New possibilities for Li-ion batteries

There is no doubt that Li-ion batteries are becoming the darling of new energy storage designs because of their high energy density, especially in mobile applications such as personal electronics and electric cars. However, the materials currently used in Li-ion batteries are expensive. Many of them, like lithium cobalt oxide (which is on the EU’s critical raw materials list), are difficult to handle and dispose of properly. Additionally, batteries using these materials have relatively short lifetimes. 

Thus, new novel materials are being developed for next-generation Li-ion batteries. One promising anode-cathode material pair is lithium titanate countered by lithium iron phosphate. The raw materials for these components are readily available, safe to use, and easy to dispose of or recycle. Most importantly, batteries manufactured with these materials have significantly longer cycle and calendar lifetimes compared to those of current battery technology. However, the main problem with these new materials is their low electric conductivity.

Doped lithium titanate (Li₄ Ti₅ O₁₂ or LTO) nanoparticles could be incorporated into Li-ion batteries used in, for example, electric or hybrid automobiles.  

A study by University of Eastern Finland scientists opens up new electricity storage applications. The results were published in the Journal of Alloys and Compounds in an article titled “Effect of doping and crystallite size on the electrochemical performance of Li₄ Ti5O₁₂ .”

Researchers found that the electric conductivity problem can be solved by making nano-sized, high-surface-area crystalline materials or by modifying the material composition with highly conductive dopants. They succeeded in doing both for lithium titanate in a one-step gas phase process. The university is pleased with the electrochemical performance of Li-ion batteries made from the LTO material. They think that the most important applications lie in batteries featuring fast charging required for electric buses, or high power needed for hybrid and electric vehicles. Find more information at https://www2.uef.fi/en/fine/index.