An Analysis on Lithium-Ion Batteries and Their Future Trajectory

for Serving Humanity

Xucheng Pei

Nanjing Tech University Pujiang Institue, Nanjing, 211222, China

Keywords: Lithium-Ion Batteries, Sustainability, Innovation.

Abstract: The world is facing a significant challenge with climate change, necessitating the search for energy sources

that minimize harm to our planet. Harnessing clean energy from the sun, wind, and water is essential, but

effective energy storage solutions are equally vital. Lithium-ion batteries excel in this regard, offering high

energy density in a compact form and proven reliability. Current research delves into the manufacturing

methods and working mechanisms of batteries for high energy density and cycle life. However, these

advancements come with safety and environmental concerns that must be addressed. The push for higher

energy densities is driving the development of new technologies, facing hurdles such as cycle performance

and stability issues. Safety, particularly the risk of thermal runaway, remains a critical concern, emphasizing

the need for safer battery chemistries and designs. Improper disposal of batteries underscores the necessity

for sustainable manufacturing and recycling practices. The industry must strike a balance between increasing

energy density and ensuring safety and sustainability. Innovation in materials and technologies, such as silicon

anodes, lithium-rich cathodes, and high-voltage LiCoO

, is expected to bring a significant increase in energy

density. A shift towards using aqueous electrolytes may also reduce the environmental impact. Researchers,

industry experts, and regulatory authorities must work in unison to develop strategies that maximize

efficiency, ensure safety, and promote sustainability. The combination of technological innovation,

environmental stewardship, and safety considerations is what will drive the future of lithium-ion batteries. A

focused drive toward these goals holds much promise for serving humanity's energy needs while contributing

to a cleaner and more sustainable future.

1 INTRODUCTION

In the dynamic current global climate crisis, countries

all over the world are advocating for more emphasis

on sustainable development. It is considered that

hydropower, wind power, and solar power are the

primary three forms of clean energy. Energy storage

for this vast amount of clean energy represents a

massive need. Lithium-ion batteries might be the best

solution to date. It is developed and perfected in an

energy-dense (230 Wh/kg), highly reliable, and long

cycle life battery for many years applied to the market

a variety of uses.

Now, there is an upsurge of interest in improving

these batteries. In addition to the omnipresent

lithium-ion batteries used in every other device,

various innovative lithium-ion technologies are being

introduced in research groups. Aqueous batteries are

named as safe but, at the same time, not yet a

convincing alternative to replace a traditional lithium-

ion battery in performance. The research on solid-

state batteries is still early and has yet to convince the

industry. Although lithium-sulfur, and lithium-air

batteries have shown exceptionally high theoretical

energy densities, at least in practice, they have not

reached those levels.

The aim of this paper is to gently introduce new

entrants to the field in a straightforward and

accessible fashion, with one goal: to shine some light

on possible future development in the generation of

lithium-ion batteries.

2 STATUS QUO

2.1 Cathode

The common lithium-ion batteries used in phones and

tablets are NMC, LFP, and NCA batteries, with

organic electrolytes. Current types of lithium-ion

batteries include single transition metal oxide

batteries, high voltage ones, and high-capacity ones

252

Pei, X.

An Analysis on Lithium-Ion Batteries and Their Future Trajectory for Serving Humanity.

DOI: 10.5220/0013907400004914

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Renewable Energy and Ecosystem (ICREE 2024), pages 252-255

ISBN: 978-989-758-776-4

(Kim et al., 2019). Many of cathode materials are

composed of metals such as Li, Ni, Mn and Co in

varying concentrations.

2.1.1 Single Transition Metal Oxide

Batteries

These batteries are super popular because they have a

lot of energy packed into them, and they don't lose

their charge quickly. People often call them LCO

batteries because they're made with LiCoO

. It's like

they've got all the power and none of the hassle (Kim

et al., 2019). LCO batteries have a layered structure

that allows lithium ions to move easily, enabling high

energy storage capacity. Due to the geographic

concentration of cobalt reserves in DRC, combined

with political instability and supply chain risks, the

industry is exploring alternatives. These alternatives

include cathode materials with less cobalt or none at

all, like lithium nickel manganese oxide (LNMO) etc.

