Influence of nickel manganese cobalt oxide nanoparticle composition on toxicity toward Shewanella oneidensis MR-1: redesigning for reduced biological impact

Abstract

This work investigates the biological impact of LixNiyMnzCo1−y−zO2, a class of cathode materials used in lithium ion batteries.

The Known and Unknown about the Environmental Safety of Nanomaterials in Commerce

“…[70] As with other metal oxides and metal nanomaterials, metal dissolution is an important factor to consider for toxicity. [71] However, as has been found with the simple metal oxide materials, the collective ions released from these materials do not always explain the toxicity of these compounds when they come in contact with cells or organisms indicating a nanomaterial specific effect. [29] Other next-generation materials where estimates of use or disposal are lacking include 2D nanomaterials and soft nanomaterials for sensing, electronics and water purification where the nanomaterial form has unique properties.…”

Chronic exposure to complex metal oxide nanoparticles elicits rapid resistance in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1

“…19 In January 2015, there were more than 740 000 electric vehicles in operation and it is estimated that by 2020 there will be several million electric vehicles on the road, each containing $50 kg of nanoscale cathode materials. 14,20 Nanoparticles have a large surface-area-to-volume ratio, which is advantageous in materials such as NMC, where lithium is able to efficiently shuttle in and out of the cathode, resulting in increased rate capability. However, some of the properties of NMC that make it an attractive battery cathode are also responsible for its toxicity to bacteria, such as Shewanella oneidensis MR-1.…”

“…However, some of the properties of NMC that make it an attractive battery cathode are also responsible for its toxicity to bacteria, such as Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. 12,14 S. oneidensis MR-1 is a ubiquitous, Gram-negative, soil-, sediment-, and aquatic-dwelling bacterium that plays a critical role in environmental metal-cycling and is therefore a commonly used model organism in environmental studies. [21][22][23] The redox capabilities of S. oneidensis MR-1, especially related to the element manganese, indicate that it would be present in environments that may be contaminated by nanoparticle pollutants, such as NMC.…”

DFT and thermodynamics calculations of surface cation release in LiCoO2

“…The calculations yield insight into how the dissolution process will stop after time, which has been experimentally investigated across a wide range of Li-ion battery cathode material compositions based on LCO and related CMOs. 10,15,16 We now turn to discuss the effect of surface Co-vacancy density on ∆G 1 and ∆G . Table 5 shows ∆G 1 and ∆G values for Co vacancy densities ranging from 25% down to 6.25%.…”

“…10 With no established economic incentive to recycle LCO-based batteries, 11 they can contribute to electronic waste in landfills. 12 When exposed to different environmental conditions, CMO nanomaterials undergo transformations that are only beginning to be explored, [13][14][15][16][17] and which could have as-yet unknown biological impacts. [18][19][20] Therefore, molecular-level understanding of how CMOs transform outside of their operational settings and under variable envrionemntal conditions is critical.…”