Enhanced Production of Cathode Active Materials for Lithium-Ion Cells through Enrichment with Graphene Derivatives

Alparslan B., Aslan E.

3rd International Congress on Multidisciplinary Natural Sciences and Engineering (ICOMNAS 2023), Ankara, Turkey, 7 - 08 December 2023, pp.44, (Summary Text)

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Summary Text
  • City: Ankara
  • Country: Turkey
  • Page Numbers: pp.44
  • Kayseri University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The components found in layers within lithium-ion batteries fundamentally consist of the following: cathode, anode, electrolyte, and separator. The positive electrode is the cathode, while the negative electrode is the anode. These electrodes are separated from each other by a separator. Electrolyte is used to facilitate ion transfer between the electrodes. Cathodes and anodes, being positive and negative electrodes, respectively, can have different chemical compositions. Among the well-known cathode materials are LiCoO2, LiMn2O4, LiFePO4, LiNi0,8Co0,15Al0,05O2 (NCA), and LiNixMnyCozO2 (NMC). Today, NCA and NMC cathode materials stand out due to their high energy density among these cathode materials. NMC batteries can be found in the traction batteries of many electric vehicles. The NMC cathode is a commonly used and reliable cathode in the market. Efforts are indeed underway to achieve even better cathode performance, as the NMC cathode electrode encounters a rapid capacity drop issue in the charge-discharge cycles during advanced stages. This study is conducted to enhance the capacity in the NMC cathode electrode and eliminate potential adverse reactions within the battery. The carbon (C) atom is efficiently harnessed, and derivatives of graphene (GFN), recognized for their honeycomb-like structure of carbon atoms, are employed. The modified Hummers method is chosen for the synthesis of reduced graphene oxide (rGO), commonly known as 'pseudo-graphene.' High-purity NMC powders, to be used for the cathode, are synthesized through a predetermined process. Subsequently, in the electrode preparation process, the synthesized NMC, rGO, and additional carbon black (C Black) powder are mixed with a binder (PvDF) to integrate them with each other homogeneously, making the electrode ready. Promising results have emerged from the conducted tests. The incredibly lightweight nature and excellent conductivity of graphene will undoubtedly herald a new era in the battery industry.