2.1.2 Mixed Transition Metal Oxide

Batteries

These batteries aim to increase energy density by

raising the operating voltage of the battery. High-

voltage cathode materials and compatible electrolytes

are used to achieve this. However, challenges remain

in ensuring the stability and safety of the electrolyte.

This kind of cathode is like a cocktail. It’s made up of

Mn, Co, and Ni, therefore this type of cathode is also

called NMC cathode. In other words, NMC is a

layered material made of Cobalt (Co), manganese

(Mn), and nickel (Ni) in different proportions. It

offers low internal resistance, high stability, and high

specific capacity, in that order. So far, types of NMC

cathodes include NMC111, NMC442, NMC523,

NMC622, and NMC811. NMC811 has more nickel,

giving it higher capacity but also raising stability and

safety concerns due to nickel's reactivity with the

battery's electrolyte (Murdock et al., 2021). The

sustainability of NMC cathodes is also challenged by

cobalt's high cost and supply issues due to social and

environmental problems of Congo.

2.1.3 Spinel and Olivine Cathodes

Spinel and olivine cathodes are spinel

LiMn

(LMO) and olivine LiFePO

respectively.

The spinel that has been studied the most and entered

the EV market is LMO. However, the short lifetime,

low energy density, and low capacity of LMO limit

its usage. One major fault about LMO is an

asymmetric lattice distortion which can be ascribed to

the Jahn-Teller effect (Kim et al., 2019).

LiFePO

(LFP) is an olivine-structured cathode

that has a high level of thermal and electrochemical

stability along with a great cycle life. These

characteristics, together with the fact that it uses

naturally plentiful iron and is inexpensive, make it a

desirable cathode alternative for a variety of battery

applications. For olivine LiFePO

as cathode, the

major virtue is its stability, preventing some oxygen

loss during charge cycles. Surely, there’s also a risk

of capacity loss, the cause of this is due to the low Li

diffusion and electronic conductivity.

2.2 Anode

Currently, most LIBs use graphite as their anode.

Graphite has relatively low cost, a high capacity, a

low operating potential, and excellent cycling

stability (Li et al., 2022). But it has a series of

problems like mechanical cracks, electrolyte side

reaction, making make it have more to be desired. It

is imperative that researchers and business leaders

take action and establish new benchmarks for high

energy density lithium-ion batteries. At the moment,

these batteries with standard carbon anodes and

lithium metal oxide cathodes have about the best

energy density available.

3 CURRENT DEFECTS

3.1 Safety Concerns

Because Li-ion cells have higher energy densities

than conventional non-rechargeable batteries and

because they also contain toxic and flammable

electrolytes, there are a number of extra safety

problems that need to be carefully addressed.

3.1.1 Thermal Runaway

Thermal runaway occurs when the heat generation

within a battery cannot be controlled for high

temperature. It’s often triggered by mechanical,

electrical, and thermal and electrochemical abuse

(Huang et al., 2021). Mechanical abuse is often

triggered by traffic accidents, like a penetration or

crash of the battery. The main cause of damage is that

the separators of the battery are ruptured, hence an

internal short circuit. Inappropriate operations of

battery like overcharging and over-discharging can be

considered as electrical abuse. If a battery is charged

at a current which is too much, the lithium ions will

accumulate on the anode and stay active, leading to a

thermal runaway. Thermal abuse is the rapid or high

An Analysis on Lithium-Ion Batteries and Their Future Trajectory for Serving Humanity

253

temperature rise during charging and discharging. It

’s easier to happen as the batteries age (Huang et al.,

2021). Electrochemical abuse is a relative new

concept (Bubbico et al., 2018). Electrochemical abuse

refers to situations where the battery is subjected to

operation outside of its designed parameters, causing

stress beyond a battery’s normal operating limits.

3.1.2 Environmental Hazard

So far, the electrolytes applied by lithium-ion

batteries are organic ones. One point with organic

electrolytes is that they are highly flammable which

is irritating to skin, eyes and mucous membranes.

