Designing Spinel Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ Electrode as Anode Material for Poly(ethylene)oxide-Based Solid-State Batteries

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Lithium metal solid-state batteries (SSBs) face challenges with lithium metal anode instability, leading to dendrite growth and cell failure.
• Spinel lithium titanate (LTO) offers a safer alternative to lithium metal anodes, providing long cycle life and fabrication ease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the electrochemical properties of poly(ethylene)oxide (PEO)-based solid-state batteries utilizing LTO as the active anode material.
• To optimize electrode formulations with conductive additives for enhanced performance.

Main Methods:

• Development and optimization of electrode laminates using carbon black and multiwalled carbon nanotubes as conductive additives.
• Electrochemical performance assessment of LTO electrodes in half-cells with a PEO-based solid electrolyte and lithium metal anode.
• Postmortem characterization to analyze component integrity after cycling.

Main Results:

• Optimized LTO electrodes achieved a rate capability of 150 mAh g⁻¹ at C/2.
• Stable cycling over 140 cycles at C/20 with 83% capacity retention was observed.
• Postmortem analysis confirmed no morphological degradation, indicating long-cycling stability.

Conclusions:

• Lithium titanate (LTO) is a viable and high-performance anode material for solid-state batteries.
• The use of LTO in PEO-based solid-state batteries overcomes the limitations of lithium metal anodes.
• This research highlights the potential for developing safer and more durable solid-state batteries.