Research Into High Performance Cathodes For Lithium Ion Batteries

1. Research Into High Performance Cathodes For Lithium Ion Batteries Lithium ion manganese based cathode material is now regarded one of the best possibilities for the future of these high performance batteries. These high performance cathodes offer improved capacity, lower prices and environmental friendly abilities. The cathode material will encounter rapid voltage during the cycling process. This can result in a number of problems that impact the commercial application of these batteries. Structural characteristics and discharge performance of cathodes is the center of discussion among high performance cathode suppliers. The reason that cathodes are a main discussion point is that they vary in ions and coating materials. To solve any shortcomings, a combination of modification processes need to be made to alter the cathodes to achieve the best long term success. With science and technology constantly evolving, environmental pollution is at the forefront of everyones minds. Solar, wind and tidal energy are focused on as clean sources of energy, helping to improve environmental issues. Fluctuations and the intermittent nature of solar, wind and tidal energy power makes it very difficult to provide a stable solution. Developing an efficient, clean and stable energy material has become a priority throughout the world. Lithium ion batteries have taken center stage, working to high voltages with long life cycles, while working on environmental friendliness. Lithium ion batteries are used in a variety of applications, especially in the production of electric cars. The demand for these batteries has increased exponentially with the advancements of laptops, smart phones and other portable electronic devices. These batteries comprise of cathodes, anodes, electrolytes and a separator. The low capacity cathode material has inhibited the improvement of energy density in lithium ion batteries. Therefore there is a lot of focus on high performance cathode materials. Lithium rich manganese based materials are currently emerging as the new research topic when it comes to high performance cathode materials. As a result research and development teams are investing a lot of time and energy into surface coating and doping to solve issues in the lithium battery cathode industry. It is normal to apply a layer of graphene on a cathode surface to enhance the rate performance. These compounds provide a barrier on the cathode surface, preventing the electrolyte from side reactions with the active material. This can boost cycling stability. A prevalent form of doping involves adding cations and anions to various locations within the manganese group, that is brimming with lithium. Double doping is showing great promise. The goal of doping is to increase the stability of the original cathode material, enhancing electrochemical performance. Cars, trucks and buses, along with trains and airplanes are looking at switching to battery technology, resulting in the demand for battery materials to skyrocket. Electric vehicle demand is expected to double in the next three years, which has resulted in a major shortage of lithium, along with nickel and cobalt, which are used to make cathodes. Researchers are currently looking at new ways to manufacture high performance cathodes that use less of these critical materials. Some teams have found great promise in disordered rock salt (DRX). It is expected that these new high performance cathodes will be used in electronic vehicles in the very near future. These new high performance cathodes could result in a higher energy per weight battery, enabling electric vehicles to drive longer distances. They offer an energy density advantage when compared to nickel and cobalt, along with being considerably cheaper to manufacture. About Us: Wildcat Discovery Technologies is a San Diego based company accelerating the discovery of new materials for energy applications. They focus on the development of advanced materials for primary and rechargeable batteries. The company has an experienced team of in-house scientists that use high throughput tools to develop and optimize materials quickly. Wildcat Discovery Technologies has partners throughout the material supply chains and global battery industry.