Towards extreme fast charging of 4.6 V LiCoO_(2) via mitigating high-voltage kinetic hindrance

High-voltage LiCoO_(2)(LCO) is an attractive cathode for ultra-high energy density lithium-ion batteries(LIBs) in the 3 C markets.However,the sluggish lithium-ion diffusion at high voltage significantly hampers its rate capability.Herein,combining experiments with density functional theory(DFT) calculations,we demonstrate that the kinetic limitations can be mitigated by a facial Mg^(2+)+Gd^(3+)co-doping method.The as-prepared LCO shows significantly enhanced Li-ion diffusion mobility at high voltage,making more homogenous Li-ion de/intercalation at a high-rate charge/discharge process.The homogeneity enables the structural stability of LCO at a high-rate current density,inhibiting stress accumulation and irreversible phase transition.When used in combination with a Li metal anode,the doped LCO shows an extreme fast charging(XFC) capability,with a superior high capacity of 193.1 mAh g^(-1)even at the current density of 20 C and high-rate capacity retention of 91.3% after 100 cycles at 5 C.This work provides a new insight to prepare XFC high-voltage LCO cathode materials.

Tailoring Nitrogen Terminals on MXene Enables Fast Charging and Stable Cycling Na-Ion Batteries at Low Temperature

Sodium-ion batteries stand a chance of enabling fast charging ability and long lifespan while operating at low temperature(low-T).However,sluggish kinetics and aggravated dendrites present two major challenges for anodes to achieve the goal at low-T.Herein,we propose an interlayer confined strategy for tailoring nitrogen terminals on Ti_(3)C_(2) MXene(Ti_(3)C_(2)-N_(funct)) to address these issues.The introduction of nitrogen terminals endows Ti_(3)C_(2)-N_(funct) with large interlayer space and charge redistribution,improved conductivity and sufficient adsorption sites for Na^(+),which improves the possibility of Ti_(3)C_(2) for accommodating more Na atoms,further enhancing the Na^(+) storage capability of Ti_(3)C_(2).As revealed,Ti_(3)C_(2)-N_(funct) not only possesses a lower Na-ion diffusion energy barrier and charge trans-fer activation energy,but also exhibits Na^(+)-solvent co-intercalation behavior to circumvent a high de-solvation energy barrier at low-T.Besides,the solid electrolyte interface dominated by inorganic com-pounds is more beneficial for the Na^(+)transfer at the electrode/electrolyte interface.Compared with of the unmodified sample,Ti_(3)C_(2)-Nfunct exhibits a twofold capacity(201 mAh g^(-1)),fast-charging ability(18 min at 80% capacity retention),and great superiority in cycle life(80.9%@5000 cycles)at -25℃.When coupling with Na_(3)V_(2)(PO_(4))_(2)F_(3) cathode,the Ti_(3)C_(2)-N_(funct)//NVPF exhibits high energy density and cycle stability at -25℃.

Energy-storage configuration for EV fast charging stations considering characteristics of charging load and wind-power fluctuation

Fast charging stations play an important role in the use of electric vehicles(EV)and significantly affect the distribution network owing to the fluctuation of their power.For exploiting the rapid adjustment feature of the energy-storage system(ESS),a configuration method of the ESS for EV fast charging stations is proposed in this paper,which considers the fluctuation of the wind power as well as the characteristics of the charging load.The configuration of the ESS can not only mitigate the effects of fast charging stations on the connected distribution network but also improve its economic efficiency.First,the scenario method is adopted to model the wind power in the distribution network,and according to the characteristics of the EV and the driving probability,the charging demand of each station is calculated.Then,considering factors such as the investment cost,maintenance cost,discharging benefit,and wind curtailment cost,the ESS configuration model of the distribution network is set up,which takes the optimal total costs of the ESS for EV fast charging stations within its lifecycle as an objective.Finally,General Algebraic Modelling System(GAMS)is used to linearize and solve the proposed model.A simulation on an improved IEEE-69 bus system verifies the feasibility and economic efficiency of the proposed model.

An ultra-fast charging strategy for lithium-ion battery at low temperature without lithium plating

Conventional charging methods for lithium-ion battery(LIB)are challenged with vital problems at low temperatures:risk of lithium(Li)plating and low charging speed.This study proposes a fast-charging strategy without Li plating to achieve high-rate charging at low temperatures with bidirectional chargers.The strategy combines the pulsed-heating method and the optimal charging method via precise control of the battery states.A thermo-electric coupled model is developed based on the pseudo-twodimensional(P2D)electrochemical model to derive charging performances.Two current maps of pulsed heating and charging are generated to realize real-time control.Therefore,our proposed strategy achieves a 3 C equivalent rate at 0℃ and 1.5 C at-10℃ without Li plating,which is 10–30 times faster than the traditional methods.The entropy method is employed to balance the charging speed and the energy efficiency,and the charging performance is further enhanced.For practical application,the power limitation of the charger is considered,and a 2.4 C equivalent rate is achieved at 0℃ with a 250 kW maximum power output.This novel strategy significantly expands LIB usage boundary,and increases charging speed and battery safety.

