MU Researchers Use $500,000 NSF Grant to Investigate Key Technical Challenge Preventing Lithium-Ion Batteries from Achieving Optimal Energy Performance

MU researchers are using a $500,000 grant from the NSF to study a key technical challenge that prevents lithium-ion batteries from achieving optimal energy performance.

MU researchers are using a $500,000 grant from the NSF to study a key technical challenge that prevents lithium-ion batteries from achieving optimal energy performance.

From personal electronics to electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries are used in many technologies. For the past 30 years, scientists have worked to improve the overall safety and performance of these batteries by converting a key component called the electrolytes from liquid to solid – partly because of the problem of the liquid being flammable.

Although solid-state lithium-ion batteries – which use solid electrolytes – are viewed by many as the next big advance in battery technology, these batteries continue to suffer from performance issues.

Because of this, a team of researchers from the University of Missouri is working to figure out why this is happening. Ultimately, what the team is discovering through their research could help propel the future of battery technology as scientists continue to develop solutions for a safer lithium-ion battery that is also better optimized for energy efficiency.

Matthias J. Young, an assistant professor with joint appointments in the Departments of Biomedicine, Bio- and Chemical Engineering and the Department of Chemistry, said:

We are working to develop a fundamental understanding of why these solid state lithium-ion batteries are lacking in performance so we can approach them intelligently and ensure they perform as well as they should.

The team recently received a three-year, $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to better understand the origin of this problem, which they believe may occur at a key connection point of the battery.

“We’re going to look at what forms at this interface and then use that knowledge to understand how and why these reactions occur,” Young said.

To help the team determine their findings, they will use a specialized electron microscope — a Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra 300 Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) — from the Electron Microscopy Core (EMC) in the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building.

The microscope is able to see and identify atoms, according to Xiaoqing He, a senior scientist at EMV and an associate associate professor at the Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

“This microscope is a powerful analysis tool that allows us to gather much more detailed information that is not obtainable with other microscopy tools,” said He.

“Here we can use it to systematically examine the interface between the cathode of the lithium-ion battery and the solid electrolyte in order to better understand the nature of the interface, both chemically and structurally.”

Their work will also use thin-film polymer coatings – an expertise of Young’s lab – to help the team probe and understand the chemical reactions taking place.

“These coatings act as selective membranes, allowing only certain things to flow between the two materials,” Young said. “By controlling these reactions and observing what’s going on, we believe insights can ultimately help us understand the basics of what’s happening.”

The team will use the information gathered to find a possible solution.

“We will ultimately use this knowledge to be able to introduce a technical interface that prevents the occurrence of undesirable reactions and still maintains the desired energy properties – so that the battery can be charged and discharged quickly,” said Young.

A drive to make a difference How they got to where they are today may differ, but both He and Young share a common interest in solving technical challenges for the benefit of others.

As a young child growing up in rural China, he didn’t have many opportunities to see different kinds of advanced technologies. But watching his father fix and maintain his little two-wheeled walking tractor left a lasting impression on him.

“My father did most of the repairs and maintenance himself,” he said.

“That’s a big deal considering he didn’t go to school at all. I clearly remembered that he struggled with reading the manuals and sometimes needed my help to understand the manuals; although I was only in the first grade and could only help a little.”

“My father’s persistent pursuit of new knowledge and the fact that he did not give up easily despite all obstacles and failures really had a great impact on my education and inspired me to become a scientist who can develop new and better technologies, to help many people like my father.”

Young has always been interested in solving big engineering problems. Ever since he enrolled in graduate school, Young has been fascinated by battery technology because he believed it could help make a difference for humanity.

“It’s like a Rubik’s Cube,” Young said. “There are many facets to the problem, but keeping that in mind and trying to go at it surgically and figuring out how I can go at it surgically to get to the heart of the problem is something I really enjoy .”

“Some people like chess, some like Sudoku, and I really enjoy solving these complex technical and scientific questions.”

