The influence of point defects on the entropy profiles of Lithium Ion Battery cathodes : a lattice-gas Monte Carlo study

Mercer, Michael P. and Finnigan, Sophie and Kramer, Denis and Richards, Daniel and Hoster, Harry E. (2017) The influence of point defects on the entropy profiles of Lithium Ion Battery cathodes : a lattice-gas Monte Carlo study. Electrochimica Acta, 241. pp. 141-152. ISSN 0013-4686

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Abstract

In-situ diagnostic tools have become established to as a means to understanding the aging processes that occur during charge/discharge cycles in Li-ion batteries (LIBs). One electrochemical thermodynamic technique that can be applied to this problem is known as entropy profiling. Entropy profiles are obtained by monitoring the variation in the open circuit potential as a function of temperature. The peaks in these profiles are related to phase transitions, such as order/disorder transitions, in the lattice. In battery aging studies of cathode materials, the peaks become suppressed but the mechanism by which this occurs is currently poorly understood. One suggested mechanism is the formation of point defects. Intentional modifications of LIB electrodes may also lead to the introduction of point defects. To gain quantitative understanding of the entropy profile changes that could be caused by point defects, we have performed Monte Carlo simulations on lattices of variable defect content. As a model cathode, we have chosen manganese spinel, which has a well-described order-disorder transition when it is half filled with Li. We assume, in the case of trivalent defect substitution (M = Cr,Co) that each defect M permanently pins one Li atom. This assumption is supported by Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. Assuming that the distribution of the pinned Li sites is completely random, we observe the same trend in the change in partial molar entropy with defect content as observed in experiment: the peak amplitudes become increasing suppressed as the defect fraction is increased. We also examine changes in the configurational entropy itself, rather than the entropy change, as a function of the defect fraction and analyse these results with respect to the ones expected for an ideal solid solution. We discuss the implications of the quantitative differences between some of the results obtained from the model and the experimentally observed ones.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Electrochimica Acta
Additional Information:
This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Electrochimica Acta. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Electrochimica Acta, 241, 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2017.04.115
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1500
Subjects:
?? disorder transitionspoint defectssolid solutionchemical engineering(all)electrochemistry ??
ID Code:
86009
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
25 Apr 2017 15:34
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
21 Mar 2024 00:43