FY2010 - Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Director’s R&D Fund—
Energy Storage
ENERGY STORAGE
05374
Materials Behavior Underlying the Electrochemical Performance
of Advanced Batteries
Sheng Dai, Nancy J. Dudney, Karren L. More, Ed Hagaman, Bob Shaw, De-en Jiang,
Shannon M. Mahurin, Andrew Payzant, Claus Daniel, and Edgar Lara-Curzio
Project Description
This work undertakes two research thrusts aimed at developing underlying knowledge of basic materials
behavior that governs lithium battery electrochemical performance and lifetime. Specific objectives
include (1) dynamic characterization of the initial development of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) in
terms of morphology and molecular composition at a heretofore unattained level of resolution, thus
demonstrating the ability to fundamentally relate these characteristics to energetics and kinetic factors,
and (2) development of an understanding of the evolution of stress states and mechanical behavior of
electrodes and the SEI in order to directly connect structure and materials processing routes to the factors
that make major contributions to lithium battery durability (lifetime) and safety. To accomplish these
goals, it will be necessary to (1) tailor advanced, in situ characterization tools for effective use with
battery material systems that utilize ORNL’s world-class capabilities in electron microscopy, molecular
spectroscopies (e.g., nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance, vibrational spectroscopies),
X-ray diffraction, and mechanical behavior; (2) establish the necessary suite of instruments to conduct
standard electrochemical characterization of battery cells (or half cells) in order to relate in situ
microscopy, molecular spectroscopies, X-ray, and mechanical observations and measurements to
macroscopic current-voltage performance; and (3) develop processing routes to synthesize model systems
that facilitate analysis of the results in terms of thermodynamic, kinetic, and stress factors.
Mission Relevance
It is readily apparent that efficient, affordable electrical energy storage is the key to meeting the
challenges of future energy security and climate change in the transportation and stationary and portable
power generation sectors. It is also clear that, particularly for transportation, an enormous improvement in
battery performance is needed to displace fossil-based fuels for everyday needs. The technical challenges
to reach the necessary level of ultimate performance of electrical energy storage devices (batteries and
supercapacitors) are daunting; none are more so than the need for materials (both electrodes and
electrolytes) that exhibit long-term stability at high rates of charge transfer under both oxidizing and
reducing conditions. The needed advances will require basic and applied research in materials science and
electrochemistry as well as extended materials and systems development and testing. In this project
ORNL will undertake initial steps to grow a robust program of research devoted to materials for future
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