Helley: the new type of conductive agent can provide power battery with the ability to get through the ion conduction porch and improve the energy ratio

With the release of new subsidy rules in 2018, reducing costs and improving energy density have become the focus of power battery enterprises. However, in the actual application process, conventional methods can hardly guarantee the ideal cycle life while improving the energy density, and there is also the risk of heat runaway.

So is there a material that can help increase the energy density of a battery while still ensuring that the battery is safe, stable and efficiently recycled?

"As a general rule, to increase the energy density of a battery, you need to add more active materials, but the more active materials there are, the conductivity becomes problematic, and you need the help of conductors." Li keqin, vice President of greater China business of heraeus battery technology company, told OFweek lithium power grid in an interview that guide-aids need to break the traditional thinking limit of electronic guide-aids.

However, electronic conductors are the main conductors in the current market. Whether superPE, CNT or the so-called graphene materials in the future, electronic conductors are still the main conductors. This method makes the electrons conduct, but the ions do not move, to a large extent affects the conduction efficiency, from the point of view of ion conduction to improve the conductivity of lithium battery has become a new idea.

Based on this understanding, hollister battery technology company (hereafter referred to as "hollister") developed a kind of Porocarb series of synthetic carbon functional additives for lithium ion batteries. It is known that Porocarb synthetic carbon functional additive has carefully designed and clearly structured internal porosity, it not only can ensure the electronic connectivity within the electrode, but also can improve the ionic conductivity.

Helley: the new type of conductive agent can provide power battery with the ability to get through the ion conduction porch and improve the energy ratio

What are the revolutionary effects of this ion-conducting synthetic carbon additive on power batteries? OFweek lithium power grid specially conducted an exclusive interview with li keqin, vice President of greater China business of heraeus battery technology company, to solve the secret behind the mysterious guide agent.

Another approach is to enhance ionic conductivity

How is it possible to break through conventional ionic conduction?

The Porocarb series is a porous synthetic carbon powder tailored for extremely demanding electrochemical applications, which requires a porous distribution designed to have a good dynamic affinity, likerkin said.

"We have a material that's ionically conductive, and the average lithium ion is a little bit larger, and we make the synthetic carbon particles into porous particles, and the particles themselves are small enough and uniform enough." Likerqin USES tennis and basketball for example, put a basketball and dozens of tennis balls in a basket comparison can be found, tennis because of the small size of the contact surface more, and more contact surface its conductivity is better.

In addition, the particles have apertures inside, and the apertures are uniform. A consistent granular pattern coupled with a consistent aperture allows the free flow of ions, enhancing the overall conductivity of lithium batteries.

In fact, from a structural point of view, the holley Porocarb series set the benchmark for a new generation of battery electrode additives. Porocarb has a carefully designed and clearly structured internal porosity, which not only ensures electronic connectivity within the electrode, but also improves ionic conductivity. Porous carbon powders help to build advanced electrochemical systems, achieving a goal that is currently unattainable with standard carbon conductors.

Powered batteries increase energy density

Enhanced conductivity does not necessarily increase the energy density of a battery. Porocarb series porous carbon powder, used as an additive, does not itself have the chemical characteristics to increase the energy density.

In almost all electrochemical systems, ion and electron transfer will be limited by measures that increase energy and power. If rapid and efficient transfer of ions (kinetics) and electrons are also required, this requires intelligent engineering and advanced material solutions.

In order to improve the energy density of the battery, the inactive materials in the battery should be reduced as much as possible. Increasing electrode thickness is one way to reduce the amount of inactive materials (e.g., current collectors), but this raises further questions about bulk and charge transfer, and requires careful design of pore distribution.

The application of hollier's Porocarb series would maintain the ion channel and electrolyte supply under the condition of increasing the electrode surface density and increasing the compaction density. Compared with electrodes containing a common conductive agent, the interlinked pore network helps the electrode fluid to penetrate into most of the electrodes more rapidly.

"The free flow of lithium ions can greatly increase the proportion of active substances, and on the other hand, reduce the proportion of other conductors, so as to objectively create favorable conditions for improving the energy density of the battery." Likerqin explained that Porocarb series of synthetic carbon functional additives would play an enabling role in improving the performance of the battery, and improve the internal structural changes of the lithium battery to achieve the actual effect of increasing the energy density.

This energy is also used in conjunction with other materials, such as porous carbon with carbon nanotubes, which are electronic materials. It's like threading a string through a hole in the middle of a ball. This line is a carbon nanotube.

This structural change provides a solid foundation for increasing the compaction density of lithium batteries. There are a number of side effects associated with the conventional method of compacting the electrodes, including the effect on conductivity and cycle life, but this structural change actually enhances conductivity and cycle life.

Porocarb porous toner helps build an advanced electrochemical system, achieving a goal that currently would not be possible with standard carbon conductors. Porocarb would maintain an open path within the electrode, ensuring electrolyte supply and transport during filling and operation, even while increasing the surface density and compacting density of the electrode.

In the actual test, holliver's lithium ion battery with Porocarb synthesis of carbon functional additives showed the following excellent characteristics:

1. Energy density per unit volume is increased (+ 20%) as electrode surface density is increased and inactive components are reduced

2. The conductivity of ions is enhanced, so is the current discharge capacity (+ 50%).

3. During the battery manufacturing process, the rate of electrolyte filling and formation is accelerated, so the processing cost can be reduced (-50%).

4. Double electrode loading can reduce 20% of inactive materials

5. Uniform quality transmission and response speed can help extend the battery life

Hollister helps China upgrade its power batteries

Perhaps to a lot of personage inside lithium battery course of study, heraeus is an unfamiliar company. Indeed, the hanau-based technology group, founded in 1851, is now one of the world's leading family businesses.

By leveraging its expertise in materials and technology, hollis is committed to creating high-quality solutions for customers and helping them improve their long-term competitiveness. Heraeus markets focus on key areas such as environmental protection, energy, health, motor vehicles and industrial applications. Its product portfolio is extremely rich, covering from components to integrated material systems, widely used in steel, electronics, chemical, automotive and communications industries.

According to statistics, the total sales revenue of heraeus reached 21.5 billion euros in fiscal year 2016, ranking the top of fortune 500. Greater China is one of the three most important markets for hollis group. The company has been in greater China for more than 40 years, with more than 2,600 employees and 20 companies.

"China has become the world's largest lithium battery manufacturing base, and Chinese power battery companies are growing much faster than those in other countries." Li keqin thinks, Chinese market of heraeus chooses also basically because of the huge potential that sees China. The innovative spirit of Chinese enterprises and their active degree of performance improvement make it the best soil where synthetic carbon functional additives like Porocarb series would play a role.

It is known that currently the Porocarb series products of holley's have begun to receive the favor of Chinese power battery manufacturers, henan, Beijing, sichuan battery plant has been in the trial process. Three companies have already started shipping their products, while China's largest power battery manufacturer is in the trial and commissioning stage.

According to hacken, heraeus can provide customized services for all levels of synthetic carbon to meet different system requirements (such as graphitization degree, particle size, surface treatment, etc.). In order to meet the growing demand for synthetic carbon additives which would improve the performance of the anode, holley developed a completely new porocarocaronic 210 series.

It is worth noting that holliwell's Porocarb series of synthetic carbon functional additives will be exhibited at booth 1GB122 and 1GB123 of hall 1 of shenzhen convention and exhibition center during CIBF exhibition on 22-24 May this year. Meanwhile, at the technology BBS on May 23 and May 24, the technology executives of holliday will bring a discussion on the application of the product.

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