Our Services
Your Total Solution Provider for
Lithium-Ion Battery
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Consultancy for Lithium-ion Battery Research
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Consultancy for Lithium-ion Battery Production Line
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Turnkey Project for Setting up Lithium-Ion Battery from Pilot Plant to Production Line
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Turnkey Project for UN38.3 Lithium ion Battery Safety Testing Lab
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Turnkey Project for Solar Cell Battery and Production line
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Collaboration Partnership
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If you are interested to set up Lithium-Ion Battery facility, please send us an email to sales@kgcscientific.com with the following information:
1. What is expected daily production capability (for example: ??AH/day).
2. What is the size of the battery ?
3. What type of the battery?
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Scaling
Up Lithium-Ion Material & Processing
Equipment From Pilot Plant up to Production Line
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MATERIALS
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Cathode
Materials
LiCoO2,
LiMn2O4,
and Li(NixMnyCoz)O2],
vanadium oxides, Olivines (such as LiFePO4),
and rechargeable lithium oxides.
Layered
oxides containing cobalt and nickel are the most studied materials
for lithium-ion batteries. They show a high stability in the
high-voltage range but cobalt has limited availability in nature and
is toxic, which is a tremendous drawback for mass manufacturing.
Manganese offers a low-cost substitution with a high thermal
threshold and excellent rate capabilities but limited cycling
behaviour.
Therefore,
mixtures of cobalt, nickel, and manganese are often used to combine
the best properties and minimize the drawbacks. Vanadium oxides have
a large capacity and excellent kinetics. However, due to lithium
insertion and extraction, the material tends to become amorphous,
which limits the cycling behaviour.
Olivines
are nontoxic and have a moderate capacity with low fade due to
cycling, but their conductivity is low.
Anode
Materials
Anodematerials are lithium, graphite, lithium-alloying materials, inter
metallics, or silicon.
Lithium
seems to be the most straight forward material but shows problems
with cycling behaviour and dendritic growth, which creates shortcircuits.
Carbonaceous
anodes are the most utilized anodic material due to their low cost
and availability. However, the theoretical capacity (372 mAh/g) is
poor compared with the charge density of lithium (3,862 mAh/g). Some
efforts with novel graphite varieties and carbon nano tubes have
tried to increase the capacity but have come with the price of high
processing costs.
Alloy
anodes and inter metallic compounds have high capacities but also
show a dramatic volume change, resulting in poor cycling behaviour.
Efforts have been made to overcome the volume change by using
nano-crystalline materials and by having the alloy phase (with Al,
Bi, Mg, Sb, Sn, Zn, and others) in a non-alloying stabilization
matrix (with Co, Cu, Fe, or Ni).
Silicon
has an extremely high capacity of 4,199 mAh/g, corresponding with a
composition of Si5Li22.
However, cycling behaviour is poor, and capacity fading not yet
understood.
Electrolytes
Asafe and long-lasting battery needs a robust electrolyte that can
withstand existing voltage and high temperatures and that has a long
shelf life while offering a high mobility for lithium
ions.
Types include liquid, polymer, and solid-state electrolytes. Liquid
electrolytes are mostly organic, solvent based electrolytes
containing LiBC4O8 (LiBOB),
LiPF6,
Li[PF3(C2F5)3],
or similar. The most important consideration is their flammability;
the best performing solvents have low boiling points and have flash
points around 30°C. Therefore, venting or explosion of the cell and
subsequently the battery pose a danger. Electrolyte decomposition and
highly exothermic side reactions in lithium-ion batteries can create
an effect known as “thermal runaway.” Thus, selection of an
electrolyte often involves a trade off between flammability and
electrochemical performance.
Separators
have built-in thermal shutdown mechanisms, and additional external
sophisticated thermal management systems are added to the modules and
battery packs. Ionic liquids are under consideration due to their
thermal stability but have major drawbacks, such as lithium
dissolution out of the anode.
Polymerelectrolytes
are ionically conductive polymers. They are often mixed in composites
with ceramic Nano-particles, resulting in higher conductivities and
resistance to higher voltages. In addition, due to their high
viscosity and quasi-solid behavior, polymer electrolytes could
inhibit lithium dendrites from growing13 and
could therefore be used with lithium metal anodes.
Solidelectrolytes
are lithium-ion conductive crystals and ceramic glasses. They show a
very
poor low-temperature performance because the lithium mobility in the
solid is greatly reduced at low temperatures.
In addition, solid electrolytes need special deposition conditions
and temperature treatments to obtain acceptable behavior, making them
extremely expensive in use, although they eliminate the need for
separators and the risk of thermal runaway.
