UCLA

Modern lithium-ion batteries rely on the anode material to contain the capacity of the battery safely and reliably for maximum rechargeability, but the current mode of operation cannot be sustained without new tools and material options as the need for improved fast charging capability increases. Traditional graphite has been able to fulfill demands in consumer electronics with smaller cell capacity, but with industrial automotive cell packs, the anode is limited in its volumetric and gravimetric capacity and highly susceptible to hazardous Li plating, especially at high charging rates. Key to addressing these problems will be industrially relevant strategies to enable new, higher capacity materials and practical characterization tools. This work aims to explore the relevant criteria and methods to develop a mechanically and chemically stable silicon anode through facile carbon coating and conversion techniques. Furthermore, with current understanding of anode volume expansion principles, a platform has been developed to probe the behaviors of pressure in informing long-term cell degradation. It is through this work that improved cycle life of bare silicon anode and reliable measurements of pressure can be achieved.