Electrolyte inhomogeneity induced lithium plating in fast charging lithium-ion batteries

Fast charging capability of lithium-ion batteries is in urgent need for widespread economic success of electric vehicles. However, the application of the fast charging technology often leads to the inevitable lithium plating on the graphite anode, which is one of the main culprits that endanger battery safety and shorten battery lifespan. The in-depth understanding of the initiation of lithium metal nucleation and the following plating behavior is a key to the development of fast charging cells. Herein, we investigate the overlooked effect of the non-uniform distribution of electrolyte on lithium plating during fast charging. Prior lithium plating occurs on the saturated lithium-graphite compounds in the anode region with sufficient electrolyte since the lithium-ion transport is blocked in the anode region lacking electrolyte. The uniform distribution of electrolyte is crucial for the construction of safe lithium-ion batteries especially in fast charging scenarios.

Modeling of fast charging station equipped with energy storage

The popularization of EVs(electric vehicles) has brought an increasingly heavy burden to the development of charging facilities. To meet the demand of rapid energy supply during the driving period, it is necessary to establish a fast charging station in public area. However, EVs arrive at the charging station randomly and connect to the distribution network for fast charging, it causes the grid power to fluctuate greatly and the peak-valley loads to alternate frequently, which is harmful to the stability of distribution network. In order to reduce the power fluctuation of random charging, the energy storage is used for fast charging stations. The queuing model is determined to demonstrate the load characteristics of fast charging station, and the state space of fast charging station system is described by Markov chain. After that the power of grid and energy storage is quantified as the number of charging pile, and each type of power is configured rationally to establish the random charging model of energy storage fast charging station. Finally, the economic benefit is analyzed according to the queuing theory to verify the feasibility of the model.

Effects of long-term fast charging on a layered cathode for lithium-ion batteries

Fast charging, which aims to shorten recharge times to 10–15 min, is crucial for electric vehicles(EVs),but battery capacity usually decays rapidly if batteries are charged under such severe conditions.Revealing the failure mechanism is a prerequisite to improving the charging performance of lithium(Li)-ion batteries. Previous studies have focused less on cathode materials while also mostly focusing on their early changes. Thus, the cumulative effect of long-term fast charging on cathode materials has not been fully studied. Here, we study the changes in a layered cathode material during 1000 cycles of 6 C charging based on 1.6 Ah LiCoO_(2)/graphite pouch cells. Postmortem analysis reveals that the surface structure, charge transfer resistance and Li-ion diffusion coefficient of the cathode degenerate during repeated fast charging, causing a large increase in polarization. This polarization-induced poor utilization of the Li inventory is an important reason for the rapid capacity fading of batteries. These findings deepen the understanding of the aging mechanism for cells undergoing fast charging and can be used as benchmarks for the future development of high-capacity, fast-charging layered cathode materials.

The Puzzles in Fast Charging of Li-Ion Batteries

Fast charging of Li-ion cells faces two aspects of challenges,1)accelerated capacity fade and 2)inferior charging capability.It is commonly believed that the former is due to Li plating and its resultant reactions with electrolyte at the graphite anode,which results in a loss in the inventory of Li+ions and an increase in the cell’s impedance.While the latter is ascribed to the high voltage polarization in relation to the slow transport of Li+ions between two electrodes.However,there are many other hidden facts that essentially affect the fast charging performances of Li-ion cells.This commentary intends,from the view of materials,to uncover these hidden factors,including failure of the solid electrolyte interphase and exfoliation of the graphite structure at the anode,structural degradation of the Ni-rich layered cathode materials,as well as the high solvation and desolvation activation energies of Li+ions in the electrolyte.Meanwhile,some solutions to the fast-charging problems of Li-ion cells are proposed based on the understanding of these hidden factors.

