What are the intersections between ceramic materials and batteries? With the widespread application of
alumina ceramic materials, it has been used in more and more high-end fields, such as the semiconductor industry, the
automotive industry, and the
new energy industry. Among them, alumina ceramic materials have been widely used in lithium batteries. As a professional manufacturer of alumina ceramic materials, Mingrui Ceramics will introduce the application of alumina ceramic materials in lithium-ion batteries.
Ceramics in Lithium-ion Battery
1. The application of ceramics in cathode materials
Al2O3 material is an inorganic oxide and is also an inert material. Alumina can reduce the direct contact between the positive electrode material and the electrolyte in the lithium battery by coating the surface of the positive electrode material, thereby improving the performance of the lithium ion battery. The coating modification of cathode materials is widely used.
Chen Daoming et al. used urea as a precipitant, and used a uniform precipitation method to coat different proportions of Al2O3 coating on its surface to study its influence on the electrochemical performance of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2. Among the samples prepared in the study, the results of SEM and TEM images show that Al2O3 is uniformly coated on the surface of the cathode material. In comparison, 1% Al2O3 coated cathode material has relatively good electrochemical performance, with the first discharge capacity of 189.56mAh/g; the first coulombic efficiency of 87.95%; it also performs best in the battery cycle performance and rate performance test . Through cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance analysis, the performance of the LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 battery is improved. The main reason is that the Al2O3 coating on the surface of the positive electrode material inhibits the side reactions of the electrolyte and the positive electrode material in the battery cycle. Reduce the interface impedance value.
2. Application of ceramics in anode materials
Al2O3 coating on the surface of the negative pole piece can also improve the safety and electrochemical performance of the lithium battery. Many people do not understand the process of Al2O3 ceramic coating on the surface of lithium ion battery pole pieces, and few people know the effect of ceramic coating on the pole pieces on the performance of lithium ion batteries. The Al2O3 coating applied on the negative pole piece can effectively inhibit the mutual reaction between the precipitated metal lithium and the electrolyte. Therefore, the Al2O3 coating on the surface of the negative pole piece can significantly improve the safety of lithium batteries, especially in open environments. The result of acupuncture experiment that does not cause thermal runaway is worthy of attention.
3. Application of ceramics in diaphragm materials
PE and PP have the advantages of low price and easy availability, abundant resources, high strength, resistance to melting and corrosion, etc. They are all polyolefin materials. As commercial separators, PE and PP separators are all used in lithium ion batteries. Although cellulose composite membranes are also used as separators in lithium batteries, PE and PP polyolefin films with a microporous structure are still the main applications in lithium ion batteries. When the internal temperature of the lithium-ion battery rises rapidly, the diaphragm will shrink and soften, which will cause a short circuit inside the lithium-ion battery, which is likely to cause fires and explosions. The safety of lithium-ion batteries is related to the raw materials and structure of the diaphragm. Many scholars have focused on ceramic diaphragms to modify the diaphragm of lithium-ion batteries to improve high temperature resistance and limit the internal temperature rise and short-circuiting of lithium batteries. The surface layer of the polyolefin diaphragm is coated with an inorganic oxide Al2O3 coating, and the prepared ceramic diaphragm has thermal stability, the thermal shrinkage of the diaphragm is improved, and the safety performance of the lithium ion battery is also improved.
4. Application of ceramics in electrolyte
Adding Al2O3 to the electrolyte can not only improve cycle and rate performance, but also achieve the purpose of improving battery safety.
