Professor Andy Xueliang Sun's Advanced Materials for Clean Energy Group Professor Andy Xueliang Sun's Advanced Materials for Clean Energy Group Western University Engineering Logo

Li/Na Ion Batteries

High energy density is of primary concern for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium ion batteries (SIBs) in the practical application for consumer electronics and electric vehicles (EVs). Layered structure (Li1.2Mn0.54Co0.13Ni0.13O2, LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 and Na0.67Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2) and spinel structure (LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4) are prominent cathode materials employed in commercial LIBs and SIBs. However, these materials faced challenges with surface side reaction with electrolyte, dissolution of transition metal (TM) ions, and irreversible surface phase transformation, leading to performance fading and safety hazard. Our group focus on surface modification to address these problems via atomic layer deposition (ALD) and molecular layer deposition (MLD), which is capable of depositing highly conformal and uniform layers with well controlled thickness onto materials. Furthermore, we use synchrotron based X-ray spectroscopy to help understanding detailed mechanism of modification.

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Publications:

  1. P. Yan, J.Zheng, J. Liu, B. Wang, X. Sun, C. Wang, and J. Zhang.Tailoring of Grain Boundary Structure and Chemistry of Cathode Particles for Enhanced Cycle Stability of Lithium Ion Battery. Nature Energy, 2018,3, 600-605. (highlighted by June 2018 Battery Science literature review)
  2. Y. Liu, J. Liu, J. Wang, M. Banis, B. Xiao, A. Lushington, W. Xiao, R. Li, T-K Sham, G. Liang, X. Sun. Formation of size-dependent conductive phase on lithium iron phosphate during carbon coating. Nat. Commun. a929, (2018), DOI:10.1038/s41467-018-03324-7. (Highlighted by Canadian Light Source and Green Car Congress).
  3. B. Xiao, X. Sun. Surface and Subsurface Reactions of Lithium Transition Metal Oxide Cathode Materials: An Overview of the Fundamental Origins and Remedying Approaches. Adv. Energy Mater. 2018, 1802057. DOI: 10.1002/aenm.20180205
  4. S. Liu, Z. Liu, X. Shen, W. Li, Y. Gao, M. Banis, M. Li, K. Chen, L. Zhu, R. Yu, Z. Wang, X. Sun, G. Lu, Q. Kong, X. Bai, L. Chen. Surface Doping to Enhance Structural Integrity and Performance of Li-Rich Layered Oxide. Adv. Energy Mater. 2018, 1802105. DOI: 10.1002/aenm.201802105
  5. W. Liu, X. Li, D. Xion, Y. Hao, J. Li, H. Kou, B. Yan, D. Li, S. Lu, A. Koo, K. Adair, X. Sun. Significantly improving cycling performance of cathodes in lithium ion batteries: The effect of Al2O3 and LiAlO2 coatings on LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2. Nano Energy. 44 (2018) 111-120.
  6. Y. Liu, J. Wang, J. Liu, M. Banis, B. Xiao, A. Lushington, W. Xiao, R. Li, T-K Sham, G. Liang, X. Sun. Origin of phase inhomogeneity in lithium iron phosphate during carbon coating. Nano Energy. 45 (2018) 52-60.
  7. C. Zhao, C. Yu, M. Zhang, H. Huang, S. Li, B. Wang, X. Han, X. Sun, and J. Qiu. Ultrahigh Rate and Long‐Life Sodium‐Ion Batteries Enabled by Engineered Surface and Near‐Surface Reactions. Adv. Mater. 2018, 30, 1702486.
  8. H. Liu, H. Guo, B. Liu, M. Liang, Z. Lv, X. Sun, Few-layer MoSe2 nanosheets with expanded (002) planes confined in hollow carbon nanospheres for ultra-high performance Na-ion batteries. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2018,28,1707480. DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201707480.
  9. H. Dong, G. Liu, S. Li, S. Deng, Y. Cui, H. Liu , H. Liu, Xue. Sun, Design of a 3D-Porous Structure with Residual Carbon for High-Performance Ni-Rich Cathode Materials. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces. (2018), DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b17800.
  10. J. Wang, Q. Sun, X. Gao, C. Wang, W. Li, F. Holness, M. Zheng, R. Li, A. Price, X.Sun, T-K Sham, X Sun. Toward High Areal Energy and Power Density Electrode for Li-Ion Batteries via Optimized 3D Printing Approach. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces. (2018), DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b14797.
  11. K. Kaliyappan, W. Xiao, K. Adair, T-K Sham, X. Sun. Designing High-Performance Nanostructured P2-type Cathode Based on a Template-free Modified Pechini Method for Sodium-Ion Batteries. ACS Omega. 2018, 3 (7), pp 8309–8316.DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.8b00204.
  12. B. Xiao, H. Liu, J. Liu, Q. Sun, B. Wang, K. Kaliyappan, Y. Zhao, M. Banis, Y. Liu, R. Li, T-K Sham, G. Botton,M. Caid and X. Sun, Nanoscale Manipulation of Spinel Lithium Nickel Manganese Oxide Surface by Multisite Ti Occupation as High Performance Cathode. Adv. Mater. (2017).1703764.
  13. K. Kaliyappan,J. Liu, B. Xiao, A. Lushington, R. Li,T.-K Sham, and X.Sun, Enhanced performance of P2-Na0.66(Mn0.54Co0.13Ni0.13)O2 cathode for sodium ion batteries by ultrathin metal oxide coatings via atomic layer deposition. Adv. Funct. Mater., (2017) 1701870,1-8.
  14. B. Xiao, B. Wang, J. Liu, K. Karthikeyan, Q. Sun, Y. Liu, G. Dadheech, M. Balogh, L. Yang, T.-K. Sham, R. Li, M. Cai and X. Sun, Highly Stable Li1.2Mn0.54Co0.13Ni0.13O2 Enabled by Novel Atomic Layer Deposited AlPO4 Coating, Nano Energy (2017) 34,120-130.
  15. S. Deng, B. Xiao, B. Wang, X. Li, K. Kaliyappan, Y. Zhao, A. Lushington, R. Li, T-K Sham, H. Wang, and X. Sun, New Insight into Stable Protective Layer for Long-life and Safe High Voltage Cathodes: Atomic Layer Deposited AlPO4 Coating for LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4. Nano Energy (2017) 38,19-27.
  16. J. Wang and X. Sun, Olivine LiFePO4: the Remaining Challenges for Future Energy Storage. Energy Environ. Sci. 8 (2015) 1110-1138 (Invited review)
  17. X. Li, J. Liu, M. Banis, A. Lushington, R. Li, M. Cai, X. Sun, Atomic Layer Deposition of Solid-State Electrolyte Coated Cathode Materials with Superior High-Voltage Cycling Behavior for Lithium Ion Battery Application. Energy Environ. Sci. 7 (2) (2014) 768-778
  18. J. Wang, J. Yang, Y. Tang, J. Liu, Y. Zhang, G. Liang, M. Gauthier, Y. K. Chen, M. Banis, X. Li, R. Li, J. Wang, T. -K. Sham, X. Sun, Size-dependent Surface Phase Change of Lithium Iron Phosphate during Carbon Coating. Nat. Commun. 5 (2014) 3145 (Highlighted by "Western Media Relations" and "The Londoner Local News")
  19. J. Wang, R. Li, X. Sun, Understanding and Recent Development of Carbon Coating on LiFePO4 Cathode Material for Lithium-ion Batteries. Energy Environ. Sci. 5 (2012) 5163-5185. (Top 25 most-read Energy & Environmental Science articles from Q2 2012)