Energy Storage Science and Technology ›› 2020, Vol. 9 ›› Issue (5): 1443-1453.doi: 10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2020.0109

• Energy Storage Materials and Devices • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Application of niobium in lithium ion batteries

Peng GAO1(), Shan ZHANG1, Liubin BEN2, Wenwu ZHAO2, Zhongzhu LIU3, Rogerio RIBAS, Yongming ZHU1(), Xuejie HUANG2   

  1. 1.Harbin Institute of Technology (Weihai), Weihai 264209, Shandong, China
    2.Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
    3.CITIC-CBMM Microalloying Center, Beijing 100004, China
    4.Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineracao, Sao Paulo 04578-910, Brazil
  • Received:2020-03-19 Revised:2020-03-30 Online:2020-09-05 Published:2020-09-08
  • Contact: Yongming ZHU E-mail:gaofei5075@sina.com;zymhit@hit.edu.cn

Abstract:

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are widely used due to their advantages of high energy density and low environmental pollution. However, there are still some problems that cannot be ignored, i.e., degradation of the electrochemical performance and poor thermal stability due to the deterioration of the structure of the electrode materials. Therefore, modification of the electrode materials is still a current research focus for LIBs. Based on the unique advantages of niobium (Nb), introducing Nb into LIBs as a positive doping material can increase the electronic conductivity, improve stability, expand the insertion/extraction channel of Li+, and reduce the degree of cation mixing. In addition, the introduction of Nb into LIBs as a negative active material, via Nb oxide or Nb-based composite oxides, also results in excellent electrochemical performance. In solid electrolytes, Nb is not only the main doping element of Li7La3Zr2O12 but also the main component element of Li5La3Nb2O12. This paper discusses the recent literature and summarizes and analyzes the application of Nb in LIBs, with an emphasis on the doping mechanism and associated applications in positive material, negative material, and solid electrolytes for LIBs. For positive LIB materials, the research status of Nb in unitary, binary, ternary, lithium-rich, and polyanionic materials is introduced. For negative materials, the research progress of Nb oxide and Nb-based oxide anode materials as new negative materials is highlighted. In solid LIB electrolytes, the doping and application of Nb are introduced. Finally, the industrial application prospects and feasibility of Nb-modified electrode materials are analyzed. A comprehensive analysis shows that the research scope of Nb in lithium battery series is increasingly extensive as are its applications. It is believed that Nb will play a more important role in the field of lithium batteries in the future.

Key words: niobium, lithium ion battery, modification, cathode material, anode material, solid electrolyte

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