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Separators
The battery separator separates the two electrodes physically from each
other, thus avoiding a short circuit. In the case of a liquid
electrolyte, the separator is a foam material that is soaked with the
electrolyte and holds it in place. It needs to be an electronic
insulator while having minimal electrolyte resistance, maximum
mechanical stability, and chemical resistance to degradation in the
highly electrochemically active environment. In addition, the
separator often has a safety feature, called "thermal shutdown;" at elevated temperatures, it melts or closes its pores to shut down
the lithium-ion transport without losing its mechanical stability.
Separators are either synthesized in sheets and assembled with the
electrodes or deposited onto one electrode in situ. Cost wise, the
latter is the preferable method but poses some other synthesis,
handling, and mechanical problems. Solid-state electrolytes and some
polymer electrolytes need no separator.
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PROCESSING
AND MANUFACTURING
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Battery
discharge is based on the diffusion of lithium ions from the anode to
the cathode through the current collector. This moving mechanism is
primarily based on diffusion processes: delivering lithium ions to
the surface of the anode, transitioning to and diffusion through the
electrolyte, and transitioning to and diffusion into the cathode.
Cylindrical
cells are manufactured and assembled as follows. The electrolytes are
formed from pastes of active material powders, binders, solvents, and
additives and are fed to coating machines to be spread on current
collector foils, such as aluminum for the cathode side and copper for
the anode side. Subsequent calendaring for homogeneous thickness and
particle size is followed by slitting to the correct width. The
components are then stacked to separator-anode-separator cathode
stacks followed by winding to cylindrical cells, insertion in
cylindrical cases, and welding of a conducting tab. The cells are
then filled with electrolyte. The electrolyte has to wet the
separator, soak in, and wet the electrodes. The wetting and soaking
process is the slowest step and therefore is the determining factor
in the speed of the line. All other needed insulators, seals, and
safety devices are then attached and connected. Then, the cells are
charged the first time and tested.
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Estimated
Materials Content of Typical Lithium-Ion Cells
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High-Energy
(100 Ah) Cell EV
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High-Power
(10 Ah) Cell HEV
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Material/Component
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Quantity
(g)
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Part
(%)
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Quantity
(g)
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Part
(%)
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Anode
(dry)
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Active
material (graphite)
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563.6
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16.4
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14.1
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4.3
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Binder
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69.7
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2.0
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3.1
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1.0
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Current
collector (Cu)
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151.9
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4.4
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41.6
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12.8
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Cathode
(dry)
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Active
material
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1,408.6
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41,0
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74.4
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22.9
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Carbon
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46.4
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1.4
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3.2
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1.0
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Binder
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92.9
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2.7
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6.3
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1.9
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Current
collector (Al)
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63.0
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1.8
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19.4
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6.0
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Electrolyte
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618.0
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18.0
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44.0
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13.5
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Separator
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60.5
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1.8
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16.4
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5.0
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Rest
of Cell
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Tabs,
end plates, terminal assemblies
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66.2
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1.9
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32.2
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9.9
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Core
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0.9
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0.0
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Container
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291.0
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8.5
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70.1
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21.6
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Total
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3,432.7
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324.8
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Parameters
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Lead
acid
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Ni-Cd
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Ni-M-H
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Liquid
Li-Ion
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Polymer
Li-ion
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Voltage
(V)
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2
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1.2
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1.2
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3.6
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3.6
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Weight
energy density (Wh/Kg)
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35
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50
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80
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125
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170
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Volume
energy Density (Wh/l)
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80
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150
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200
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320
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400
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Cycle
life (times)
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300
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500
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500
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800
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1000
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Self
discharge (%/
month)
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0
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25-30
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30-35
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6-9
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2-5
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Electrolyte
state
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Liquid
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Liquid
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Liquid
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Liquid
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Polymer
Gel
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Min.
thickness
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>
10 mm
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>3mm
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>3mm
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>3mm
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<1mm
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Memory
effect
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no
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yes
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no
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No
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No
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Pollution
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yes
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yes
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No
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No
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No
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Production
cost
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lowest
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Low
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middle
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High
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Middle
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Advantages
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High
drain current and low cost
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Middle
drain current and low cost, smaller volume
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Middle
drain current and cost, higher capacity
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higher
capacity and lighter weight
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Highest
capacity, lighter weight and flexible shape
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Disadvantages
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Too
heavy
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Environmental
not friendly
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Higher
self-discharge and weight
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Low
drain current and higher cost
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Low
drain current and very high cost
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Applications
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Car
and lighting
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Power
tool, cordless phone and emergency lighting etc.
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Toy,
PDA,, MP3 and digital camera etc
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Cellular
phone and laptop computer
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Laptop computers
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What
is the performance of Nickel Cadmium battery?
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Low
cost;
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Excellent
overcharge endurance;
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Excellent
quick charge performance;
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Long
cycle life;
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Extensive
temperature range;
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Mid-degree
self-discharge;
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Good
safety performance.
