Photo-assisted fast charging of lithium manganese oxide spinel (LiMn2O4) in lithium-ion batteries
A process for charging a discharged electrochemical cell includes applying a voltage bias to the discharged electrochemical cell; and illuminating the cathode with a light source.
1. A process for charging a discharged electrochemical cell, the process comprising:
applying a voltage bias to the discharged electrochemical cell; and
illuminating the cathode with a light source;
wherein:
under illumination with the light source the discharged electrochemical cell is charged to a predetermined state in less time than the same discharged electrochemical cell in the absence of illumination;
the discharged electrochemical cell comprises a cathode, an anode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte; and
the electrochemical cell is a lithium ion battery, a sodium ion battery, a magnesium ion battery, or a sulfur battery.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the light source is a broadband white light source.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the light source is a light emitting diode, a xenon lamp, a laser, or optical fiber.
4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the illumination source further comprises an infrared filter.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical cell is a lithium ion battery.
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical cell is a sodium ion battery.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical cell is a magnesium ion battery.
8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical cell is a sulfur battery.
9. The process of claim 1 , wherein the cathode comprises a cathode active material comprising a spinel, a olivine, a carbon-coated olivine, LiCoO 2 , LiNiO 2 , LiNi 1−x Co y M 4 z O 2 , LiMn 0.5 Ni 0.5 O 2 , LiMn 1/3 Co 1/3 Ni 1/3 O 2 , LiMn 2 O 4 , LiFeO 2 , LiM 4 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 , Li 1+x″ Ni α Mn β Co γ M 5 67 ′ O 2−z″ F z″ , or VO 2 ;
wherein:
M 4 is Al, Mg, Ti, B, Ga, Si, Mn, or Co;
M 5 is Mg, Zn, Al, Ga, B, Zr, or Ti;
0≤x≤0.3; 0≤y≤0.5; 0≤z≤0.5; 0≤m≤0.5; 0≤n≤0.5; 0≤x″≤0.4; 0≤α≤1; 0≤β≤1; 0≤γ<1; 0≤δ′≤0.4; and 0≤z″≤0.4;
with the proviso that at least one of α, β and γ is greater than 0.
10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the cathode comprises a cathode active material comprising LiFePO 4 , LiCoO 2 , LiNiO 2 , LiMn 0.5 Ni 0.5 O 2 , LiMn 1/3 Co 1/3 Ni 1/3 P 2 , LiMn 2 O 4 , LiCr 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 , LiCrMnO 4 , LiFe 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 , LiCoMnO 4 , LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 , LiNiPO 4 , LiCoPO 4 , LiMnPO 4 , LiCoPO 4 F, Li 2 MnO 3 , Li 5 FeO 4 , or Li x′ (Met)O 2 ;
wherein:
Met is a transition metal and 1<x′≤2.
11. The process of claim 10 , wherein Met is Ni, Co, Mn, or a mixture of any two or more thereof.
12. The process of claim 1 , wherein the cathode comprises a cathode active material comprising manganese.
13. The process of claim 1 , wherein discharged electrochemical cell further comprising a separator between the cathode and the anode.
14. The process of claim 1 , wherein the cathode comprises LiFePO 4 .
15. A process for charging a discharged electrochemical cell, the process comprising:
applying a voltage bias to the discharged electrochemical cell; and
illuminating the cathode with a light source;
wherein:
the illumination source further comprises an infrared filter;
the discharged electrochemical cell comprises a cathode, an anode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte; and
the electrochemical cell is a lithium ion battery, a sodium ion battery, a magnesium ion battery, or a sulfur battery.