Developing batteries with extended life will
significantly enhance the performance of future of
electric vehicles. A range of phenomena limit battery
life, from electrolyte decomposition; solid-electrolyte
interphase layer build-up on active electrode surfaces;
decomposition of the binder; corrosion in current
collectors; and metallic Li plating.
The
goal of this project is to identify, characterize and
model damage accumulation in
base electrode materials and their
passivating surface
layers, and (eventually) the full porous
electrodes. The materials studied in this project will
start from carbon, silicon and carbon/silicon composite
negative electrodes. We will maintain awareness of other
host materials (eg: Sn, Ga) and develop both modeling
and experimental techniques that are applicable to other
Li-insertion-electrode materials systems.
