OPUS 7 - LMS

The objective of the research project is to determine the physicochemical processes occurring in C/Li2MnSiO4 (C/LMS) cathode operating in Li-ion battery. The basic understanding of nature of the processes is crucial for explanation of observed C/LMS cathode capacity fading significantly affecting the cell performance.

Thanks to this research we were able propose and confirm the physicochemical model of processes which occurs in working C/LMS cathode and leads to materials amorphisation. This model is based on theoretical calculations of H. Lee published in 2014. The experimental confirmation of anisotropy of amorphisation process was based on advanced in-situ XRD, ex-situ XRD and ex-situ TEM studies. Those results allows us to propose the routs for materials modification which can restrain this unfavorable phenomena. The modifications of LMS and C/LMS materials are the subject of current studies in our group. Upon realization of this project we also characterized LMS material, showed optimal morphology of its grains and optimal carbon loading in composites as well as propose the new, efficient way of its synthesis. Moreover, the methodology of ex-situ TEM studies, which allows us to see the amorphisation process on individual material grains, will be used for other electrode material evaluation in the future.