Li-ion batteries: news, progress, history and background

This is insane! As a long term peer reviewer I read all articles (not only under review) very carefully. From relatively wide observation the only half of the submitted papers might be accepted for further publication. Not counting in this half the articles which need some (more or less) modifications. Indeed, there are almost half of the articles which went through my hands have a very low quality. These include repeating/copying someone else's research, very poor understanding of the obtained results, not willingness, even to try to explain the obtained results, but just referring to previously published articles (from other researchers)  (which means their result is not unique). Since I do not connect with the publishers other than by e-mail as a reviewer or author, I do not know how busy are Journals is to feel the issues. However, I understand that the publishers have to earn some money from what they are doing. Good it or not (very much) for the progress is a big question...

GBL-based electrolyte for Li-ion battery: thermal and electrochemical performance   Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry: Volume 16, Issue 2 (2012), Page 603-615 Thermal stability, flammability, and electrochemical performances of the cyclic carbonate-based electrolytes [where γ-butyrolactone (GBL) is a main component (at least 50 vol.%) among of EC and PC with LiBF 4 ] have been examined in comparison with contemporary (EC/EMC, 1:3 vol.%, 1 M LiPF 6 ) electrolyte by DSC, accelerating rate calorimetry (ARC), AC impedance, and cyclic voltammetry (CV). This study shows that GBL-based electrolytes have perfect thermal stability and will improve Li-ion battery safety (including flammability) without performance trade-off with the accurate combination of active materials and separator. Several types of negative electrode materials (such as hard carbon, MCMB, and SWF) have been tested to evaluate GBL-based electrolyte influence on SEI formation and battery performanc...

There are disclosed electrolytes comprising solutions of lithium salts with large anions in polar aprotic solvents with a particular concentration of background salts. The concentration of the background salts is selected to be equal or close to the concentration of a saturated solution of these salts in the aprotic solvents used. The electrolytes disclosed can be used in chemical sources of electric energy such as secondary (rechargeable) cells and batteries comprising sulphur-based positive active materials. The use of such electrolytes increases cycling efficiency and cycle life of the cells and batteries. Inventors: Vladimir KOLOSNITSYN, Elena KARASEVA  Application number: 13/153,157 Publication number: US 2011/0236766 A1 Filing date: Jun 3, 2011 Fig. 1 Charge/discharge capacity fade of standard Li-S cell Fig. 9 Charge/discharge capacity fade of Li-S cell with a saturated electrolyte solution as 1.7M of LiClO4 in methylpropylsulfone @ 0.25C ch/dch Fast...

Disclosed are a non-aqueous electrolyte solution for a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery comprising the same. The non-aqueous electrolyte solution for a lithium secondary battery may include difluorotoluene having a lowest oxidation potential among components of the non-aqueous electrolyte solution. The lithium secondary battery may have improvement in basic performance including high rate charge/discharge characteristics, cycle life characteristics, and the like, and may remarkably reduce swelling caused by decomposition of an electrolyte solution under high voltage conditions such as overcharge. Inventors: Jong-Ho Jeon, Yong-Gon Lee, Seung-Woo Chu, Shul-Kee Kim, Hyun-Yeong Lee, Jae-Deok Jeon Application number: 13/164,107 Publication number: US 2011/0244339 A1 Filing date: Jun 20, 2011 Related articles Fluoride shuttle increases storage capacity: Researchers develop new concept for rechargeable batteries (sciencedaily.com) Fluoride shuttle ...

Fast Lithium-Ion Conducting Thin-Film Electrolytes Integrated Directly on Flexible Substrates for High-Power Solid-State Batteries : By utilizing an equilibrium processing strategy that enables co-firing of oxides and base metals, a means to integrate the lithium -stable fast lithium-ion conductor lanthanum lithium tantalate directly with a thin copper foil current collector appropriate for a solid-state battery is presented. This resulting thin-film electrolyte possesses a room temperature lithium- ion conductivity of 1.5 × 10 −5 S cm −1 , which has the potential to increase the power of a solid-state battery over current state of the art. (Via Advanced Materials ) Related articles Fluoride shuttle increases storage capacity (eurekalert.org)

Sumitomo earlier reported that it has achieved energy densities as high as 290 Wh/L with the new battery. A drawback to the general class of molten salt batteries (e.g., the ZEBRA battery , or GE’s Durathon sodium-metal halide batteries, earlier post) has been the need for high operating temperatures to keep the salt molten. Being non-volatile and non-flammable , and with high ion concentrations, molten salt makes an excellent battery electrolyte and can offer high energy and power densities. In a joint project with Kyoto University , Sumitomo developed a molten salt with a melting point as low as 57 °C. Using this salt, it developed the new molten-salt electrolyte battery. Since it comprises only nonflammable materials, the new battery will not ignite on contact with air from outside, nor is there thermal runaway from overcharging or temperature rises in the battery. For this reason, Sumitomo says, there is no need for waste-heat storage or fire- and explosion-proof equipment, so ...

New Patent Application: Electrode Having Solid Electrolyte Interface And Secondary Battery Using The Same Original Assignee :  LG Chem, Ltd. Application number : 13/043,722 Publication number : US 2011/0159378 A1 Filing date : Mar 9, 2011 from the abstract: Disclosed is an electrode having a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film partially or totally formed on a surface thereof, the SEI film being formed by electrical reduction of a cyclic diester compound and a sulfinyl group-containing compound. Further, a secondary battery comprising the electrode is disclosed. from the climes: A secondary battery comprising a cathode , an anode and an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte comprises an electrolyte salt and an electrolyte solvent, the electrolyte further comprising both a cyclic diester compound and a sulfinyl group-containing compound; and/or the cathode or the anode is the electrode having a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film partially or ...