Fast Charging of Lithium‐Ion Batteries: A Review of Materials Aspects

Abstract

Fast charging is considered to be a key requirement for widespread economic success of electric vehicles. Current lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) offer high energy density enabling sufficient driving range, but take considerably longer to recharge than traditional vehicles. Multiple properties of the applied anode, cathode, and electrolyte materials influence the fast‐charging ability of a battery cell. In this review, the physicochemical basics of different material combinations are considered in detail, identifying the transport of lithium inside the electrodes as the crucial rate‐limiting steps for fast‐charging. Lithium diffusion within the active materials inherently slows down the charging process and causes high overpotentials. In addition, concentration polarization by slow lithium‐ion transport within the electrolyte phase in the porous electrodes also limits the charging rate. Both kinetic effects are responsible for lithium plating observed on graphite anodes. Conclusions drawn from potential and concentration profiles within LIB cells are complemented by extensive literature surveys on anode, cathode, and electrolyte materials—including solid‐state batteries. The advantages and disadvantages of typical LIB materials are analyzed, resulting in suggestions for optimum properties on the material and electrode level for fast‐charging applications. Finally, limitations on the cell level are discussed briefly as well.

Increase of Cycling Stability in Pilot-Scale 21700 Format Li-Ion Cells by Foil Tab Design

“…For increasing charge rates (right hand side of Figure 3b), both cell designs show a less stable rate capability compared to increasing discharge rates, as can be expected due to the limited kinetics for lithiation of the graphite anodes [15]. Considering the charge capacities at 0.1C as 100%, the capacity at 3C decreases to 64.6% in the case of the welded tabs and to 58.2% in the case of the foil tabs.…”

Carbon Encapsulated and rGO Wrapped Mo2C: an Anode Material with Enhanced Sodium Storage Capacity

“…It can be observed that semicircles in higher frequency is smallest for Mo 2 C/C/rGO followed by Mo 2 C/rGO, Mo 2 C/C and Mo 2 C. This indicates that Mo 2 C/C/rGO experience least resistance compared to Mo 2 C/rGO, Mo 2 C/C and Mo 2 C. The lowest charge transfer resistance ( R ct ) of Mo 2 C/C/rGO suggests that Faradic reaction is fastest in this samples than others. This is due to the fact that both amorphous carbon and rGO present in the composite act as an efficient charge carrier and smoothen the progress of charge transfer at the interface [52,53] . The resistances due to SEI layer and charge‐transfer process are found to be higher in the samples after 100 th cycles (Table 1).…”

“…It can be observed that semicircles in higher frequency is smallest for Mo 2 C/C/rGO followed by Mo ChemElectroChem composite act as an efficient charge carrier and smoothen the progress of charge transfer at the interface. [52,53] The resistances due to SEI layer and charge-transfer process are found to be higher in the samples after 100 th cycles (Table 1). Generally, the impedance increases with an increase in cycle number which could be attributed to increase in resistance of broken surface structure of electrodes, formation of defects etc.…”

Rechargeable Batteries of the Future—The State of the Art from a BATTERY 2030+ Perspective

“…Plating lithium on the negative electrode can become thermodynamically and kinetically favorable at large current densities and low temperatures. [95,96] It is important to note the heterogeneity of this phenomenon in porous electrodes [97] and its coupling to inhomogeneous SEI growth deserves future attention. A further challenge, especially for lithium metal electrodes, is the tendency of electrochemically deposited lithium to form structures with high surface areas, e.g., nano-scale whiskers and micro-scale dendrites, [98] which entails a continued formation of fresh SEI and lithium loss.…”