Li-Ion Powders: How Surface Area Affects Performance

Surface area and pore size are important parameters to control the design of Li-ion battery electrode powders. Surface area is especially vital because it balances charging and discharging speed vs. undesirable growth of the solid electrolyte interphase layer, which over time builds up and degrades battery performance. If electrode particles with pores or various nanostructured morphologies are used, mechanical stresses from Li ion intercalation may be lessened, leading to longer battery lifetime. Gas sorption is commonly applied to characterize the surface area and pore size of anode and cathode powders. Its background, implementation, and relevance to the industry will be reviewed and discussed.

Key Learning Objectives

• Understand the importance of surface area and pore size in Li-ion battery electrode powders
• Explain the relationship between surface area and charging/discharging speed vs. solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer growth
• Apply the principles of gas sorption to analyze anode and cathode powders