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Photo-Charging of Li(Ni0.65Co0.15Mn0.20)O2 Lithium-Ion Battery Using Silicon Solar Cells
Seungbum Heo1, Baeksang Yoon2, Hyunsoo Lim2
1Department of Electrical Engineering, Hanbat National University, Daejeon 34158, Korea.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 23, 2022
Summary
This study integrates a lithium-ion battery with silicon solar cells for efficient power conversion and storage. The novel device demonstrates high capacity retention and a 7.95% power conversion-storage efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Renewable Energy
Background:
- Developing integrated energy storage and generation systems is crucial for portable electronics and renewable energy solutions.
- Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and silicon (Si) solar cells are key components in modern energy technologies.
- Optimizing the performance of interconnected battery and solar cell systems requires careful material selection and device design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report an integrated device combining a lithium-ion battery (LIB) with Si solar cells.
- To fabricate and characterize a LIB using a Li(Ni0.65Co0.15Mn0.20)O2 (NCM622) cathode and a Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) anode.
- To evaluate the electrochemical performance of the NCM-LTO full-cell and the Si solar cells, and the overall power conversion-storage efficiency of the integrated system.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of LIB using NCM622 cathode and LTO anode.
- Morphological analysis using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM).
- Structural characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD).
- Electrochemical performance testing using a potentiostat.
- Series connection of six Si solar cells to meet charging voltage requirements.
Main Results:
- NCM cathode exhibited a specific discharge capacity of 188.09 mAh/g at 0.1 C.
- NCM-LTO full-cell achieved a specific capacity of 160 mAh/g at 1 C with 99.63% capacity retention after 50 cycles.
- Si solar cells showed an open-circuit voltage of 3.37 V and a short-circuit photocurrent density of 5.42 mA/cm2, with 14.54% efficiency.
- The integrated device achieved a power conversion-storage efficiency of 7.95%.
Conclusions:
- The integrated device successfully combines NCM-LTO LIBs and Si solar cells for efficient energy conversion and storage.
- The NCM-LTO battery demonstrates excellent electrochemical performance and stability.
- The interconnected system offers a promising solution for renewable energy applications, achieving a notable power conversion-storage efficiency.

