Effects of oxygen content on the oxidation process of Si-containing steel during anisothermal heating

The oxidizing behavior of Si-containing steel was investigated in an O2 and N2 binary-component gas with oxygen contents ranging between 0.5 vol% and 4.0 vol% under anisothermal-oxidation conditions. A simultaneous thermal analyzer was employed to simulate the heating process of Si-containing steel in industrial reheating furnaces. The oxidation gas mixtures were introduced from the commencement of heating. The results show that the oxidizing rate remains constant in the isothermal holding process at high temperatures; therefore, the mass change versus time presents a linear law. A linear relation also exists between the oxidizing rate and the oxygen content. Using the linear regression equation, the oxidation rate at different oxygen contents can be predicted. In addition, the relationship between the total mass gain and the oxygen content is linear; thus, the total mass gain at oxygen contents between 0.5 vol%–4.0 vol% can be determined. These results enrich the theoretical studies of the oxidation process in Si-containing steels.

Insight into the Electrochemical Behaviors of NCM811|SiO-Gr Pouch Battery through Thickness Variation

LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2(NCM811)|SiOx-graphite(SiO-Gr.)battery chemistry is of intensive attention because its achievable practical energy density is approaching impressively 300 Wh Kg^(-1).However,it still suffers rapid capacity fades during repeated cycles,both chemical,electrochemical and mechanical irreversibility contribute.A comprehensive understanding behind the fading behavior of the cell chemistry is required before fully realize the benefits of this chemistry.Herein,the in-situ thickness variation is introduced as a diagnostic technique and is performed on 5-55 Ah NCM811|SiO-Gr cells.With the help of Li reference electrode and in-situ X-ray diffraction device,the correspondence between thickness variation and the electrode potential is carefully investigated.Firstly,the NCM811|SiO-Gr cell is characterized with the maximum cell thickness at around 80%state-of-charge(SOC)in the discharge process,rather than at 100%SOC.Secondly,the electrochemical behaviors during rate charge/discharge are diagnosed,and a Li platting signal is resolved from thickness variation profile at 2C.This work confirms that the thickness monitoring is a nondestructive and informative complement to conventional diagnostic techniques for failure analysis of pouch cells.

Adjusting the solvation structure with tris(trimethylsilyl)borate additive to improve the performance of LNCM half cells

Tris(trimethylsilyl)borate(TMSB) has been intensively studied to improve the performances of lithiumion batteries. However, it is still an interesting issue needed to be resolved for the research on the Li^(+) solvation structure affected by TMSB additive. Herein, the electrochemical tests, quantum chemistry calculations, potential-resolved in-situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements and surface analyses were used to explore the effects of Li^(+) solvation structure with TMSB additive on the formation of the cathode electrolyte interface(CEI) film in LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2)/Li half cells. The results reveal that the TMSB additive is easy to complex with Li^(+) ion, thus weaken the intermolecular force between Li^(+) ions and ethylene carbonate solvent, which is benefit for the cycle performance. Besides, the changed Li^(+) solvation structure results in a thin and dense CEI film containing compounds with Si–O and B–O bonds which is favorable to the transfer of Li^(+) ions. As a result, the performances of the LNCM811/Li half cells are effectively improved. This research provides a new idea to construct a high-performance CEI film by adjusting the Li^(+) solvation structures.

Preparation of Silicon Nanoparticles by Pyrolysis of Organosilicon Compounds inside the Porous Carbon

To increase the capacity of the negative electrode for lithium-ion secondary batteries, we prepared Si-containing carbon microspheres. The target compound was obtained by thermal decomposition of hexaphenyldisilane embedded in porous carbon particles that contained Si-nanoparticles characterized by various methods. When charging/discharging characteristics were evaluated using a cell having the obtained material as a negative electrode, a remarkable improvement in charging characteristics was observed.