Synergistic effect of bulk phase doping and layered-spinel structure formation on improving electrochemical performance of Li-Rich cathode material

In this study, La was doped into the lithium layer of Li-rich cathode material and formed a layered-spinel hetero-structure. The morphology, crystal structure, element valence and kinetics of lithium ion migration were studied by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The La doped lithium-rich cathode material exhibited similar initial discharge capacity of 262.8 mAh g^?1 at 0.1 C compared with the undoped material, but the discharge capacity retention rate can be obviously improved to 90% after 50 cycles at 1.0 C. Besides that, much better rate capability and Li⁺ diffusion coefficient were observed. The results revealed that La doping not only stabilized the material structure and reduced the Li/Ni mixing degree, but also induced the generation of spinel phase to provide three-dimensional diffusion channels for lithium ion migration. Moreover, the porous structure of the doped samples also contributed to the remarkable excellent electrochemical performance. All of these factors combined to significantly improve the electrochemical performance of the material.     

ZnMn2O4/Mn2O3/CNT复合正极材料的制备及其在水系锌离子电池的应用

锰基化合物具备高容量、高能量密度和高工作电压等特性，是水系锌离子电池（AZIBs）商业应用过程中的首选正极材料。然而，材料存在的电导率低、锰溶解、静电斥力效应和结构稳定性差等缺点，严重阻碍其大规模应用。采用表面活性剂辅助溶剂热法成功合成了碳纳米管（CNT）包覆ZnMn2O4/Mn2O3（ZMO/MO）复合材料，并探究了CNT包覆量对材料电化学性能和动力学过程的影响。采用X射线衍射和扫描电子显微镜对材料的结构和形貌进行表征。与纯相ZMO/MO相比，经CNT包覆的正极在0.1 A g-1电流密度下具有良好的循环稳定性和更高的倍率性能。并用循环伏安曲线和电化学阻抗探究了电极的动力学特性，两相复合提高了Zn2 扩散速率，CNT的包覆改善了材料的电荷传递。     

A novel design for humidifying an open-cathode proton exchange membrane fuel cell using anode purge

The low performance of open-cathode proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells (OCPEMFCs) is attributed to the low-humidity ambient air supplied to the cathode using electric fans. To improve the OCPEMFC performance, this paper proposes a novel humidification method by collecting water purged from the anode and supplying it to the open cathode. The OCPEMFC performance is evaluated at various humidifier distances from the cathode inlet, and it is compared with that where no humidifier is used when the OCPEMFC operates under three different current levels of 1, 5, and 8 A. The results show that the novel design improves the stack power, and optimal performance is achieved at a humidifier distance of 2 cm. The energy efficiency achieves an improvement between 1.4% and 1.8% when a humidifier is used.     

Magnetron sputtered LSC-GDC composite cathode interlayer for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

The paper investigates the influence of the La_0.6Sr_0.4CoO_3-δ-Gd_0.1Ce_0.9O_1.95 (LSC-GDC) composite cathode interlayer on the operation of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Thin composite layers with the different GDC content are obtained by the reactive magnetron sputtering. The impact of the high-temperature annealing on the LSC-GDC phase composition is studied by the X-ray diffraction instrument using additionally a synchrotron radiation. The NiO-YSZ anodes with the YSZ electrolyte thin film and GDC barrier layer are used for the SOFC fabrication. The current-voltage curves and impedance spectra of SOFCs are obtained in the temperature range of 700–800°С. It is shown that not annealed composite layers with ～50 vol% GDC content possess the most efficient electrochemical activity. The maximum power density of the SOFC with the LSC-GDC interlayer is 1322, 1041 and 796 mW/cm² at 800, 750 and 700 °C, respectively, which is 20–35% higher than that of the cell without cathode interlayer.     

Interactions of Li2O volatilized from ternary lithium-ion battery cathode materials with mullite saggar materials during calcination

In recent years, the rapid development of Li(Ni_xCo_yMn_1-x-y)O₂ (LNCM) materials for application in ternary lithium-ion batteries has led to an increased demand for refractory kiln saggars in industries. However, saggars used for firing ternary Li-ion battery cathode materials are often subjected to severe corrosion and spalling. To investigate the damage mechanism of the saggar materials, non-contact corrosion experiments were designed to study the effects of the precursor additions, calcination temperature, and number of calcinations during the interaction between mullite saggar and LNCM materials. The phase composition and microstructure of the mullite saggar specimens before and after corrosion were characterized using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively, to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the causes of the deterioration of mullite saggar materials during corrosion.     

