New design high energy density Li-ion battery based on self-standing electrodes configuration

The utilization of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is currently pervasive as high-performance energy storage technology. While graphite anode and LiFePO4 (LFP) cathode can be regarded as a baseline for improvements in the field of materials, their utilization is now revamping at production level, mainly because of their cost, safety and acceptable performances. In this context, many different approaches have already been explored to boost cell performance by optimizing its design. Nevertheless, further improvements can still be achieved to make commercial batteries more performing and reduce the costs, such as optimization of current collectors design. In this regard, an easy coating technique is applied to produce self-standing electrodes of both Graphite and LFP with high areal loadings, demonstrating their application in a Li-ion full cell with improved energy density. Both electrodes are first tested in lithium half-cells, displaying suitable interfacial and ion transport properties and good cycling performance and capacity retention. Furthermore, coin-type full cell delivers good cycling performance and excellent coulombic efficiency at C/3, with a limited capacity fade over 300 cycles and an initial energy density of about 240 Wh Kg− 1an+cat. Moreover, the self-standing electrodes are used in single-layer pouch (SLP) cell format, showing promising results for possible upscaling, despite further optimization are needed. The obtained results ultimately lead to the possibility of using this electrode design to further decrease cost and weight of commercial batteries, especially for application in electronic devices, increasing at the same time the achievable energy density.