“Understanding the Formation of Interphase Layers at the Cathode/Solid Electrolyte Junction” was awarded by the National Science Foundation (2219060). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the funding agencies.

Young would also like to acknowledge the contributions of Nikhila Paranamana with the proposal they submitted to NSF to receive this grant. Paranamana, a MU PhD student, will continue her work on the current project.

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Can lithium be recycled from batteries?

While lithium batteries can be recycled, lithium ion batteries are more complex. The recycling process of lithium ion batteries can be dangerous if recycled incorrectly due to the flammability of their components.

How do you recycle lithium batteries? The most common methods currently used to recycle these batteries involve disassembling and shredding the entire battery and then melting it down or dissolving it in acid.

Why are lithium batteries not recyclable?

For the few facilities that can recover materials from lithium-ion batteries, traditional methods are not efficient enough to recover high-quality lithium for battery recycling.

Are lithium batteries toxic waste?

Lithium batteries contain potentially toxic materials including metals such as copper, nickel and lead, and organic chemicals such as toxic and flammable electrolytes containing LiClO4, LiBF4 and LiPF6.

Why is it difficult to recycle lithium batteries?

A lithium battery pack contains modules that contain cells, and it is within these cells that the precious metals reside. Manual access to these cells is feasible but cumbersome, and automation is required to process large volumes. “It’s a bit harder to recycle these types of materials,” said Northvolt’s Nehrenheim.

Are lithium batteries able to be recycled?

Yes, lithium-ion batteries are recyclable, but the process is a bit complicated. This could be why you are struggling to find a recycling center that handles this type of waste. The first challenge with lithium recycling is that you can’t treat these batteries like any other e-waste.

What percentage of lithium batteries are recycled?

The researchers said that only about 5% of used lithium-ion batteries are recycled in the United States today.

How much lithium is recycled every year?

The projected amount of available lithium-ion batteries to be recycled in 2020 is 460,000 tons – a large amount compared to previous years. By 2025, the recycling market is expected to grow to $12.2 billion. After that, it should remain at an estimated growth rate of 8%.

What percentage of a battery is already recycled today?

Other potentially valuable and recoverable materials are graphite and manganese. Recycling processes today recover around 25% to 96% of the materials in a lithium-ion battery cell. In order to achieve this goal, several steps are combined into complex process chains while maintaining security.

What percentage of electric car batteries are recycled?

It’s impossible to come up with exact figures on what percentage of lithium-ion batteries are currently recycled, but the figure that’s usually given is around 5%. The sector may be small, but it has huge growth potential. “China already has a very strong battery recycling industry,” Thomas said.

What happens to the lithium in batteries?

In each cell, lithium atoms move through an electrolyte between a graphite anode and a metal oxide cathode foil. Batteries are usually defined by the metals in the cathode.

What happens to lithium-ion batteries at end of life?

How can we reuse lithium ion batteries? Although no longer operating at peak performance, EV batteries still retain 70-80% of their original capacity at the end of their lifetime. These batteries have tremendous potential to be repurposed into second life batteries for use in less demanding applications (e.g. stationary energy storage).

Are lithium batteries toxic to the environment?

Lithium-ion batteries contain metals like cobalt, nickel and manganese, which are toxic and can contaminate water supplies and ecosystems when leached from landfills. In addition, fires at landfill sites or battery recycling plants have been attributed to improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries.

Can lithium batteries be 100% recycled?

Yes, lithium-ion batteries are recyclable, but the process is a bit complicated. This could be why you are struggling to find a recycling center that handles this type of waste. The first challenge with lithium recycling is that you can’t treat these batteries like any other e-waste.

Who owns the largest lithium mine in America?

location
owner
company	Lithium Americas Corp.
website	Official site

Which company owns the largest lithium discovery in America? Cypress owns 100% of the Clayton Valley Lithium Project covering 5,590 acres in southwest Nevada, USA. The Clayton Valley project is located immediately east of Albemarle’s Silver Peak mine, North America’s only lithium brine operation that has operated continuously since 1966.