China drafts first standard on fast charging

In recent years,fast charging develops by leaps and bounds and growth rate is doubling.It is expected to be the biggest growth point in the market of consumer electronic accessories in the future.However,different fast charging standards made by enterprises have troubled consumers.To this end,

Unraveling the Fundamental Mechanism of Interface Conductive Network Influence on the Fast‑Charging Performance of SiO‑Based Anode for Lithium‑Ion Batteries

Progress in the fast charging of high-capacity silicon monoxide(SiO)-based anode is currently hindered by insufficient conductivity and notable volume expansion.The construction of an interface conductive network effectively addresses the aforementioned problems;however,the impact of its quality on lithium-ion transfer and structure durability is yet to be explored.Herein,the influence of an interface conductive network on ionic transport and mechanical stability under fast charging is explored for the first time.2D modeling simulation and Cryo-transmission electron microscopy precisely reveal the mitigation of interface polarization owing to a higher fraction of conductive inorganic species formation in bilayer solid electrolyte interphase is mainly responsible for a linear decrease in ionic diffusion energy barrier.Furthermore,atomic force microscopy and Raman shift exhibit substantial stress dissipation generated by a complete conductive network,which is critical to the linear reduction of electrode residual stress.This study provides insights into the rational design of optimized interface SiO-based anodes with reinforced fast-charging performance.

Multilevel carbon architecture of subnanoscopic silicon for fast‐charging high‐energy‐density lithium‐ion batteries

Silicon(Si)is widely used as a lithium‐ion‐battery anode owing to its high capacity and abundant crustal reserves.However,large volume change upon cycling and poor conductivity of Si cause rapid capacity decay and poor fast‐charging capability limiting its commercial applications.Here,we propose a multilevel carbon architecture with vertical graphene sheets(VGSs)grown on surfaces of subnanoscopically and homogeneously dispersed Si–C composite nanospheres,which are subsequently embedded into a carbon matrix(C/VGSs@Si–C).Subnanoscopic C in the Si–C nanospheres,VGSs,and carbon matrix form a three‐dimensional conductive and robust network,which significantly improves the conductivity and suppresses the volume expansion of Si,thereby boosting charge transport and improving electrode stability.The VGSs with vast exposed edges considerably increase the contact area with the carbon matrix and supply directional transport channels through the entire material,which boosts charge transport.The carbon matrix encapsulates VGSs@Si–C to decrease the specific surface area and increase tap density,thus yielding high first Coulombic efficiency and electrode compaction density.Consequently,C/VGSs@Si–C delivers excellent Li‐ion storage performances under industrial electrode conditions.In particular,the full cells show high energy densities of 603.5 Wh kg^(−1)and 1685.5 Wh L^(−1)at 0.1 C and maintain 80.7%of the energy density at 3 C.

The principle and amelioration of lithium plating in fast-charging lithium-ion batteries

Fast charging is restricted primarily by the risk of lithium(Li)plating,a side reaction that can lead to the rapid capacity decay and dendrite-induced thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries(LIBs).Investigation on the intrinsic mechanism and the position of Li plating is crucial to improving the fast rechargeability and safety of LIBs.Herein,we investigate the Li plating behavior in porous electrodes under the restricted transport of Li^(+).Based on the theoretical model,it can be concluded that the Li plating on the anodeseparator interface(ASI)is thermodynamically feasible and kinetically advantageous.Meanwhile,the prior deposition of metal Li on the ASI rather than the anode-current collector interface(ACI)is verified experimentally.In order to facilitate the transfer of Li^(+)among the electrode and improve the utilization of active materials without Li plating,a bilayer asymmetric anode composed of graphite and hard carbon(GH)is proposed.Experimental and simulation results suggest that the GH hybrid electrode homogenizes the lithiated-rate throughout the electrode and outperforms the pure graphite electrode in terms of the rate performance and inhibition of Li plating.This work provides new insights into the behavior of Li plating and the rational design of electrode structure.

Insight into structural degradation of NCMs under extreme fast charging process

Lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)with extreme fast charging(XFC)capability are considered an effective way to alleviate range anxiety for electric vehicle(EV)buyers.Owing to the high ionic and electronic conductivity of LiNi_(x)Co_(y)Mn_zO_(2)(x+y+z=1,NCM)cathodes,the inevitable Li plating of graphite in NCM|graphite cell is usually identified as a key bottleneck for XFC LIBs.However,the capacity decay mechanism of cathode materials under XFC has not been fully investigated.In this work,three typical NCM cathode materials with different Ni fractions were chosen and their electrochemical performances under XFC associated with structural evolution were investigated.A faster capacity decay of NCMs under XFC conditions is observed,especially for Ni-rich NCMs.In-situ X-ray diffraction(XRD)reveals that the multiple caxis parameters appear at the high-voltage regions in Nirich NCMs,which is probably triggered by the larger obstruction of Li(de)intercalation.Particularly,NCMs with moderate Ni fraction also present a similar trend under XFC conditions.This phenomenon is more detrimental to the structural and morphological stability,resulting in a faster capacity decay than that under low current charging.This work provides new insight into the degradation mechanism of NCMs under XFC conditions,which can promote the development of NCM cathode materials with XFC capability.

