Enhancing Lithium Battery Performance with LiFeO2-C Inkjet Technology
In my last article, a have introduced the idea of new material and process to improve Lithium Batteries: https://lnkd.in/dEfuRa9D. Now let's discuss more details about its advantages.
The industrial process I presented earlier: Controlled coprecipitation, special wash, functionalization, and concentration makes a very stable nano-particle ceramics water high-concentrated colloidal suspension to be used as the inkjet ink active pigment. Carbon structures (carboxylic acids) must be functionalized to those nano-particles to achieve well-dispersed colloidal suspension properties and a special ferrofluid. Think of a hairy spherical nano-particle where the good part of the strands will remain intertwined in the middle of the magnetic particles after printing. We will have on the substrate (electrode) a thin layer of nanostructured and high surface area LiFeO2 with lots of carbon structures coating the nano-particle and placed inside the pores.
Well, this critical process detail brings exciting advantages to the cathode battery. This paper [1] discusses excellent electrochemical performance, decreasing the absolute volume changes and increasing lithium ions mobility and the cathode electrical conductivity, offering pathways along the whole interconnected wall in the structure using LiFeO2-C with the same characteristics as our jetted one.
The inkjet technology has the property to make thin films with high surface area, and this is due to the small droplet size produced by the printing process. Inkjet printers use a small nozzle to eject tiny droplets onto the printing surface, creating a high ink concentration in a small area. This results in a large surface area for the ink compared to the volume, increasing the visual impact of the printed image and enhancing its color vibrancy. Additionally, the small droplet size also enables high-resolution printing and fine details, contributing to the overall quality of the printed image. The pigment of this ink is the LiFeCO2-C nano-particle, and the surface properties are the same.
The cause of volume changes in a Lithium battery is the insertion and extraction of lithium ions from the cathode material during charge and discharge. Lithium ions are inserted into the cathode during charge, causing it to expand in volume. Conversely, lithium ions are extracted from the cathode during discharge, causing it to contract. Over time, this repeated expansion and contraction leads to mechanical degradation and battery capacity loss. The magnitude of the volume changes depends on the composition and structure of the cathode material. Some cathode materials, such as lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), exhibit significant volume changes and are prone to mechanical degradation. Other cathode materials, such as lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4), show more minor volume changes and are more stable over time. There are several ways to mitigate the volume changes problem in lithium-ion batteries. One approach is to use composite cathode materials that combine two or more materials with different properties. For example, a composite cathode consisting of LiCoO2 and LiFePO4 can reduce the volume changes and improve the stability of the battery. It is also possible to use binders or coatings to reduce the volume changes in the cathode. For example, a thin layer of a compliant material such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) can act as a buffer to reduce the mechanical stress on the cathode during expansion and contraction. The final and chosen approach is to use nanostructured cathode materials with high surface area. It allows for faster lithium ion transport, reducing the volume changes during charge and discharge. In addition, the nanocrystals' small size can help alleviate mechanical degradation.
Lithium mobility refers to the ability of lithium ions to move within the cathode material during the charging and discharging process. The faster the lithium ions move, the more efficiently the battery can be charged and discharged, leading to higher energy density and longer cycle life. One approach to improve the mobility is to use cathode materials with high lithium ion conductivity, such as lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4), or our Lithium Ferrite coated with carbon (LiFeO2-C). These materials allow the lithium ions to move more quickly, leading to faster charging and discharging and improved battery performance. The high surface area allows for more rapid lithium ion transport, which can enhance lithium mobility and increase the battery's overall performance. In addition, the nanocrystals' small size can help reduce the formation of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layers, which can impede lithium ion transport. We can also optimize the electrolyte, which facilitates the transportation of lithium ions between the cathode and anode. By improving lithium mobility, it is possible to increase lithium-ion batteries' energy density and cycle life, leading to more efficient and reliable energy storage technology.
The functionalization process of the ink is the most crucial part of achieving well-dispersed and concentrated ferrite inkjet ink. At the same time, it is the disruptive part of the proposed technology/process/product because it can resolve the primary Lithium based problems like volume changes and Lithium and electron mobility.
In conclusion, the use of LiFeO2-C inkjet ink for lithium battery cathode has numerous advantages that have been discussed in this paper. The industrial process of controlled coprecipitation, special wash, functionalization, and concentration creates a high-concentrated colloidal suspension that results in excellent electrochemical performance. The small droplet size produced by inkjet technology makes a thin film with a high surface area, increasing lithium ion mobility and electrical conductivity, reducing the volume changes and mechanical degradation that are common problems in lithium-ion batteries. The functionalization process of the ink also plays a crucial role in achieving a well-dispersed and concentrated ferrite inkjet ink, resulting in improved lithium mobility and overall battery performance. With these advantages, LiFeO2-C inkjet ink for lithium battery cathode can lead to more efficient and reliable energy storage technology.
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