TY - JOUR

T1 - Quantifying structure dependent responses in Li-ion cells with excess Li spinel cathodes

T2 - matching voltage and entropy profiles through mean field models

AU - Schlueter, Steffen

AU - Geseiner, Ronny

AU - Richards, Daniel

AU - Hoster, Harry Ernst

AU - Mercer, Michael

PY - 2018/9/7

Y1 - 2018/9/7

N2 - Measurements of the open circuit voltage of Li-ion cells have been extensively used as a non- destructive characterisation tool. Another technique based on entropy change measurements has also been applied for this purpose. More recently, both techniques have been used to make qualitative statements about aging in Li-ion cells. One proposed cause of cell failure is point defect formation in the electrode materials. The steps in voltage profiles, and the peaks in entropy profiles are sensitive to order/disorder transitions arising from Li/vacancy configurations, which are affected by the host lattice structures. We compare the entropy change results, voltage profiles and incremental capacity (dQ/dV ) obtained from coin cells with spinel lithium manganese oxide (LMO) cathodes, Li 1+y Mn 2-y O 4 , where excess Li y was added in the range 0 ≤y≤ 0.2. A clear trend of entropy and dQ/dV peak amplitude decrease with excess Li amount was determined. The effect arises, in part, from the presence of pinned Li sites, which disturb the formation of the ordered phase. We modelled the voltage, dQ/dV and entropy results as a function of the interaction parameters and the excess Li amount, using a mean field approach. For a given pinning population, we demonstrated that the asymmetries observed in the dQ/dV peaks can be modelled by a single linear correction term. To replicate the observed peak separations, widths and magnitudes, we had to account for variation in the energy interaction parameters as a function of the excess Li amount, y. All Li-Li repulsion parameters in the model increased in value as the defect fraction, y, increased. Our paper shows how far a computational mean field approximation can replicate experimentally observed voltage, incremental capacity and entropy profiles in the presence of phase transitions.

AB - Measurements of the open circuit voltage of Li-ion cells have been extensively used as a non- destructive characterisation tool. Another technique based on entropy change measurements has also been applied for this purpose. More recently, both techniques have been used to make qualitative statements about aging in Li-ion cells. One proposed cause of cell failure is point defect formation in the electrode materials. The steps in voltage profiles, and the peaks in entropy profiles are sensitive to order/disorder transitions arising from Li/vacancy configurations, which are affected by the host lattice structures. We compare the entropy change results, voltage profiles and incremental capacity (dQ/dV ) obtained from coin cells with spinel lithium manganese oxide (LMO) cathodes, Li 1+y Mn 2-y O 4 , where excess Li y was added in the range 0 ≤y≤ 0.2. A clear trend of entropy and dQ/dV peak amplitude decrease with excess Li amount was determined. The effect arises, in part, from the presence of pinned Li sites, which disturb the formation of the ordered phase. We modelled the voltage, dQ/dV and entropy results as a function of the interaction parameters and the excess Li amount, using a mean field approach. For a given pinning population, we demonstrated that the asymmetries observed in the dQ/dV peaks can be modelled by a single linear correction term. To replicate the observed peak separations, widths and magnitudes, we had to account for variation in the energy interaction parameters as a function of the excess Li amount, y. All Li-Li repulsion parameters in the model increased in value as the defect fraction, y, increased. Our paper shows how far a computational mean field approximation can replicate experimentally observed voltage, incremental capacity and entropy profiles in the presence of phase transitions.

U2 - 10.1039/C8CP02989J

DO - 10.1039/C8CP02989J

M3 - Journal article

VL - 20

SP - 21417

EP - 21429

JO - Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics

JF - Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics

SN - 1463-9076

IS - 33

ER -