Coordinated Planning for Fast Charging Stations and Distribution Networks Based on an Improved Flow Capture Location Model

The increasing penetration of plug-in electric vehi-cles(PEVs)should lead to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.Nevertheless,the development of PEVs is limited by the lack of charging facilities,which is constrained by the coupled transportation-distribution network.This paper presents a stochastic bi-level model for the optimal allocation of fast charging stations(FCSs)and distribution network expansion planning(DNEP).First,a sequential capacitated flow-capturing location-allocation model(SCFCLM)is proposed at the lower level to optimize the allocation of FCSs on the transportation network.Monte-Carlo simulation(MCS)is utilized to estimate daily charging load requirements.Then,we propose an economic model for DNEP at the upper level,and the chance constrained method is employed to relax power flow constraints to address the uncertainties of loads.Numerical experiments are conducted to illustrate the proposed planning method.The influences of the flow capturing sequence and relaxed confidence level on the PEV charging load,FCS planning strategies and DNEP schemes are analyzed.Index Terms-Coordinated planning,fast charging station,flow-capturing model,plug-in electric vehicle,stochastic bi-level model.

ZnO Additive Boosts Charging Speed and Cycling Stability of Electrolytic Zn–Mn Batteries

Electrolytic aqueous zinc-manganese(Zn–Mn) batteries have the advantage of high discharge voltage and high capacity due to two-electron reactions. However, the pitfall of electrolytic Zn–Mn batteries is the sluggish deposition reaction kinetics of manganese oxide during the charge process and short cycle life. We show that, incorporating ZnO electrolyte additive can form a neutral and highly viscous gel-like electrolyte and render a new form of electrolytic Zn–Mn batteries with significantly improved charging capabilities. Specifically, the ZnO gel-like electrolyte activates the zinc sulfate hydroxide hydrate assisted Mn^(2+) deposition reaction and induces phase and structure change of the deposited manganese oxide(Zn_(2)Mn_(3)O_8·H_(2)O nanorods array), resulting in a significant enhancement of the charge capability and discharge efficiency. The charge capacity increases to 2.5 mAh cm^(-2) after 1 h constant-voltage charging at 2.0 V vs. Zn/Zn^(2+), and the capacity can retain for up to 2000 cycles with negligible attenuation. This research lays the foundation for the advancement of electrolytic Zn–Mn batteries with enhanced charging capability.

Fast and Balanced Charge Transport Enabled by Solution-Processed Metal Oxide Layers for Efficient and Stable Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells

Metal oxide charge transport materials are preferable for realizing long-term stable and potentially low-cost perovskite solar cells(PSCs).However,due to some technical difficulties(e.g.,intricate fabrication protocols,high-temperature heating process,incompatible solvents,etc.),it is still challenging to achieve efficient and reliable all-metal-oxide-based devices.Here,we developed efficient inverted PSCs(IPSCs)based on solution-processed nickel oxide(NiO_(x))and tin oxide(SnO_(2))nanoparticles,working as hole and electron transport materials respectively,enabling a fast and balanced charge transfer for photogenerated charge carriers.Through further understanding and optimizing the perovskite/metal oxide interfaces,we have realized an outstanding power conversion efficiency(PCE)of 23.5%(the bandgap of the perovskite is 1.62 eV),which is the highest efficiency among IPSCs based on all-metal-oxide charge transport materials.Thanks to these stable metal oxides and improved interface properties,ambient stability(retaining 95%of initial PCE after 1 month),thermal stability(retaining 80%of initial PCE after 2 weeks)and light stability(retaining 90%of initial PCE after 1000 hours aging)of resultant devices are enhanced significantly.In addition,owing to the low-temperature fabrication procedures of the entire device,we have obtained a PCE of over 21%for flexible IPSCs with enhanced operational stability.

