Development of advanced materials for lithium-ion battery electrodes

• Grant number: 98/14863-9
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: September 01, 1999
• End date: June 30, 2004
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Jose Alberto Rodrigues Jordao
• Grantee: Jose Alberto Rodrigues Jordao
• Company: Unitech Projetos, Pesquisas, Desenvolvimento, Consultoria e Comércio Ltda
• City: Cajobi

Abstract

The present research project is intended to develop local carbonaceous materials to be used in the manufacture of lithium ion batteries, a product made up of two electrodes that intersperse lithium ions in organic and lithium salt electrodes. The main materials used as cathodes are lithium oxides of the type: LiMn2O4; LiCoO2 and LiNiO2. And, the main materials used as anodes are made up of carbonaceous compounds with a graphitic structure. At present, the main uses for lithium ion batteries are electronic devices in general, in particular mobile phones and portable computers. The main features of these batteries are: high reversible capacity (mAh/g), high power density (Wh/kg) and long life cycles. The main materials to be studied are: natural graphite, carbon fiber, sugar and sugarcane residues (bagasse), and coffee beans. These materials have shown great potential for use in lithium ion batteries. The main properties that the carbonaceous materials must have, in this case, are: high reversing capacity for interspersing lithium and being good electricity conductors. The main goal of phase 1 was to obtain a material with a higher capacity at low cost. During phase 2, the materials that proved the most promising were submitted to thermal and chemical treatment to optimize their crystal structure. (AU)