lithium Manganese Oxide (LiMn₂O₄) — LMO

Li-ion with manganese spinel was first published in the Materials Research Bulletin in 1983. In 1996, Moli Energy commercialized a Li-ion cell with lithium manganese oxide as cathode material. 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. A further advantage of spinel is high thermal stability and enhanced safety, but the cycle and calendar life are limited.

Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO₂) — NMC

One of the most successful Li-ion systems is a cathode combination of nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC). Similar to Li-manganese, these systems can be tailored to serve as energy cells or power cells. For example, NMC in an 18650 cell for moderate load condition has a capacity of about 2,800mAh and can deliver 4A to 5A; NMC in the same cell optimized for specific power has a capacity of only about 2,000mAh but delivers a continuous discharge current of 20A. A silicon-based anode will go to 4,000mAh and higher but at reduced loading capability and shorter cycle life. Silicon added to graphite has the drawback that the anode grows and shrinks with charge and discharge, making the cell mechanically unstable.

The secret of NMC lies in combining nickel and manganese. An analogy of this is table salt in which the main ingredients, sodium and chloride, are toxic on their own but mixing them serves as seasoning salt and food preserver. 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. Combining the metals enhances each other strengths.

Lithium Iron Phosphate(LiFePO₄) — LFP

In 1996, the University of Texas (and other contributors) discovered phosphate as cathode material for rechargeable lithium batteries. Li-phosphate offers good electrochemical performance with low resistance. This is made possible with nano-scale phosphate cathode material. The key benefits are high current rating and long cycle life, besides good thermal stability, enhanced safety and tolerance if abused.

Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide (LiNiCoAlO₂) — NCA

Lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide battery, or NCA, has been around since 1999 for special applications. It shares similarities with NMC by offering high specific energy, reasonably good specific power and a long life span. Less flattering are safety and cost. NCA is a further development of lithium nickel oxide; adding aluminum gives the chemistry greater stability.

Lithium Titanate (Li2TiO3) — LTO

Batteries with lithium titanate anodes have been known since the 1980s. Li-titanate replaces the graphite in the anode of a typical lithium-ion battery and the material forms into a spinel structure. The cathode can be lithium manganese oxide or NMC. Li-titanate has a nominal cell voltage of 2.40V, can be fast charged and delivers a high discharge current of 10C, or 10 times the rated capacity. The cycle count is said to be higher than that of a regular Li-ion. Li-titanate is safe, has excellent low-temperature discharge characteristics and obtains a capacity of 80 percent at –30°C (–22°F).

SL NO	type of battery	cathode materials	anode materials	anode cemical reaction	cathode cemical reaction	total
01	Lithium Cobalt Oxide(LiCoO2) — LCO	Lithium Cobalt Oxide	Graphite
02	Lithium Manganese Oxide (LiMn2O4) — LMO	Lithium Manganese Oxide	Graphite
03	Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) — NMC	Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide	Graphite
04	Lithium Iron Phosphate(LiFePO4) — LFP	Lithium Iron Phosphate	Graphite
05	Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide (LiNiCoAlO2) — NCA	Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide	Graphite
06	Lithium Titanate (Li2TiO3) — LTO	Lithium Titanate	Graphite

2.Compare the differences between each type of Li+ion batteries based on their characteristics.

SL NO	PARAMETERS	LOC	LMO	NMC	LFP	NCA	LTO
1	Voltages	3.60V nominal; typical operating range 3.0–4.2V/cell	3.70V (3.80V) nominal; typical operating range 3.0–4.2V/cell	3.60V, 3.70V nominal; typical operating range 3.0–4.2V/cell, or higher	3.20, 3.30V nominal; typical operating range 2.5–3.65V/cell	3.60V nominal; typical operating range 3.0–4.2V/cell	2.40V nominal; typical operating range 1.8–2.85V/cell
2	Specific energy (capacity)	150–200Wh/kg. Specialty cells provide up to 240Wh/kg.	100–150Wh/kg	150–220Wh/kg	90–120Wh/kg	200-260Wh/kg; 300Wh/kg predictable	50–80Wh/kg
3	Charge (C-rate)	0.7–1C, charges to 4.20V (most cells); 3h charge typical. Charge current above 1C shortens battery life.	0.7–1C typical, 3C maximum, charges to 4.20V (most cells)	0.7–1C, charges to 4.20V, some go to 4.30V; 3h charge typical. Charge current above 1C shortens battery life.	1C, 25C on some cells; 40A pulse (2s); 2.50V cut-off (lower that 2V causes damage)	0.7C, charges to 4.20V (most cells), 3h charge typical, fast charge possible with some cells	1C typical; 5C maximum, charges to 2.85V
4	Discharge (C-rate)	1C; 2.50V cut off. Discharge current above 1C shortens battery life.	1C; 10C possible with some cells, 30C pulse (5s), 2.50V cut-off	1C; 2C possible on some cells; 2.50V cut-off	2000 and higher (related to depth of discharge, temperature)	1C typical; 3.00V cut-off; high discharge rate shortens battery life	10C possible, 30C 5s pulse; 1.80V cut-off on LCO/LTO
5	Cycle life	500–1000, related to depth of discharge, load, temperature	300–700 (related to depth of discharge, temperature)	1000–2000 (related to depth of discharge, temperature)	270°C (518°F) Very safe battery even if fully charged	500 (related to depth of discharge, temperature)	3,000–7,000
6	Thermal runaway	150°C (302°F). Full charge promotes thermal runaway	250°C (482°F) typical. High charge promotes thermal runaway	210°C (410°F) typical. High charge promotes thermal runaway	Portable and stationary needing high load currents and endurance	150°C (302°F) typical, High charge promotes thermal runaway	One of safest Li-ion batteries
7	Applications	Mobile phones, tablets, laptops, cameras	Power tools, medical devices, electric powertrains	E-bikes, medical devices, EVs, industrial	Portable and stationary needing high load currents and endurance	Medical devices, industrial, electric powertrain (Tesla)	UPS, electric powertrain (Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Honda Fit EV), solar-powered street lighting