Improving the high-temperature operations of fast-charging lithium-ion batteries

One of the challenges of the Li-ion batteries is a good cycle life (\>1000 cycles) for a temperature range between -20 and 60 degrees Celsius required by almost all the applications. The lithium-ion cell works on ion movement between the cathode and anode electrodes. In theory, such a mechanism should work forever, but cycling or storage at an elevated temperature decreases performance over time.

Echion has developed a range of unique and patented commercial anode materials based on mixed niobium oxide (XNO) with applications in fast-charging lithium-ion batteries, where they achieve an excellent cycle life at 25dC, performing thousands of cycles. However, at 60dC, the cells may only reach hundreds of cycles in some designs. This project aims to understand the ageing mechanism at 60dC to improve the cycle life at high temperatures. This will be done via analysis of the cells after cycling to understand why this is the case.

A4I project brings together Echion Technologies Ltd, National Physical Laboratory and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory to better understand the ageing mechanism at 60dC in some cell designs and improve their cycle life at this high temperature. If we are able to understand and resolve this problem it could accelerate the adoption and commercialization of a next-generation ultra-high power, fast-charging cell material system for new emerging applications such as e-Mobility. Adoption of such solutions could provide significant environmental and public health benefits by reducing the transport sector's toxic gases and harmful particulates. Which is in line with the government's Net Zero emissions.