A Smart Charging Algorithm Based on a Fast Charging Station Without Energy Storage System

With the growing popularity of electric vehicles(EV),there is an urgent demand to solve the stress placed on grids caused by the irregular and frequent access of EVs.The traditional direct current(DC)fast charging station(FCS)based on a photovoltaic(PV)system can effectively alleviate the stress of the grid and carbon emission,but the high cost of the energy storage system(ESS)and the under utilization of the grid-connected interlinking converters(GIC)are not very well addressed.In this paper,the DC FCS architecture based on a PV system and ESS-free is first proposed and employed to reduce the cost.Moreover,the proposed smart charging algorithm(SCA)can fully coordinate the source/load properties of the grid and EVs to achieve the maximum power output of the PV system and high utilization rate of GICs in the absence of ESS support for FCS.SCA contains a self-regulated algorithm(SRA)for EVs and a grid-regulated algorithm(GRA)for GICs.While the DC bus voltage change caused by power fluctuations does not exceed the set threshold,SRA readjusts the charging power of each EV through the status of the charging(SOC)feedback of the EV,which can ensure the power rebalancing of the FCS.The GRA would participate in the adjustment process once the DC bus voltage is beyond the set threshold range.Under the condition of ensuring the charging power of all EVs,a GRA based on adaptive droop control can improve the utilization rate of GICs.At last,the simulation and experimental results are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed SCA.

Overview of multi-stage charging strategies for Li-ion batteries

To reduce the carbon footprint in the transportation sector and improve overall vehicle efficiency,a large number of electric vehicles are being manufactured.This is due to the fact that environmental concerns and the depletion of fossil fuels have become significant global problems.Lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)have been distinguished themselves from alternative energy storage technologies for electric vehicles(EVs) due to superior qualities like high energy and power density,extended cycle life,and low maintenance cost to a competitive price.However,there are still certain challenges to be solved,like EV fast charging,longer lifetime,and reduced weight.For fast charging,the multi-stage constant current(MSCC) charging technique is an emerging solution to improve charging efficiency,reduce temperature rise during charging,increase charging/discharging capacities,shorten charging time,and extend the cycle life.However,there are large variations in the implementation of the number of stages,stage transition criterion,and C-rate selection for each stage.This paper provides a review of these problems by compiling information from the literature.An overview of the impact of different design parameters(number of stages,stage transition,and C-rate) that the MSCC charging techniques have had on the LIB performance and cycle life is described in detail and analyzed.The impact of design parameters on lifetime,charging efficiency,charging and discharging capacity,charging speed,and rising temperature during charging is presented,and this review provides guidelines for designing advanced fast charging strategies and determining future research gaps.

Microporous Cyclodextrin Film with Funnel-type Channel Polymerized on Electrospun Cellulose Acetate Membrane as Separators for Strong Trapping Polysulfides and Boosting Charging in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

The“shuttle effect”of polysulfides hampers the commercialization of lithium-sulfur(Li-S)batteries.Here,a thin molecular sieve film was decorated on the surface of an electrospun cellulose acetate(CA)membrane derived from recycled cigarette filters,where the truncated cone structureβ-cyclodextrin(β-CD)was selected as the building block to physically block and chemically trap polysulfides while simultaneously dramatically speeding up ion transport.Furthermore,on theβ-CD free side of the separator facing the cathode,graphite carbon(C)was sputtered as an upper current collector,which barely increases the thickness.These benefits result in an initial discharge performance of 1378.24 mAh g^(−1) and long-term cycling stability of 863.78 mAh g^(−1) after 1000 cycles at 0.2 C for the battery with theβ-CD/CA/C separator,which is more than three times that of the PP separator after 500 cycles.Surprisingly,the funnel-type channel ofβ-CD generates a differential ionic fluid pressure on both sides,speeding up ion transport by up to 69%,and a 65.3%faster charging rate of 9484 mA g^(−1) was achieved.The“funnel effect”of a separator is regarded as a novel and high-efficiency solution for fast charging of Li-S and other lithium secondary batteries.

Manufacturing Water-Based Low-Tortuosity Electrodes for Fast-Charge through Pattern Integrated Stamping

Achieving high energy density and fast charging of lithium-ion batteries can accelerate the promotion of electric vehicles.However,the increased mass loading causes poor charge transfer,impedes the electrochemical reaction kinetics,and limits the battery charging rate.Herein,this work demonstrated a novel pattern integrated stamping process for creating channels in the electrode,which benefits ion transport and increases the rate performance of the electrode.Meanwhile,the pressure applied during the stamping process improved the contact between electrode and current collector and also enhanced the mechanical stability of the electrode.Compared to the conventional bar-coated electrode with the same thickness of 155μm(delivered a discharge capacity of 16 mAh g^(−1) at the rate of 3 C),the stamped low-tortuosity LiFePO_(4) electrode delivered 101 mAh g^(−1) capacity.Additionally,water was employed as a solvent in this study.Owing to its eco-friendliness,high scalability,and minimal waste generation,this novel stamping technique inspire a new method for the industrial-level efficient roll to roll fabrication of fast-charge electrodes.