Ceramic Nanowires for Li-Ion Batteries with Improved Safety, Energy and Power

The recently discovered low-cost and highly scalable synthesis of ceramic nanowires or nanofibers enable their applications in high-performance Li-ion batteries, solid-state batteries and supercapacitors. Highly flexible ceramic separators produced from aluminum or magnesium oxide or oxyhydroxide nanowires of tunable dimensions enhance the safety, rate capabilities and energy density of a broad range of electrochemical energy storage devices. Compared to polymer or ceramic-coated polymer separator members, ceramic nanowire separators are not flammable or combustible and offer outstanding thermal stability, thereby improving battery safety. The higher porosity, smaller thickness and excellent wetting of ceramic nanowire separators by electrolytes result in lower resistance, higher efficiency, higher power, faster charging and often improved cycle stability of Li-ion batteries. Their lower attainable thickness also contributes to higher specific and higher volumetric energy densities in Li-ion cells. This invited talk will provide an overview of our progress in synthesis and energy storage-related implementations of this promising technology.