Abstract
Nickel-rich cathode materials are crucial for improving lithium-ion battery performance due to their potential for high energy densities. However, their sensitivity to humidity demands cost- and energy-intensive dry room production environments. This study examined the storage stability of a surface-treated nickel-rich cathode (≈ 91 mol% nickel) under industry-relevant scenarios to assess the required atmospheres and the impact of short moisture exposure on material and cell performance. Calendered and non-calendered cathodes were produced in a dry room with a dew point of −60 °C and then exposed to dew points of up to −20 °C and ambient atmosphere (dew point ≈ 5 °C). Analysis showed that calendered electrodes were more susceptible to carbonate formation at higher dew points. Cycling tests of single-layer full-pouch cells indicated that carbonate impurities, predominantly present on electrodes stored in ambient conditions, reduced energy efficiency during formation but did not significantly affect long-term performance. These findings suggest that less stringent dry room requirements could reduce production costs and energy consumption for high-performance lithium-ion battery cells.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 235661 |
Journal | Journal of Power Sources |
Volume | 626 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 15 Jan 2025 |
Keywords
- Dry room operation
- Lithium-ion battery production
- Moisture sensitivity
- Nickel-rich cathode active materials