Synthesis and characterization of nano structured electrode and solid state electrolytes for lithium ion solid state batteries

Abstract

Lithium-ion-batteries have emerged as prominent energy storage for electronic vehicles owing to its merits such as high energy density, high power density, low self-discharge, high open circuit voltage and near zero memory effect. Electric vehicles, albeit being an older technology tried in the initial decades of the nineteenth century, could not sustain in the race with internal combustion engines due to its high ownership cost and poor performance. However, due to the renewed interest in the development of environmentally friendlier vehicles that could resist global warming has brought the battery powered electric vehicle back on the track. The electric vehicles aspire the lithium-ion batteries to meet specific demand such as high power density of the order of 600 to 800 Wh/kg, charge-discharge cycles more than 1000 times, high energy density around 275 Wh/kg, high kilometer coverage per charge around 500 km/charge and high calendar life around 10 years. As this new demands cannot be completely satisfied by the existing materials in present day Lithium-ion batteries, the exploration of new materials for electrodes and electrolytes has become indispensable. newlineThe most significant properties such as quick charging which relates to high power density of the batteries, is hampered by limitations of anode materials such as pulverization, structural instability and enhanced SEI formation. Besides promising improvements made in the anode materials, the properties such as high theoretical specific capacity, high voltage window and high electronic conductivity are not completely satisfied. The present day anodes could be broadly classified into 4 types such as (i) Carbon based materials, (ii) Metals/ alloy based materials leading to Lithium electroplating, (iii) intercalation type materials which accommodates Li ion while reduction and oxidation, and (iv) conversion type materials, which undergoes structural change to accommodate lithium while charging newline