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Researchers in Korea Develop Method for Regulating Nickel Concentrations in Advanced Battery Cathodes

South Korean researchers, led by Associate Professor Hyun Deog Yoo from the Department of Chemistry and the Institute for Future at Pusan National University, have unveiled a fresh mathematical method for lithium-ion batteries with high-nickel cathodes. This innovative framework enables the use...

Scientists based in South Korea discover a method for managing nickel content levels in advanced...
Scientists based in South Korea discover a method for managing nickel content levels in advanced cathodes

Researchers in Korea Develop Method for Regulating Nickel Concentrations in Advanced Battery Cathodes

Researchers at Pusan National University in South Korea have made a significant breakthrough in the field of lithium-ion batteries. They have developed a mathematical framework that allows for the precise, independent control of key gradient parameters in high-nickel cathodes.

Traditionally, the synthesis of full concentration gradient (FCG) cathodes involves a coprecipitation method using two tanks of metal precursor solutions. This method, however, limits the control over the average composition, slope, and curvature of the nickel concentration gradients.

The Pusan National University team overcame this limitation by modeling the second tank’s metal precursor flow as a time-dependent mathematical function. This innovative approach allows for precise adjustment of how the concentration decreases from the core to the surface of each cathode particle.

With this mathematical control, the researchers can create an unlimited range of concentration gradients using just two precursor tanks, improving flexibility and customizability for cathode designs. The approach provides independent tuning of three parameters:

  1. Average composition (overall metal content ratio)
  2. Slope (rate of change of concentration gradient)
  3. Curvature (the variation or nonlinearity of the gradient slope)

By integrating this model with an automated reactor system, the team successfully synthesized multiple Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1(OH)2 precursors with finely tuned gradients. The gradients were verified through two- and three-dimensional elemental mapping, ensuring enhanced mechanical strength and surface stability critical for high-nickel cathodes.

The FCG cathode retained 93.6% of its initial capacity after 300 cycles, the highest cycling stability reported for FCG cathodes of similar composition. The high-nickel cathodes developed by the researchers exhibited improved mechanical and structural stability compared to conventional counterparts.

Moreover, the resulting cathodes showed enhanced lithium-ion transport for better electrochemical performance. The potential benefits of the new approach include improved safety and performance for lithium-ion battery (LIB)-based energy storage systems.

The team's findings were published in the journal ACS Energy Letters, marking a significant step forward in the development of high-performance lithium-ion batteries. The new approach replaces conventional methods with more stable elements such as cobalt and manganese, enhancing surface stability and mechanical strength.

In conclusion, the Pusan National University team's research offers a promising solution to the challenges faced in the synthesis of high-nickel lithium-ion battery cathodes. The new mathematical framework provides a flexible and customizable approach to cathode design, with the potential to transform the safety and performance of LIB-based energy storage systems.

The innovative mathematical framework developed by the researchers at Pusan National University could potentially expand beyond the field of lithium-ion batteries. With its influence on health-and-wellness, the method's ability to tailor gradients in high-nickel cathodes might also benefit fitness-and-exercise equipment requiring battery power, improving their efficiency and longevity.

Furthermore, considering the emphasis on renewable energy and technology, the advancements in lithium-ion battery synthesis could inspire further tech innovations by offering safer, more efficient storage solutions for energy generated by renewable resources.

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