X-ray Nano-computed Tomography of Electrochemical Conversion in Lithium-ion Battery

Daniele Di Lecce; Stanislav Levchenko; Francesco Iacoviello; Dan J L Brett; Paul R Shearing; Jusef Hassoun

doi:10.1002/cssc.201901123

X-ray Nano-computed Tomography of Electrochemical Conversion in Lithium-ion Battery

ChemSusChem. 2019 Aug 8;12(15):3550-3561. doi: 10.1002/cssc.201901123. Epub 2019 Jul 16.

Authors

Daniele Di Lecce¹, Stanislav Levchenko², Francesco Iacoviello¹, Dan J L Brett¹, Paul R Shearing¹, Jusef Hassoun^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Electrochemical Innovation Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7JE, UK.
² Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara, 17, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
³ National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology (INSTM), University of Ferrara Research Unit, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara, 17, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.

PMID: 31169357
DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201901123

Abstract

Herein, a nanometric CuO anode for lithium-ion batteries was investigated by combining electrochemical measurements and ex situ X-ray computed tomography (CT) at the nanoscale. The electrode reacted by conversion at about 1.2 and 2.4 V versus Li⁺ /Li during discharge and charge, respectively, to deliver a capacity ranging from 500 mAh g^-1 to over 600 mAh g^-1 . Three-dimensional nano-CT imaging revealed substantial reorganization of the CuO particles and precipitation of a Li⁺ -conducting film suitable for a possible application in the battery. A lithium-ion cell, exploiting the high capacity of the conversion process, was assembled by using a high-performance LiNi_0.33 Co_0.33 Mn_0.33 O₂ cathode reacting at 3.9 V versus Li⁺ /Li. The cell was proposed as an energy-storage system with an average working voltage of about 2.5 V, specific capacity of 170 mAh g_cathode ^-1 , and efficiency exceeding 99 % with a very stable cycling.

Keywords: CuO; Li-ion battery; LiNi0.33Co0.33Mn0.33O2; X-ray computed tomography; anode.

Abstract

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