Which US state has the most lithium?

• Thacker Pass, Nevada is currently the largest lithium resource with over 3 million tonnes LCE in reserves (570,000 tonnes lithium) and 13.7 million tonnes LCE resources. …
• Rhyolite Ridge, Nevada is a lithium-boron mine that owner Ioneer says could start production in 2024.

Where is most of the lithium found?

Where is lithium available? With 8 million tons, Chile has the world’s largest known lithium reserves. This puts the South American country ahead of Australia (2.7 million tons), Argentina (2 million tons) and China (1 million tons). Within Europe, Portugal has smaller amounts of the valuable raw material.

Where is the largest lithium deposits in the United States?

The Thacker Pass Lithium Mine is a proposed lithium clay mining development project in Humboldt County, Nevada that is the largest known lithium deposit in the United States and one of the largest in the world.

Who owns the largest lithium mines?

With 8 million tons, Chile has the world’s largest known lithium reserves. This puts the South American country ahead of Australia (2.7 million tons), Argentina (2 million tons) and China (1 million tons).

Who is the biggest lithium mining company in the world?

1. Albemarle. Albemarle is one of the largest lithium producers in the world with 5,000 employees and customers in 100 different countries worldwide. In addition to lithium, Albemarle produces bromine and provides refining solutions and chemical services to pharmaceutical companies.

What company owns the most lithium mines?

1. Albemarle. Mining and chemical producer Albemarle is a leader in global lithium production.

Does the US have any lithium mines?

While there is currently only one operational lithium mine in the US, a number of companies are pushing to bring mining projects online. Lithium Americas is planning a mine at Thacker Pass in northern Nevada, while Australia-based Ioneer USA Corp.

Can the US produce lithium?

The US currently produces only 1% of the world’s lithium production – about 1,000 tonnes of lithium content. This is currently from a single brine operation: Albemarle’s Silver Peak site in Nevada. The US theoretically has enough lithium in the ground to meet growing demand.

Where is lithium mined in the United States?

Although lithium reserves are widely spread across the globe, the US has only one active lithium mine in Nevada.

Which country has the most lithium?

Where is lithium available? With 8 million tons, Chile has the world’s largest known lithium reserves. This puts the South American country ahead of Australia (2.7 million tons), Argentina (2 million tons) and China (1 million tons).

Where does Tesla get its lithium?

It’s important to understand that there isn’t just one company supplying lithium to Tesla. In late 2021, Tesla signed a new three-year lithium supply agreement with leading lithium producer Ganfeng (OTC Pink:GNENF,SZSE:002460). The Chinese company will supply Tesla with products for three years from 2022.

Which country is rich in lithium? With 8 million tons, Chile has the world’s largest known lithium reserves. This puts the South American country ahead of Australia (2.7 million tons), Argentina (2 million tons) and China (1 million tons). Within Europe, Portugal has smaller amounts of the valuable raw material.

Does Tesla own a lithium mine?

Tesla has never operated a mine, but it’s building a lithium processing plant in Texas and may need to build a nickel refinery.

Which lithium mining company is Tesla buying?

Tesla has lithium supply agreements with Ganfeng Lithium Co, Livent Corp and Albemarle Corp, among others. The Company’s lithium supply agreement with Piedmont Lithium Inc. PLL.

What company owns the largest lithium mine?

Lithium producer Tianqi Lithium, a subsidiary of Chengdu Tianqi Industry Group headquartered in China, is the world’s largest hard rock lithium producer.

What mining company is Tesla buying?

Tesla plans to meet that demand by getting into the lithium mining business. It announced its entry into the mining business at its 2020 Battery Day event, beginning with the purchase of lithium claims on 10,000 acres in Nevada.

Where does Tesla source lithium from?

