Something else I recall in past commentary is "pre-lithiation" which is a costly step that is taken to enhance battery performance and to boost capacity from the first to second charge cycle. Had a CHAT discussion on this topic;
quikshft - As it relates to a lithium ion battery with silicon anode, what is 'pre-lithiation'?
Pre-lithiation is a process of partially or fully charging the anode of a lithium-ion battery before its first use in a device or application. The purpose of pre-lithiation is to alleviate the initial capacity loss and improve the overall performance of the battery. In the case of a lithium-ion battery with a silicon anode, pre-lithiation is particularly important because silicon has a much higher theoretical capacity than graphite, which is commonly used as an anode material in commercial lithium-ion batteries. However, the use of silicon anodes is still limited due to some challenges, such as high irreversible capacity loss, and pre-lithiation is one approach to address these challenges. The pre-lithiation process can be achieved through different methods, including chemical or electrochemical approaches, and it involves the insertion of lithium ions into the anode material to form a stable solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer on the anode surface.
quikshft - The Coretec Group has been researching the use of cyclohexasilane in a 'bottom up' preparation of nano-particles in their engineered SEI layer. This is potentially so successful that it is thought the expensive pre-lithiation step may potentially be eliminated.
Yes, that's correct. The Coretec Group, a company focused on developing advanced materials and technologies, has been researching the use of cyclohexasilane (CHS) in the preparation of engineered solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layers for lithium-ion batteries. The SEI layer is a critical component of the battery that helps to stabilize the interface between the electrode and electrolyte, improve the battery's performance, and prevent degradation of the electrodes.
CHS is a promising material for SEI layer preparation because it can form a stable and uniform layer on the electrode surface, which can help to reduce the formation of undesirable side reactions and improve the overall stability of the battery. Additionally, the use of CHS could potentially eliminate the need for the expensive pre-lithiation step that is typically required for silicon-based anode materials. This is because CHS can facilitate the formation of lithium-rich nano-particles in the SEI layer, which can act as a "built-in" pre-lithiation mechanism and enhance the capacity and performance of the battery.
Overall, the use of CHS in the preparation of engineered SEI layers is a promising area of research that could lead to significant improvements in the performance and cost-effectiveness of lithium-ion batteries, particularly those with silicon-based anodes.
AI