Corrosion of Li-ion battery cathode materials on mullite insulation materials during calcination

A specially designed experimental device was used in laboratory to investigate the corrosion of mullite during the calcination of Li(Ni_xCo_yMn_z)O₂ (LNCM) materials. The anti-corrosion tests were carried out at 1000, 1100, 1200 and 1300 °C, and characterized with X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The influence of temperature on the interactions between mullite insulation materials and LNCM materials was determined. In addition, the high-temperature creep properties of the mullite insulation materials before and after corrosion were tested. The laboratory scale tests, thermodynamic and kinetic calculations allowed a more comprehensive understanding of the evolution of the mullite insulation materials during serving for the roasting process of LNCM materials. Through this research, it is suggested that the upgrading of the kiln lining in the lithium battery industry should select materials with excellent resistance to alkali corrosion, especially excellent resistance to Li⁺ corrosion.     

Dual functions of three-dimensional hierarchical architecture on improving the rate capability and cycle performance of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cathode material for lithium-ion battery

The main obstacles in lithium-ion battery are limited by rate performance and the rapid capacity fading of LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ (NCM811). Herein, a novel three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical coating material has been fabricated by in situ growing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the surfaces of Ni–Al double oxide (Ni–Al-LDO) sheets (named as LDO&CNT) with Ni–Al double hydroxide (Ni–Al-LDH) as both the substrate and catalyst precursor. The resultant LDO&CNT nanocomposites are uniformly coated on the surfaces of NCM811 by the physical mixing method. The rate capability of the resultant cathode material retains to 78.80% at a current rate of 3C. Its capacity retention increases by 6.7–14.42% compared with pristine NCM811 after 100 cycles within a potential range of 2.75–4.3 V at 0.5C. The improved rate capability and cycle performance of NCM811 are assigned to the synergistic effects between Ni–Al-LDO and CNTs. The hierarchical LDO&CNT nanocomposites coating on the surface of NCM811 avoids the aggregation of conductive CNTs and the stacking of Ni–Al-LDO nanosheets. Furthermore, it accelerates Li⁺ and electrons shuttle and reduces the reaction of Li₂O with H₂O and CO₂ in air, which results in Li₂CO₃ and LiOH alkali formation on the NCM811 surface.     

Experimental investigations of enhanced glow based on a pulsed hollow-cathode discharge

In this work, the pulsed hollow cathode discharges at low pressure argon with an axial magnetic field were studied. The results indicate that the pulsed discharge is operated in an enhanced glow(EG) mode. Under the same conditions, the discharge current of the pulsed discharge is two or three orders higher than that of the direct current discharge. The spatial and temporal evolution of the light emission shows that, the current fluctuation at the rising edge of the pulse plays an important role for the EG discharge of pulsed hollow cathode, which forms a high-density, highcurrent and long-distance plasma column outside the cavity.     

基于镧锶锰氧化物基阴极的中温固体氧化物燃料电池的性能优化研究

为了提高基于镧锶锰氧化物(LaxSr1-xMnO3,LSM)阴极的中温固体氧化物燃料电池(Solid Oxide Fuel Cell,SOFC)的电化学性能,文章利用CuO清扫Ce0.85Sm0.15O2-δ(SDC)晶界的SiO2杂质以提高SDC的离子电导率,制备了复合电解质材料SDC-CuO,并将SDC-CuO和LSM结合成复合阴极材料,随后分别制备了以LSM和LSM/SDC-CuO作为阴极的SOFC,并研究了这两种SOFC的电化学性能。研究结果表明:在开路电压和工作温度为800℃的条件下,LSM/SDC-CuO基阴极的SOFC的极化电阻为0.14Ω·cm2,明显低于LSM基阴极SOFC的极化电阻(0.36Ω·cm2);LSM/SDC-CuO基阴极的SOFC的最大输出功率密度为237 mW/cm2,显著高于LSM基阴极的SOFC的最大输出功率密度(132 mW/cm2)。     

废旧锂电池正极材料回收技术研究进展

介绍了当前国内外三种车用锂电池正极材料的回收技术,包括火法冶金技术、湿法冶金技术和生物冶金技术。经过比较,以酸浸出—沉淀/萃取法为工艺流程的湿法技术对设备和能耗要求低、浸出效率高,是工业上方便引入的一种优异技术。