Liquid metal alloys as self-healing negative electrodes for lithium ion batteries

Rutooj D. Deshpande, Juchuan Li, Yang Tse Cheng, Mark W. Verbrugge

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

131 Scopus citations

Abstract

Improving the capacity and durability of electrode materials is one of the critical challenges lithium-ion battery technology is facing presently. Several promising anode materials, such as Si, Ge, and Sn, have theoretical capacities several times larger than that of the commercially used graphite negative electrode. However, their applications are limited because of the short cycle life due to fracture caused by diffusion-induced stresses (DISs) and the large volume change during electrochemical cycling. Here we present a strategy to achieve high capacity and improved durability of electrode materials using low-melting point metallic alloys. With gallium as an example, we show that at a temperature above the melting point of Ga, a reversible solid-liquid transition occurs upon lithiation (lithium insertion) and delithiation (lithium extraction) of Ga. As a result, cracks formed in the lithiated solid state can be healed once the electrode returns to liquid Ga after delithiation. This work suggests that cracking as a failure mode can be remedied by using liquid metal electrodes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)A845-A849
JournalJournal of the Electrochemical Society
Volume158
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Electrochemistry
  • Materials Chemistry

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