1. Nanotechnology for Future Batteries
Yaroslav Aulin

2. Outline Introduction Li-ion batteries and nanotechnology
Other nanobatteries
Conclusions
"Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium
17 June 2009

3. How do batteries work? - anode (-) cathode (+) electrolyte + current
© 2009 Yaroslav Aulin
"Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium
17 June 2009

4. Parameters to be improved
Stored energy per mass(volume)
Power
Recharge time
Lifetime
Cost
Safety
Environmental
sustainability
J.Thomas, Nature Materials 2, (2003)
"Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium 17 June 2009

5. Moore’s law-not for batteries
Image courtesy: Intel Corporation
18650 Li ion cell
"Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium
17 June 2009

6. … Batteries’ timeline now 5..10 years from now
M. Armand & J.-M. Tarascon, Nature 451, (2008) 
"Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium 17 June 2009

7. Li-ion batteries
"Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium 17 June 2009

8. Conventional Li-ion batteries
Anode: graphite
Cathode: LiCoO2
electrolyte: a solution of
LiPF6 in EC-DMC
LiCoO2
Graphite
"Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium
17 June 2009

9. Problems Graphite – low specific capacity for Li storage
LiCoO2-high cost
Liquid electrolyte
Solution: nanomaterials
"Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium
17 June 2009

10. Anode "Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium
17 June 2009

11. Anode Unlithiated material Fully lithiated material
Gravimetric capacity
(mAhg-1)
Volumetric capacity
(mAhcc-1) Al
LiAl
993
1.374 Si
Li21Si5
4008
2.323 Sn
Li22Sn5
994
2.025 Sb
Li3Sb
660
1.881
C, graphite
LiC6
372
0.760
Gravimetric (volumetric) capacity-
charge that could be stored per unit mass(volume) of the material
"Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium
17 June 2009

12. Anode Si High gravimetric capacity
Problem: the volume of Si changes by 400% upon cycling
Solution: nanostructured electrodes
"Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium 17 June 2009

13. Anode
Schematic of morphological change that occur in Si during electrochemical cycling
C.K. Chan et. al. Nature Nanotechnology 3, (2008)
"Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium 17 June 2009

14. Anode Structural evolution of Si NWs during lithiation
graphite
Capacity vs cycle number data for
Si NW electrode compared to graphite
C.K. Chan et. al. Nature Nanotechnology 3, (2008)
"Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium 17 June 2009

15. Cathode
"Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium 17 June 2009

16. Cathode Problems: insulator, low Li ion diffusion
LiFePO4
Cheap, environmentally benign, reasonable capacity(110 mAhg-1 versus 130 mAhg-1 for LiCoO2)
Problems: insulator, low Li ion diffusion
M. Armand & J.-M. Tarascon, Nature 414, (2001) 
Solution: carbon-coated nanoparticles
"Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium
17 June 2009

17. Cathode
Cycling behavior and SEM image of carbon coated nanoparticulate LiFePO4 electrode
C.Z. Lu et al. Journal of Power Sources 189 (2009)
"Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium 17 June 2009

18. Cathode Sample Thickness of pellet (mm) Resistance (kΩ)
Conductivity (S cm−1)
LFP (0 wt.% HC)
1.06
3.97 × 10−8
LFP (6.0 wt.% HC)
0.77
8.32
3.45 × 10−4
LFP (8.0 wt.% HC)
0.88
6.78
3.70 × 10−4
LFP (10 wt.% HC)
0.55
8.67
4.63 × 10−4
LFP (12 wt.% HC)
0.63
6.95
5.04 × 10−4
C.Z. Lu et al. Journal of Power Sources 189 (2009)
"Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium 17 June 2009

19. Electrolyte
"Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium 17 June 2009

20. Solid state polymer electrolytes
All solid state construction
Simplicity of manufacture
Wide variety of shapes and sizes
Higher energy density
No leak-outs and internal short-circuits
Problem: poor ionic conductivity
Solution: nanocomposite polymer electrolytes
"Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium
17 June 2009

21. Solid state polymer electrolytes
S. Panero et al. Journal of Power Sources 129 (2004)
Influence of ZrO2 nanoparticles on ionic conductivity of P(EO)20LiCF3SO3
"Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium 17 June 2009

22. Solid state polymer electrolytes
Problems remaining:
better understanding of ionic conductivity of polymers is required
electrode-electrolyte interface
"Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium 17 June 2009

23. "Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium 17 June 2009

24. … http://www.sandia.gov/ M. Armand & J.-M. Tarascon,
Nature 451, (2008) …
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17 June 2009

25. Conclusions
Progress in nanoscience and nanotechnology will allow to design new types of batteries based on nanomaterials and having improved properties: increased capacity, improved charge-discharge characteristics, reduced power cost, lower weight and smaller size, better environmental sustainability
Nanostructured electrodes and solid polymer electrolytes are the materials that will drastically improve conventional Li-ion batteries
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26. Acknowledgements
I would like to thank prof. Paul van Loosdrecht for supervising me during this project
"Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium 17 June 2009

27. Thank you for your attention! Questions?
"Energy & Nano" - Top Master in Nanoscience Symposium 17 June 2009