Failure of Batteries with Block Copolymer Electrolytes and Lithium Metal Anodes

ORAL

Abstract

Solid block copolymer electrolytes are promising candidates for the development of high performance rechargeable batteries comprising a lithium metal anode due to their chemical stability toward lithium and their mechanical resistance to dendrite growth. The application of a solid polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (SEO) block copolymer electrolyte in lithium symmetric cells permits to study the formation and growth of lithium dendrites by a non-destructive tool, hard X-ray microtomography. All solid-state batteries comprising a Li metal anode, a SEO electrolyte layer and a composite cathode were assembled and cycled. The cathode contains lithium iron phosphate as active material, SEO electrolyte as binder, and carbon black. Hard X-ray microtomography enables to visualize the microstructural changes at the Li/SEO and SEO/cathode interfaces to get insight on the battery failure mechanisms.

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Authors

  • Nitash Balsara

    • Univ of California - Berkeley
    • UC Berkeley
    • University of California, Berkeley

  • Didier Devaux

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Katherine Harry

    • Univ of California - Berkeley
    • UC Berkeley

  • Dilworth Parkinson

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Rodger Yuan

    • Univ of California - Berkeley

  • Daniel Hallinan

    • Florida A\&M University–Florida State University
    • Florida State Univ

  • Alastair MacDowell

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory