Development of Li-composite anodes for highly stable rechargeable batteries based on in-situ transmission electron microscopy observations

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H02618
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 29020:Thin film/surface and interfacial physical properties-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Tanemura Masaki 名古屋工業大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (30236715)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: ２次電池 / 負極 / リチウム / 透過電子顕微鏡 / その場観察

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A highly safe, easy-to-handle, and high-performance Li-based anode material was developed based on the in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations of the behavior of Li between electrodes at the atomic level during charge-discharge process.
A Li-C nanocomposite film in which metallic Li is dispersed in the carbon matrix was synthesized at room temperature using an ion-beam irradiation technique. This Li-C nanocomposites could be safely handled without a glove box, and the metallic Li state was preserved after the air exposure. From the Half-cell analyses of the Li-C nanocomposites and the in-situ atomic resolution TEM observations using a nano-battery configuration with a graphene electrode, it was concluded that the embedded metallic Li was well available for the electrochemical process and would be promising as the electrode active material.

Free Research Field

ナノ材料の合成と評価

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

低炭素社会の実現は焦眉の急であり、また近年多発する自然災害時のライフラインの確保の観点からも、現在よりもさらに高容量、高エネルギー密度で、かつ安全性が高く低価格な二次電池開発は急務である。負極材料に金属Liを用いることができれば、その先の究極の二次電池とも称されるLi空気電池への展開も可能となる。他方、金属Liは水と反応すると激しく燃焼するなど保管、取り扱いに難を有する。本研究で開発された金属Li含有Cナノ複合材は、その保管、取り扱いにグローブボックス等の特段の環境を必要としないことから実用上重要である。学術的にも全固体電池の充放電その場TEM観察技術の確立に道を拓いている点で極めて意義深い。