Quantum view of Li-ion high mobility at carbon-coated cathode interfaces
Gioele Pagot,
Vito Di Noto,
Keti Vezzù,
Bernardo Barbiellini,
Valerio Toso,
Alberto Caruso,
Meiying Zheng,
Xin Li,
Rafael Ferragut
Affiliations
Gioele Pagot
Section of Chemistry for the Technology (ChemTech), Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy; Corresponding author
Vito Di Noto
Section of Chemistry for the Technology (ChemTech), Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy; Corresponding author
Keti Vezzù
Section of Chemistry for the Technology (ChemTech), Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy
Bernardo Barbiellini
Physics Department, School of Engineering Science, LUT-University, 53851 Lappeenranta, Finland; Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Valerio Toso
L-NESS and Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Via Anzani 42, 22100 Como, Italy; INFN Milan Unit, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy
Alberto Caruso
L-NESS and Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Via Anzani 42, 22100 Como, Italy
Meiying Zheng
Physics Department, School of Engineering Science, LUT-University, 53851 Lappeenranta, Finland; L-NESS and Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Via Anzani 42, 22100 Como, Italy
Xin Li
Physics Department, School of Engineering Science, LUT-University, 53851 Lappeenranta, Finland; L-NESS and Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Via Anzani 42, 22100 Como, Italy
Rafael Ferragut
L-NESS and Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Via Anzani 42, 22100 Como, Italy; INFN Milan Unit, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy; Corresponding author
Summary: Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are among the most promising power sources for electric vehicles, portable electronics and smart grids. In LIBs, the cathode is a major bottleneck, with a particular reference to its low electrical conductivity and Li-ion diffusivity. The coating with carbon layers is generally employed to enhance the electrical conductivity and to protect the active material from degradation during operation. Here, we demonstrate that this layer has a primary role in the lithium diffusivity into the cathode nanoparticles. Positron is a useful quantum probe at the electroactive materials/carbon interface to sense the mobility of Li-ion. Broadband electrical spectroscopy demonstrates that only a small number of Li-ions are moving, and that their diffusion strongly depends on the type of carbon additive. Positron annihilation and broadband electrical spectroscopies are crucial complementary tools to investigate the electronic effect of the carbon phase on the cathode performance and Li-ion dynamics in electroactive materials.
