Development and Implementation of a New Solid-State Battery Testing Tool
Since lithium-ion batteries have become the sought-after battery in today’s market, they can be found in many devices we use every day such as cell phones, laptops, and electric vehicles. One major issue with this advancement is that there has not been much progression in the cell design of all-solid-state batteries. Therefore, I propose to design a new solid-state battery cell that will facilitate the electrochemical reaction between electrodes and solid electrolytes by allowing high pressure and heat to be externally applied. In addition, the new cell design will need to maintain a gas-tight seal around the components to allow researchers the ability to test air sensitive materials. My goal is to produce a design that will outperform the current commercial solid-state battery cell while maintaining a smaller design for more practical laboratory use. In particular, the aim of the mechanical design is to achieve a pressure on the battery components that is larger than 20 MPa. This high pressure is exerted by a hydraulic press once the three compounds have been placed in the battery cell. After repeated mechanical designs and fabrication of prototypes, I could achieve 303 MPa applying on the battery components while confirming a good gas-tight sealing of the cell. The new cell is also more compact with a decrease in dimensions by ~ 30%, making use easier inside of an Ar-filled glove box. In addition, I have found the proper quantity of LiCoO2 cathode, Li10GeP2S12 electrolyte, and Indium anode to build a functional cell. The preliminary results showed that the tool could produce an operating voltage of ~ 3.7 V with a specific capacity of 90 g/mAh. I will also present and discuss the relationship between cell fabrication parameters (e.g., pressure and temperature) and battery cell performances.