Battery Development and Engineering

Li-ion batteries form the backbone component of many modern day devices ranging from consumer electronics, transportation to grid and renewables. It is especially important in the global push towards electrification of transportation in a bid for a more sustainable urban living. The dual requirements of high energy density and high power output in a form factor that is both durable and long-lived poses unique challenges in creating a battery package that can satisfy the needs of drivers in an economical manner. We have key expertise in the area of Li-ion batteries and our research has focused on improving the energy density of electrode materials, improving stability and safety, surface coatings of cathode and anode active materials, electrolyte additives, etc.

Metal-air battery is a type of open system, which allows placement of the cathode materials outside of the cell, and hence giving the potential for ultrahigh capacity. Primary zinc-air batteries have already found successful commercial applications globally in hearing aid. Primary aluminum-air batteries are said to be able to give EV an unstopping driving range over 800 km. Primary magnesium-air batteries are also showing potential for use in off-grid charge stations. However, electrically rechargeable metal-air battery remains a key scientific and technological challenge. We are focused on the research of metal air batteries with improved efficiency and depth of discharge. We specialized especially in the development of high-performance low cost bifunctional catalysts to narrow down the voltage gaps between the charge and discharge potentials for improved energy efficiency. We are also interested in the improvement of the corrosion-resistance of the air-electrode, mitigating the electrolyte-leakage after long cycling to further extend the cycle life of the batteries. Our team have also demonstrated flexible all-solid state metal-air batteries with high durability against frequent, repetitive large-deformation for potential use in wearable applications.

The global demand for Li-ion battery is expected to grow at a CAGR of 30% from now to 2030, where it would reach a market size of US$ 400B (McKinsey). The 2nd life battery market is growing at a faster rate (CAGR of 45% to US$ 9.2B in 2030), as a high volume of batteries approach their retirement over the next decade. In view of the accelerated EV adoption (>400,000 by 2040) and battery solution deployment in Singapore, our group develop remanufacturing technologies to expand retired battery management capacity, as well as recycling technologies to recover precious materials and improve environmental sustainability.

Capabilities

Cathode materials for Li-ion batteries

• NCA, NMC, LiFePO4, LiMn2O4, LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4

Anode materials for Li-ion batteries

• Fe2O3, SnO2, TiO2-SiO2 composite, Li4Ti5O12

Electrolyte tuning

• Battery electrolyte tuning and optimization

Li-ion coin cell and pouch cell prototype fabrication

• Slurry mixing
• Electrode coating
• Prototype assembly
• Cell testing

Bifunctional air-cathodes

• Air cathode decorated with transition-metal oxide nanoparticles
• Various composite powder bifunctional catalysts

Flexible zinc-air batteries

•  Flexible and durable air-cathode fabrication
• Flexible cell fabrication
• Performance testing

Battery remanufacturing and recycling

• Advanced EIS for safety grading
  
• Electrical recondition for cell capacity recovery
  
• Closed-loop redox mediated electrified recycling system
  
• Direct recycling of anode and cathode for Li-ion batteries 
  
  
  

Achievements

Our team has developed LiNi1-x-yCoxMnyO2, a higher-capacity yet economic alternative as compared to the traditional LiCoO2 cathode. This was first breakthrough in ternary cathodes of NCM523, NCM622 and NCM721.

Our team has developed anode materials of Fe2O3, SnOx, SiO2-TiO2 and Li4Ti5O12 etc. with 3D nano-architecture to overcome major limitations of high energy-density conversion-type electrode upon lithiation, such as mechanical failure and sluggish kinetics. Joint effort with companies includes the development of high energy density Li-ion battery using NCA/graphene composite cathode and graphite anode, and high-voltage phosphate cathode materials for all-solid state batteries.

The team has developed an all-solid-state flexible zinc-air battery that can survive frequent, repetitive mechanical deformations with satisfactory performances.

• S.L. Zhang et al., Engineering FeCo Dual Sites on Tube-on-Plate Hollow Structure for Efficient Oxygen Electroreduction, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2024, Doi: 10.1021/acsami.3c13941
  
• J. Zhang et al., Rejuvenation of Aged Graphite Anodes from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries via a Facile Surface Treatment Strategy, Chem. Commun. 2023, 59, 9702.
  
• B. Li et al., String of Pyrolyzed ZIF-67 Particles on Carbon Fibers for High-Performance Electrocatalysis, Energy Storage Mater. 2020, 25, 137.  
  
• A. Sumboja et al., All-Solid-State, Foldable, and Rechargeable Zn-Air Batteries based on Manganese Oxide Grown on Graphene Coated Carbon Cloth Air Cathode, Adv. Energy Mater. 2017, 7, 1700927.
  
• Z.L. Liu et al., Synthesis and characterization of LiNi1-x-yCoxMnyO2 as the cathode materials in secondary lithium batteries, J. Power Sources 1999, 81, 416.
  
• N. Ding et al., Rational design of LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 cathode with high-energy density, Solid State Ionics 2018, 323, 72.
  
• B. Li et al., A robust hybrid Zn-battery with ultralong cycle life, Nano Letters 2017, 17, 156.

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