Comparison Study on Electrochemical Properties of Lithium-ion Capacitors Assembled with Common Lithium Metal Oxide Anodes

Graduate #103
Discipline: Technology and Engineering
Subcategory: Materials Science
Session: 3
Room: Park Tower 8216

Jacob Strimaitis - Norfolk State University
Co-Author(s): Samuel Danquah, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA; Sangram K. Pradhan, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA; Messaoud J. Bahoura, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA

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In the drive to find the best energy storage devices, two champions emerge: batteries, which have superior energy capacities, and supercapacitors, which have superior rates of energy delivery and cyclability. However, the advantage of one is the Achilles heel of the other. The next era of energy storage may be found in hybrid supercapacitors, which merge the useful properties of both devices without sacrificing the other’s strength. Specifically, lithium-ion capacitors (LICs), a type of hybrid supercapacitor, show the most promise for the new generation of energy storage devices. The work presented here depicts systematic attempts to fabricate LICs with different anodes and compare their electrochemical features. The anode of many LICs, Li4Ti5O12 (LTO), is widely used because of its strong de/intercalation potential with Li+ ions and electrochemical reversibility. However, it suffers from poor electric conductivity (<10-13 S cm-1), a weakness that inhibits its rate performance. This work is the first to compare LTO to other common lithium metal oxide electrodes, such as LiMn2O4 (LMO) and LiCoO4 (LCO), in LIC devices. LICs assembled with these modified anodes show differences in electrochemical performance, as measured via cyclic voltammetry and charge/discharge tests, with energy densities ranging from 15 – 50 Wh/kg, power densities ranging from 1 – 3 kW/kg, and stabilities up to 75% capacity after 1000 cycles. Final considerations are given to the need to create more complex anode composites with highly conductive materials, such as ZnO or graphene, and implement hybrid supercapacitors in future devices that have high energy and high power requirements.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): This work is supported by the NSF-CREST Grant number HRD 1547771 and NSF-CREST Grant number HRD 1036494.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Messaoud Bahoura, mbahoura@nsu.edu

Role: I found relevant literature, came up with the idea, fabricated all devices (with help), characterized all devices (with help), and created the oral presentation.