Credit: Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2024). DOI: 10.1002/anie.202419300
Innovative Materials Address Lithium-Ion Battery Performance in Cold Climates
Most solid materials tend to expand with heat and contract as temperatures drop, but there exists a category of substances that behave contrary to this norm, exhibiting expansion in colder conditions. One such example is lithium titanium phosphate, which presents a potential solution to the significant decline observed in the performance of lithium-ion batteries during low-temperature scenarios.
A Groundbreaking Study on Electrode Application
Research published in the prestigious journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition highlights a collaborative effort from several Chinese institutions that demonstrate lithium titanium phosphate’s effectiveness as an electrode for rechargeable batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries are integral to powering various modern devices—from portable electronics and electric vehicles to energy storage systems harnessing solar and wind energy. However, they encounter severe performance drops when exposed to frigid temperatures, presenting challenges for sectors like automotive, aerospace, and military applications.
While existing solutions like integrated heating elements or advanced electrolyte formulations may mitigate these issues, they often introduce increased costs and complexity or diminish battery performance altogether.
The Impact of Low Temperatures on Lithium-Ion Diffusion
The challenges posed by cold weather primarily stem from slowed diffusion rates of lithium ions within electrode materials. A research group consisting of experts from Donghua University, Fudan University in Shanghai, along with Inner Mongolia University have introduced an innovative strategy—utilizing electrochemical energy-storage materials known for their negative thermal expansion (NTE) properties such as lithium titanium phosphate LiTi2(PO4)3 (LTP).
Research Methodology and Findings
This investigation was led by prominent scientists Liming Wu, Chunfu Lin, and Renchao Che who adopted LTP as their model material to illustrate how NTE characteristics enable efficient operation at lower temperatures.
The team conducted detailed analyses revealing a crystal structure composed of interlinked TiO6 octahedra and PO4 tetrahedra forms an open lattice featuring cavities conducive for lodging lithium ions. Upon cooling down the structure expands along certain axes within its crystalline framework.
The researchers employed advanced spectrometry along with electron microscopy paired with computer simulations which uncovered alterations in atomic vibrational patterns at reduced temperatures; notably allowing specific oxygen atoms greater distance apart while broadening lattice cavities—which significantly enhances both ion storage capability and mobility.
At −10°C conditions recorded demonstrate that the diffusion rate remains robust at 84% compared to testing conducted at optimal room temperature levels (25°C). Moreover, tests evaluating carbon-coated LTP samples exhibited exceptional electrochemical performance even at −10°C showcasing impressive capacity retention across 1,000 charge/discharge cycles.
A New Era for Cold-Climate Battery Technology
This promising investigation emphasizes how materials with negative thermal expansion could revolutionize battery technology—especially appealing when considering applications demanding reliable power sources under chilling environments.
For further details:
Qiao Li et al., “Negative Thermal Expansion Behavior Enabling Good Electrochemical-Energy-Storage Performance at Low Temperatures,” Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2024). DOI: 10.1002/anie.202419300
Citation:
‘Arctic-expanding’ materials may alleviate winter difficulties faced by lithium-ion batteries (January 8th , 2025), accessed January 9th , 2025 from TechXplore article link .
