Electrolyte selection for cobalt-free solid-state batteries

Lithium-ion batteries are widespread in use due to their thermal stability and high energy density. The most common design uses an organic electrolyte and lithium-cobalt electrode. While safe under typical operating conditions, the use of an organic electrolyte subjects the battery user to certain risks; in particular, Li-ion liquid batteries are explosive when exposed to air and subject to thermal runoff, making them highly sensitive to any physical damage. The use of cobalt also poses a moral concern, as the mining and sourcing of cobalt is geographically restricted and most commonly sourced from countries that have a history of foreign exploitation and child labor. An all solid state battery is suggested as a possible alternative battery that reduces operation risks and maintains similar performance characteristics. Lithium-lanthanum-zirconium oxide is presented as a suitable electrolyte replacement. Coupled with cobalt-free electrodes, this battery design would provide a safer, more responsible battery.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2018

Author dc:creator

• Hernandez Alvarez, Erick Ivan

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Jennifer L. M. Rupp.

• Materials Science and Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/119602

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/119602