Will advanced lithium-alloy anodes have a chance in lithium-ion batteries?

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 68; no. 1; pp. 87 - 90
• Main Authors: Besenhard, J.O., Yang, J., Winter, M.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 01.09.1997; Elsevier Sequoia
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electrochemical conversion: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells; Exact sciences and technology; Lithium-alloy anode; Lithium-ion batteries; Lithium-tin-alloys; Multiphase alloys; Ultrasmall particle size; Lithium-ion batteries; Lithium-alloy anode; Lithium-tin-alloys; Ultrasmall particle size; Multiphase alloys; Lithium base alloys; Ternary alloy; Secondary batteries; Antimony alloys; Intercalation compounds; Electrode material; Ultrafine particle; Electroplating; Discharge charge cycle; Electrochemical characteristic; Binary alloys; Tin alloys; Morphology; Reliability; Silver alloys; Lithium ion
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-7753(96)02547-5

The high packing density of lithium is a significant advantage of lithium insertion into metallic matrices that can be achieved in lithium alloys compared with lithium intercalation into carbonaceous materials. Moreover, the operating voltage of lithium-alloy anodes may be chosen well-above the potential of metallic lithium and the solvent co-intercalation has not been observed at lithium-alloy electrodes. On the other hand, the volume changes related with insertion/removal of lithium into/ from the metallic matrices cause pulverization and rapid failure of lithium-alloy anodes. This paper demonstrates the dramatic effect of the morphology of the metallic host matrix on the performance of the lithium-alloy anodes. Two component host matrices with ultrasmall (submicro- or nanoscale) particle size show an impressive cycling performance. This is related with the small absolute changes of the dimensions of the individual particles and also with the fact that in the first charging step the more reactive particles are allowed to expand in a ductile surrounding of still unreacted material.