University of Pittsburgh researchers have developed high-capacity composite lithium metal (CLM) anodes using Li-rich structurally isomorphous alloys (SIA) with magnesium. These CLMs have a high capacity (>1600 mAh/g) and do not lead to dendrite formation which has traditionally limited the capacity of Li-ion batteries. These novel CLMs have the potential to revolutionize the field of high-power Li-ion battery research and may lead to the development of higher-energy battery systems with applications in several markets from electric vehicles (EVs) to consumer electronics.
Description
Li-ion batteries are used in a host of goods from EVs to laptops, medical devices and cell phones, and are vital to global efforts to reduce climate change and a transition to greener energy. By 2030,analysts suggest the global market for Li-ion batteries could be greater than $400bn with Li-ion batteries required to produce around 4.7 TWh of power to meet demand. As global lithium supplies deplete, there is a need to develop higher capacity, efficient Li-ion batteries to meet this demand. These novel CLMs could lead to the development of higher capacity Li-ion batteries as well as lithium-free cathode development, further improving battery energy density while reducing the amount of lithium required and associated costs.
Applications
• High-capacity lithium-ion batteries
• Electric vehicles
• Remote power supplies
Advantages
The capacity of current Li-ion batteries is limited by the formation of lithium dendrites on the battery electrodes leading to battery failure and has been associated with safety risks including fires. Some technologies have been developed to reduce this risk; however, these measures result in increased battery weight and has limited the development of high-energy battery systems, restricting the range of EVs or longevity of cell phone batteries.
This novel approach aims to overcome the existing limitation on the capacity of Li-ion batteries using multiple strategies. High-capacity CLMs have been produced using a combination of multilayer porous foams with a thin film of lithium deposited inside the pores and a Li-ion conducting insulator coating to prevent dendrite formation. CLMs could lead to higher capacity batteries to match the power demand of consumer goods, and as these batteries would be highly efficient, they could reduce the cost of Li-ion batteries encouraging consumers to switch to greener energy.
Invention Readiness
Prototype CLMs have been produced and found to have very high areal (>15 mAh/cm2) and gravimetric (>1600 mAh/g) capacities. These novel CLMs remained stable and dendrite-free for over 200 cycles and offer a promising approach to developing high-capacity, safe Li-ion batteries.
IP Status
https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2019010476A1