Tesla and other electric vehicle manufacturers rely heavily on a few different minerals. One of them, lithium, is largely mined, refined and processed by China, although lithium deposits can be found worldwide.

Where does Tesla get its battery materials from?

Like other automakers, Tesla sources battery cells from suppliers like Panasonic Corp (6752.T), CATL (300750.SZ) and LG Energy Solution (373220.KS). In late 2020, Musk announced that Tesla was aiming to halve the cost of the most expensive part of an electric vehicle by producing its own batteries.

Does Tesla own any lithium mines?

At Tesla’s Battery Day in 2020, the automaker announced it was getting into the mining business — starting with buying lithium claims on 10,000 acres in Nevada. Almost two years later, however, Tesla still has nothing to do with that claim or any new lithium mining technology announced at the same event.

Who makes lithium batteries for Tesla?

The main supplier of these cells for Tesla is Panasonic (of Japan). Tesla later figured out that it would be better to have a larger battery cell (higher capacity per cell and fewer cells) optimized for electric cars.

Where does lithium for electric car batteries come from?

According to the IEA, more than 80 percent of the world’s lithium is mined in Australia, Chile and China, which alone controls more than half of the world’s processing and refining. The US has a single open lithium mine in Nevada and imports most of its supply from Argentina and Chile.

Where does the US get its lithium?

Currently, the US gets most of its lithium from South America or Australia. Typically, the mined lithium is processed in China and made into batteries. That’s at least two more continents where the lithium ends up before the final product is ready.

Where does the lithium for lithium batteries come from?

Lithium comes from two main sources: brine and hard rock. Brine deposits are found in salt lakes where lithium is extracted through an evaporation process. Brine harvesting is historically a simpler, more common extraction method, but generally yields low-grade lithium.

Where are lithium batteries for electric cars made?

Electric cars are currently being manufactured using lithium-ion batteries, the lithium for which is mainly mined in China, Bolivia and Argentina. A 2020 lithium-ion battery supply chain ranking study declared China the dominant EV battery manufacturer, but they aren’t the only competitors in the race.

What is the largest lithium mine in the world?

The Mount Cattlin Lithium Mine in Western Australia, Australia was the largest lithium producing mine in the world, producing approximately 1,340,000 tonnes of lithium and an estimated 1.8 million tonnes per year (mmtpa) run-of-mine (ROM). 2021

Where is the most lithium mined in the world? Australia is the world’s largest lithium producer, accounting for almost half of global production in 2020. Bolivia, Chile and Argentina (the “Lithium Triangle”) have the largest estimated resources at nearly 50 million tonnes of lithium in the three countries.

Which country has the most untapped lithium?

Overall, Chile has 9.2 million tons of lithium. As a result, it ranks first in the list of lithium reserves by country by some margin. However, there are also some other countries that have significant lithium reserves. With 5.7 million tons, Australia has the second largest lithium reserves in the world.

What country has the most lithium 2022?

May 25, 2022 The largest lithium reserves are located in Latin America and Australia. Of the top ten countries with the greatest concentration of lithium reserves, Chile tops the list with 9.2 million tonnes (mined from brines).

Is Ukraine rich in lithium?

According to preliminary estimates, researchers believe Ukraine is a lithium treasure trove, containing about 500,000 tons of the “non-renewable mineral that enables renewable energy.” Lithium has become virtually irreplaceable in electric vehicle (EV) batteries due to its efficient energy storage per.. .

What country has the most lithium 2022?

May 25, 2022 The largest lithium reserves are located in Latin America and Australia. Of the top ten countries with the greatest concentration of lithium reserves, Chile tops the list with 9.2 million tonnes (mined from brines).

Which countries produce most lithium?

Leading Lithium Producing Countries Worldwide 2021 In 2021, Australia was the world leader in terms of lithium mine production with an estimated production of 55,000 tonnes. Chile and China follow in second and third place with a total lithium production of 26,000 and 14,000 tons respectively.