When batteries are disposed of without any

pretreatment, the heavy metals in them may not be

harmful on their own, but when they combine with

organic molecules, they may seep into the ground's

layers and contaminate the water table and soil. It is

possible for the hazardous substances to seep into the

ground and water, endangering people through direct

or indirect contact. If an electrical vehicle catches fire

in a traffic accident, it will also release highly toxic,

flammable gases, vapours, and smoke. Traditional

electrolytes are manufactured using harmful

chemicals such as lead, cadmium. Dimethyl

carbonate (DMC), EMC (ethyl methyl carbonate) and

DEC (diethyl carbonate) are commonly used as

electrolyte materials (Hess et al., 2015). They have

flash points (FPs) that are around room temperature,

and they are extremely volatile and flammable (Qiao

et al., 2020). They have the potential to start flames

and explosions when combined with an oxidant and

an ignite source. Second use batteries are even more

dangerous. Second-use lithium-ion batteries refer to

batteries that have been retired from their primary

application. These batteries can be repurposed for

other applications where their current state of health

(SOH) and remaining capacity are sufficient. A

research group in 2019 conducted a biological

toxicity test on mice to find out the hazard batteries

could pose to human beings (He et al., 2020). During

the test, the mice exhibited signs of distress, such as

stopping running, closing their eyes, shedding tears,

and experiencing shortness of breath. The fact that

some mice died during the 85% SOH experiment

highlights the importance of safety considerations.

4 IMPROVEMENT DIRECTION

Li-O

and Li-S batteries have high specific energies,

making them promising avenues for future research.

Poor cycle performance and the stability and expense

of electrocatalysts are some of the difficulties these

technologies must overcome. Although lithium

batteries dominate the performance-oriented market,

they have a significant flaw in an era where

sustainability is increasingly important. Therefore, it

is crucial to focus not only on traditional metrics such

as energy density and efficiency but also on the

environmental impact. The industry is keen on

advancing the electrochemical window and energy

density of batteries. While these aspects are indeed

appealing, it might be beneficial to consider

enhancing safety and sustainability as well. The

annual fatalities due to overheating of organic

electrolytes are a significant concern. Many batteries

still use organic electrolytes, which are extremely

harmful to the environment (Flamme et al., 2017).

The adoption of aqueous electrolytes could be a step

towards rectifying this issue (Lebedeva and Boon-

Brett, 2016).

5 CONCLUSION

In summary, lithium-ion batteries have dramatically

improved the energy storage sector and provided a

reliable and efficient platform for clean energy.

Research on various cathode materials, such as NMC,

LFP, and NCA, offers higher energy density and

cycle life, with attendant safety and environmental

concerns. This increased energy density demands

greater thrust for new, innovative technologies, which

include Lithium-air, solid-state, and lithium-sulfur

batteries. However, these face significant hurdles,

which include cycle performance and stability issues.

Safety concern is still a prime issue, particularly that

of thermal runaway; therefore, reasons are there for

developing safer battery chemistries and designs

further. Additionally, environmental hazards from the

improper disposal of Li-ion batteries emphasize the

need to have sustainable practices in manufacturing

and recycling of batteries. The industry has to find a

balance in pursuance of higher and higher energy

densities in the quest for a balance with safety and

sustainability imperatives. Going forward, Li-ion

batteries should expect innovation only in developing

materials and technologies to solve their drawbacks.

A silicon anode, lithium-rich cathode, and high-

voltage LiCoO

are being developed and are likely to

bring significant increase in energy density. Shift

towards using aqueous electrolytes may also provide

a pathway towards a reduced environmental impact.

The industry will have to prioritize research and

development in these areas to ensure next-generation

Li-ion batteries meet the energy demands of an

ICREE 2024 - International Conference on Renewable Energy and Ecosystem

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increasing world population while at the same time

aligning with our collective environmental goals. As

we stand at the brink of a new energy storage era, the

course for Li-ion batteries is driven toward

convergence with technological innovation,

environmental stewardship, and safety

considerations. The way forward demands a

concerted effort from researchers, industry leaders,

and policymakers to chart a course that optimizes

performance, safety, and sustainability. With such a

focused drive toward these goals, the future of Li-ion

batteries holds much promise in serving humanity's

energy needs while contributing to a cleaner and more

sustainable future.

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