Abundance of elements in the earth
Posted on 03/07/2025 1:22:42 PM PST by Red Badger
Korean researchers have developed advanced Ni-rich cathodes that improve all-solid-state battery performance, offering longer lifespans and greater energy efficiency.
n an era where electronic devices and electric vehicles demand better battery performance, scientists are racing to develop batteries that last longer, charge faster, and store more energy.
A promising solution lies in all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs), which could outperform traditional lithium-ion batteries in both efficiency and safety.
At the heart of this innovation is the cathode active material (CAM), particularly those rich in nickel (Ni), which plays a crucial role in boosting battery performance.
Role of Ni-rich cathodes ASSBs differ from conventional lithium-ion batteries by using solid electrolytes instead of liquid ones, reducing the risk of fire and improving energy storage capacity.
However, the performance of these batteries heavily depends on the effectiveness of their cathodes. Researchers have been focusing on Ni-rich cathodes because of their potential to significantly boost energy density. Yet, despite their advantages, these cathodes have shown certain limitations that affect battery longevity.
“ASSBs comprising Ni-rich layered cathode active materials (CAMs) and sulfide solid electrolytes are promising candidates for next-generation batteries with high energy densities and safety,” wrote Nam-Yung Park, Han-Uk Lee, and their colleagues in their paper.
“However, severe capacity fading occurs due to surface degradation at the CAM–electrolyte interface and severe lattice volume changes in the CAM, resulting in inner-particle isolation and detachment of the CAM from the electrolyte.”
Challenges and breakthroughs in Ni-rich cathode design A major challenge with Ni-rich cathodes is capacity fading, which occurs when batteries lose their ability to hold a charge over time.
This degradation is primarily caused by chemical reactions at the cathode-electrolyte interface and structural changes in the cathode itself. The expansion and contraction of cathode particles during charging cycles lead to material breakdown, reducing battery efficiency.
To better understand these issues, researchers at Hanyang University in South Korea conducted a study examining how different levels of nickel in the cathode impact degradation.
They synthesized four different types of Ni-rich cathodes, with nickel content ranging from 80% to 95%, and analyzed their effects on battery performance.
“We quantified the capacity fading factors of Ni-rich Li[NixCoyAl1−x−y]O2 composite ASSB cathodes as functions of Ni content,” wrote Park, Lee, and their colleagues. “Surface degradation at the CAM–electrolyte interface was found to be the main cause of capacity fading in a CAM with 80% Ni content, whereas inner-particle isolation and detachment of the CAM from the electrolyte play a substantial role as the Ni content increases to 85% or more.”
Advancing Ni-rich cathode performance The study found that surface degradation was the primary issue for cathodes with 80% nickel, while higher nickel content (85% or more) led to particle isolation and detachment, further reducing battery efficiency. Using this knowledge, the researchers developed a modified Ni-rich cathode with an optimized surface and structure. These cathodes featured a columnar design, which significantly reduced particle detachment and improved overall stability.
When tested in a pouch-type full cell with a C/Ag anode-less electrode, the newly designed cathodes retained 80.2% of their initial capacity after 300 charge cycles. This marks a significant step toward improving ASSBs, making them more reliable and suitable for widespread adoption.
By refining Ni-rich cathodes, researchers are paving the way for high-performance, long-lasting, and safer all-solid-state batteries. This breakthrough could revolutionize energy storage, driving advancements in electronic devices, electric vehicles, and other battery-powered applications.
Ready for industrial and public use kn, say, ... another 20 years?
Ontario, with it’s nickel mines, is pleased.
How plentiful is nickel vs lithium?
it was only a matter of the right particles to make such a charge as a battery that can cycle and recycle long after the cycling of the cycle has reached the end of a cycle that may be a literal recycling of that cycle. impressive. a recycled term indeed.
It’s early, but is this good? “Ni cathode retains 80% capacity after 300 cycles”
I think not.
How much do current (lithium ion I presume) EV batteries lose after 300 cycles?
FWIW, Google AI puts the number at between 5 and 10%, after 300 cycles. That could be complete BS.
Nickel is far more recyclable than lithium is. You can recycle it with nearly no loss of quality.
https://nickelinstitute.org/en/sustainability/nickel-life-cycle-management/nickel-recycling/
Lithium is a stood gap and dead end over the long term. Aluminum is the future. Aluminum makes up more than 8% of the whole planet’s crust, it’s the third most abundant element after silicon and oxygen. It’s the most recycled material by volume and mass. 75% of all aluminum ever mined is still in use or available for use.
This is a new solid state tech that also cannot burn and at 1% loss over 10000 cycles will be the go too tech for not only consumer level devices like that pocket sized supercomputer being used to post all this stuff. It will also be the go to tech for drones and medical devices too. EVs are only 6% of the global power cell market the modern world cannot exist without the density of modern power cells.period.full.stop.
This is a multiple trillion dollar market whenever comes up with the next gen high density power cells is going to be rich beyond any imaginable level. The first trillionaire has already been born.
https://interestingengineering.com/energy/aluminum-battery-retains-over-99-capacity
The DOD is already getting aluminium graphene cells that charge at 66C rates and can take 10000+ full depth of discharge cycles. Specifically for airborne drones and other drone use, think underwater and crawling on land ton. Aluminum is a triple valence electron metal it has triple the power density of a single electron metal like Li or Na, aluminum theoretical energy density is one of the few that can exceed liquid hydrocarbons on a mass for mass basis. Aluminum air fuel cells can double the energy density of gasoline on a kg for kg basis yeah like that dense.
So after a year, they are 20% gone.
After 2 years, I guess, probably about 50% gone.
If that is so great, what about all the current batteries?
Do EV users need to replace them every other year???
See the “rare Earth” materials!
They are in the same ballpark as Copper, Nickel or Lead.
Not really that rare! More common than Cadmium, Indium, Mercury, or Antimony!
Why did we gave that market to China?!?
There’s not enough nickel in the earth’s crust to support this!
I’m old enough to remember sneering at hybrid cars.
I knew then the technology would get better over time. Just like I’ve always known that EV technology would get better.
In gasoline car terms: the gas tank shrinks from 20 gallons to 16 gallons after 300 days of driving.
We will comb our hair with ray guns.
but NO ONE WANTS EVs
300 cycles is less than a year’s use.
Well we can already, remove hair with lasers...for years at a time.
Pew..Pew..Pew
And thank goodness for it, I like a woman who is lasered from the neck down. All of my wives had this done for the win.
Solid-state EV battery are crap
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