Nanowerk April 5, 2023
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory demonstrated lithiation gradients and electrode assembly movement during electrochemical cycling of a Li-metal cell containing a Ni–Mn–Co layered oxide cathode (NMC811). During charge, deposition of Li+ ions from the cathode increased the Li foil thickness; during discharge, the thickness decreased as Li+ ions are stripped off the foil. The resulting periodic movement was observed through tracking of Bragg peaks from the ordered phases of the cathode and separator. In addition to this 3.6 μm/mAh displacement, continuous mossy Li build-up on the anode caused an irreversible drift of the assembly, which is ∼11.3 μm/cycle. Their data indicated significant lithiation gradients in the NMC811 cathode during the oxide relithiation, which is not observed during the delithiation… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Graphical abstract. Credit: Journal of Power Sources, Volume 553, 1 January 2023, 232273