What
is the performance of Nickel Metal Hydride battery?
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Low
cost;
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Good
quick charge performance;
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Long
cycle life;
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No
memory accumulation;
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Green
energy sources, no pollution;
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Extensive
temperature range;
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Good
safety performance.
What
is the performance of Lithium ion battery?
What
is the performance of Polymer Lithium ion battery?
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No
liquid electrolyte, so never leak;
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Can
be made into various shape;
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Can
be made into thin battery, such as 3.6V, 400mAh, the thickness can
decrease to 0.5mm;
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High
voltage in an battery: several battery with liquid electrolyte can
be connected in series to get a high voltage only; the Li-polymer
battery can get high voltage in an cell through multiplayer
combination;
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Same
volume Li-polymer batteries` capacity is two times of Li-ion
battery.
What
is the performance of Lithium MnO2 and Li-SOCL2 battery?
Why
do batteries packs with zero voltage or low voltage?
(1)
One of the cells voltages is 0V;
(2)
Plugs are short or open circuit, or ill touched;
(3)
Lead wires are broken from the soldering or weakly soldered;
(4)
Wrong battery connection or the connection tabs are miss or weak weld
or broken off.
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3.7V/9V
Single Cells
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From
3.7V - 89V Battery Packs
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From
3.7V - 89V Battery Packs
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Pilot Plant Lithium-Ion Battery Equipments
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Depending on your production capacity requirement, you may select the following sizes:
KSL-1600XA6 – 150 Liter ; or
KSL-1200X-L – 64 Liter; or
KSL-1700X-A4-DC – 36 Liter; or
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or
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Single or Double Zones Tube Furnace
Material Preparation
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Electrode Coating Process
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Depending on the type of battery:
- Pouch
- 18650 Cylinder / 22650 Cylinder
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Depending on the type of battery:
- Pouch
- 18650 Cylinder / 22650 Cylinder
- Coin Cell
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Final Process |

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Production Plant Lithium-Ion Battery Equipments

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Cathode Powders for Li-ion Battery
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Anode & Conductive Powders for Li-ion Battery
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Li-ion Battery Binders
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Li-ion Battery Binders
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Procedure for Preparing Water-based Electrode Slurry (Graphite Anode)
1. Weight Ratio (All other weights depends on how much active powder you will use):
- Anode Active Powder - MCMB: 94.5%
- CMC: 2.25%
- SBR: 2.25%
- Conductive- Super P: 1%
- De-Ionized water: At least 120% of MCMB
2. Heat treat the active powder in the inert gas environment, 300~400C for an hour, *Heat treatment via MTI 500C vacuum ovens is suggested, please click the underline to view product details.*
3. Grind mill the active and conductive power for about 30 minutes. *Grind milling via MTI MSK-SFM series Ball miller is suggested, please click the underline to view product details.*
4. Make liquid thickening agent: heat up de-ionized water to 80C and then slowly add CMC into the water and keep stirring until the CMC is fully dissolved. Usually this process will take >60 minutes.
5. Slowly add SBR and stir for another 60 minutes. You may add some more water if the SBR can not be dully dissolved.
6. Add active and conductive powder into the slurry and stir. It is suggested to separate the powders into 2 or 3 piles, add the first pile and mix for 30 minutes...add the second pile and mix for another 30 minutes...until all the piles are finished. This will help improve the mixing uniformity. *Slurry stirring by MTI MSK-SFM Series Vacuum Mixer is preferred, please click underline to view the recommended instruments*
7. Take sample and test the viscosity. The recommended viscosity for the slurry is between 5000 and 6000 CPS. If the viscosity is above this range, add more de-ionized water; if the viscosity is lower, add more binder (CMC and SBR)
*It is suggested to use MTI MSK-SFM-VT viscosity tester to verify the slurry's viscosity
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Battery Material
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Equipment Requirements
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Procedure for Preparing Cathode Electrode Slurry
1. Weight Ratio (All other weights depends on how much active powder you will use):
- Cathode Active Powder - LiFePO4, LiCoO2... : 93.5%
- PVDF: 2.25%
- Conductive Super- C45: 4.0%
- NMP: 8/15 of the solid content by weight
2. Heat treat the active powder in the inert gas or vacuum environment, 120~140C for two hours,
3. Grind mill the active and conductive power for about 30 minutes.
4. Heat up NMP solution to 80C. Slowly add PVDF and keep stirring until the PVDF is fully dissolved. Usually this process will take around 120 minutes.
5. Add active and conductive powder into the slurry and stir. It is suggested to separate the powders into 2 or 3 piles, add the first pile and mix for 30 minutes...add the second pile and mix for another 30 minutes...until all the piles are finished. This will help improve the mixing uniformity.
6. Take sample and test the viscosity. The recommended viscosity for the slurry is around 6000 CPS.
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