Super stable garnet ceramics may be ideal for high-energy lithium batteries
http://www.ornl.gov/ornl/news/news-releases/2014/super-stable-garnet-ceramics-may-be-ideal-for-high-energy-lithium-batteries-[font face=Serif][font size=5]Super stable garnet ceramics may be ideal for high-energy lithium batteries [/font]
[font size=3] OAK RIDGE, Tenn., Oct. 21, 2014Scientists at the Department of Energys Oak Ridge National Laboratory have discovered exceptional properties in a garnet material that could enable development of higher-energy battery designs.
The ORNL-led team used scanning transmission electron microscopy to take an atomic-level look at a cubic garnet material called LLZO. The researchers found the material to be highly stable in a range of aqueous environments, making the compound a promising component in new battery configurations.
Researchers have searched for a suitable solid electrolyte separator material for years, said ORNLs Miaofang Chi, the studys lead author. The requirements for this type of material are very strict. It must be compatible with the lithium anode because lithium is reactive, and it also has to be stable over a wide pH range, because you can have an alkaline environment -- especially with lithium air batteries.
This solid electrolyte separator remains stable even for a pH value higher than 14, Ma said. It gives battery designers more options for the selection of aqueous solutions and the catholyte. Catholyte is the portion of the electrolyte close to the cathode.
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