CYCLE LIFE IN SI/LI BATTERIES USING HIGH TEMPERATURE DEEP DISCHARGE CYCLING
Systems and methods are provided for improvement of cycle life in Si/Li batteries using high temperature deep discharge cycling. One or more deep discharge cycles may be applied to a cell that includes a cathode, a separator, and a silicon-dominant anode, with each of the one or more deep discharge cycles including at least charging and discharging the cell, and with each of the one or more deep discharge cycles being performed at a higher temperature that is above normal operating temperature range. The higher temperature may be 40° C. or higher, 45° C. or higher, or around 45° C.
1 . A method of configuring battery performance, the method comprising:
providing a cell comprising a cathode, a separator, and a silicon-dominant anode;
applying to the cell one or more deep discharge cycles, wherein each of the one or more deep discharge cycles comprises at least charging and discharging the cell; and
in at least one deep discharge cycle of the one or more deep discharge cycles, performing one or both of charging and discharging of the cell at a higher temperature that is above a normal operating temperature range applicable to a same one of charging and/or discharging of the cell during normal operations of the cell.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein silicon-dominant anode comprises silicon that is >50% of active material of the anode.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying at least one of the one or more deep discharge cycles during formation of the cell.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the higher temperature is 40° C. or higher, 45° C. or higher, or around 45° C.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more deep discharge cycles comprises using a discharge cutoff voltage that is below a normal operating voltage range of the cell.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein each of the one or more deep discharge cycles comprises using a discharge cutoff voltage is 2.5V or less, 2V or less, or 1.5V or less.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising using, during at least one deep discharge cycle, one or both of: a first charge rate that is different from a second charge rate used during normal operations of the cell, and a first discharge rate that is different from a second discharge rate used during normal operations of the cell.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising using a constant voltage hold during at least part of a discharge step of at least one of the one or more deep discharge cycles, wherein the voltage hold is at a voltage below a normal operating voltage of the cell.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the voltage hold is at or around 2.5V, at or around 2.0V, or at or around 1.5V.
10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising using, in conjunction with the voltage hold, a cutoff current at or around 0.1 C, at or around 0.05 C, or at or around 0.02 C.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising charging and discharging the cell through a plurality of cycles or through regular use that is equivalent to a plurality of cycles in between the one or more deep discharge cycles.
12 . The method of claim 1 , comprising performing the one or more deep discharge cycles at regular intervals.
13 . The method of claim 1 , comprising performing at least some of the one or more deep discharge cycles at random intervals.
14 . The method of claim 1 , comprising configuring the deep discharge cycle using a battery management system.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the battery management system is integrated with the cell.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the battery management system is external to the cell.