新材料で電池製造のコストと時間を削減（Discovery Opens Doors for Cheaper and Quicker Battery Manufacturing）

2025-04-15 パシフィック・ノースウェスト国立研究所(PNNL)

＜関連情報＞

• https://www.pnnl.gov/news-media/discovery-opens-doors-cheaper-and-quicker-battery-manufacturing
• https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-025-01738-4

Li2Oの特異な昇華が単結晶成長と焼結を促進する Unusual Li2O sublimation promotes single-crystal growth and sintering

Bingbin Wu,Ran Yi,Yaobin Xu,Peiyuan Gao,Yujing Bi,Libor Novák,Zhao Liu,Enyuan Hu,Nan Wang,Job Rijssenbeek,Subramanian Venkatachalam,Jing Wu,Dianying Liu,Xia Cao & Jie Xiao
Nature Energy  Published:06 March 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-025-01738-4

Abstract

Li₂O is rarely used for cathode material synthesis due to its high melting point (1,438 °C). Here we discover that Li₂O can sublimate at 800–1,000 °C under ambient pressure, opening new possibilities for cathode synthesis. We propose a mechanism that enables synthesis of single crystals—such as LiNi_0.8Mn_0.1Co_0.1O₂ (NMC811) or LiNi_0.9Mn_0.05Co_0.05O₂ (NMC90)—without direct contact with Li₂O salts. We show that Li₂O vapour successfully converts spent polycrystalline NMC811 into segregated single crystals without milling or post-treatment. The Li₂O vapour, derived from Li₂O solids, diffuses rapidly and reacts with precursors, mimicking a molten-salt environment, which facilitates single-crystal growth. The chemical lithiation process continuously drives Li₂O sublimation, sintering the crystals. Single crystals derived from Li₂O and fresh precursors or spent polycrystals exhibit outstanding cycling after 1,000 cycles in full cells. The demonstrated Li₂O sublimation and its universal role in promoting single-crystal growth provides an effective approach for single-crystal synthesis, scale-up and recycling.