As part of the continuing efforts to develop advanced electrolytes to improve the performance of lithiumion cells, especially at low temperatures, a number of electrolyte formulations have been developed that result in improved low-temperature performance (down to –60 °C) of 26650 A123Systems commercial lithium- ion cells. The cell type/design, in which the new technology has been demonstrated, has found wide application in the commercial sector (i.e., these cells are currently being used in commercial portable power tools). In addition, the technology is actively being considered for hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and electric vehicle (EV) applications.
In current work, a number of low-temperature electrolytes have been developed based on advances involving lithium hexafluorophosphate-based solutions in carbonate and carbonate + ester solvent blends, which have been further optimized in the context of the technology and targeted applications. The approaches employed, which include the use of ternary mixtures of carbonates, the use of ester co-solvents [e.g., methyl butyrate (MB)], and optimized lithium salt concentrations (e.g., LiPF6), were compared with the commercial baseline electrolyte, as well as an electrolyte being actively considered for DoE HEV applications and previously developed by a commercial enterprise, namely LiPF6 in ethylene carbonate (EC) + ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC)(30:70%). The four new lowtemperature electrolytes developed include:
- 1.0 M LiPF6 EC+EMC+MB (30:40:30 v/v%),
- 1.4 M LiPF6 EC+EMC+MB (30:40:30 v/v %),
- 1.4 M LiPF6 EC+EMC+MB (10:10:80 v/v%), and
- 1.0 M LiPF6 EC+DMC+EMC (30:20:50 v/v %).
Excellent high-discharge-rate performance was observed at –30 and –40 °C with cells containing these formulations, with up to 3.0C and 1.0C being capable, respectively, for most cells. For the 1.4 M LiPF6 EC+EMC+MB (10:10:80 v/v%) formulation, cells were observed to support 5.0C and 3.0C continuous discharge at –30 and –40 °C, respectively, while charging the cells at low temperature. Good performance was obtained to temperatures as low as –60 °C with over 57 W·h/kg being delivered at a C/20 rate. Cycling tests demonstrated that most cells had good life characteristics over a wide temperature range, with the all carbonate-based formulations being most robust. Given that some of the electrolytes described contain ester co-solvents, there is some concern that the systems will not perform well above ambient temperatures (i.e., >40 °C). It is anticipated that improvement of the high-temperature stability of these systems can be achieved through the use of electrolyte additives, such as vinylene carbonate (VC), mono-fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), dimethyl acetamide (DMAc), and/or the use of mixed salt solutions such as LiBOB and LiFAP used in conjunction with LiPF6.
This work was done by Marshall C. Smart and Ratnakumar V. Bugga of Caltech and Antoni S. Gozdz and Suresh Mani of A123Systems, Inc. for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For more information, download the Technical Support Package (free white paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Materials category. NPO-46180
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Improved Low-Temperature Performance of Li-Ion Cells Using New Electrolytes
(reference NPO-46180) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
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Overview
The document is a Technical Support Package from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) detailing advancements in lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery technology, specifically focusing on improved low-temperature performance through the use of new electrolytes. This research is particularly relevant for future NASA missions and various terrestrial applications that require batteries to function effectively over a wide temperature range, from -60°C to +60°C.
The document outlines the challenges associated with Li-ion batteries operating in low-temperature environments, which can significantly affect their performance, including capacity and discharge rates. It highlights the Department of Energy's (DoE) interest in enhancing the rate capability of Li-ion technology for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) down to -30°C.
Key findings include performance data from tests conducted at various low temperatures, such as -20°C and -30°C, where cells were charged at room temperature before discharge. The results indicate that certain advanced electrolytes, particularly those containing 1.0M LiPF6 in a specific solvent mixture, demonstrated remarkable performance, achieving up to 99.0% of room temperature capacity at -20°C and 93.5% at lower temperatures.
The document also summarizes comprehensive rate characterization testing conducted over a wide temperature range (-70°C to +20°C) and various discharge rates (from C/20 to 3C). These tests are crucial for understanding how different electrolyte formulations can enhance battery performance in extreme conditions.
Overall, the research presented in this document emphasizes the importance of developing advanced electrolytes to improve the functionality of Li-ion batteries in cold environments, which is essential for both aerospace applications and broader commercial uses. The findings could lead to significant advancements in battery technology, enabling more reliable and efficient energy storage solutions for various applications, including electric vehicles and space missions.
The document serves as a resource for stakeholders interested in the technological advancements in battery performance and provides contact information for further inquiries related to the research and technology in this area.
