Slide 1

Hello, my name is Chris Long and in this session, I will be showing you nanomaterials and their
application in electric vehicle batteries.

Slide 2:
In this presentation, you will learn what is nanotech, the definition and potential application. How
battery works and the application of nanotech in battery. I will give lithium battery made by tesla
as an example.

Slide 3:
So, nanotechnology often refers to science and engineering on the design, manipulation and
manufacture of materials at the nanoscale. Typically less than 100 nanometers. At this scale,
surface area and nano mechanical effects become important in describing properties of matter.
By controlling atoms and molecules, companies can develop nanomaterials no more than 100
nanometers thick and apply these materials to industries like healthcare, sports, and electronics.

Slide 4:
The associated research and applications are very diversed, ranging from extensions of
conventional device physics to completely new approaches based upon molecular
self-assembly. Scientists currently debate the future implications of nanotechnology.
Nanotechnology may be able to create many new materials and devices with a vast range of
applications, such as in nanomedicine, chemical sensors, coatings and batteries.
In this presentation, i will be focusing on the application of nanotech in the field of battery and
discuss why do companies like Tesla use this technology in their battery design.

Slide 5:
First of all, allow me to introduce the chemical and electrical functioning of a battery. A battery is
an energy storage device, it stores energy as chemical energy and can be turned into electrical
energy when needed.

Slide 6:
As the chemical reaction occurring inside the battery, the electron is been pushed from the
negative side of the battery to the positive side of the battery, thus, creating electrical current.

Slide 7:
I do want to emphasize that current direction and electron direction are different from each
other. In conventional expression, direction of current is from positive to negative. As for
electrons, they flow from negative to positive.

Slide 8;
Inside the battery, we have a container, made out of steel that contains cell’s ingredients. A
cathode, which is the positive side, in lithium ion battery, its cathode is usually made out of
lithium cobalt oxide. We have an anode, which is the negative side, usually made out of graphite
or powdered zinc metal. We also have a separator: a non-woven, fibrous fabric that separates
the electrodes. To connect the anode cathode, we have electrolyte, a chemical solution that
moves ion within the cell.

Slide 9:
When a device is connected to a battery, chemical reactions occur on the electrodes that create
a flow of electrical energy to the device3. Specifically, during a discharge of electricity, the anode
releases electrons and ions to the negative terminal in the electrolyte separately, through an
oxidation reaction. Simultaneously, the cathode at the positive terminal accepts electrons,
completing the circuit for the flow of electrons, the electrons obtained in the cathode will be
combined with ions due to reduction reaction. This process transforms stored chemical energy
into useful electrical energy.

Slide 10:
For lithium battery, the anode reaction is oxidation reaction, it releases electrons. The reaction is
C6Li to graphite plus Li and one electron. However, this reaction may vary depends on the
design of different formulas. And for cathode, again, typically it’s lithium cobalt oxide plus lithium
ion, electron and reduces to lithium cobalt oxide solid.

Slide 11:
During the discharge state, the lithium-ion settling in the anode region will move to the cathode
region through the electrolyte, and the electron flows to the cathode region and creates
electrical current that powers the vehicle.

Slide 12:
Once the lithium ions are fully depleted from the anode, we can observe that cathode region are
filled with solid lithium, there are no more lithium-ions in the anode region, thus, anode can no
longer releases electrons to the cathode side.

Slide 13:
Therefore, we need to charge our battery, provide an external energy so that the lithium solid
can reverse back to lithium-ions and settle in the anode region to be consumed again. On the
other hand, we can improve the battery capacity by increasing the amount of lithium-ion present
in the anode.

Slide 14:
Now we know how battery works, we will go further on how nanotech improves the performance
of the battery. First is the cathode nanomaterials. In the cathode region, nanomaterials can
increase the surface area of the cathode, which means in a certain size a battery, the battery
equipped with nanotech can have more lithium solid to settle in, therefore a larger battery
capacity. It enhances ion transport rates, and improve electrode reaction kinetics, thereby
boosting battery energy and power densities. Common nanomaterials include oxide
nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanoplates.

Slide 15:
In anode region, nanomaterials designed for the anode can increase lithium storage capacity
and conductivity, mitigate volume expansion issues in high-capacity anode materials like silicon,
and enhance battery cycling stability and safety. As we’ve learned earlier, the lithium-ion will
move from anode to cathode, therefore, more lithium-ions that settle in the anode, larger the
battery capacity will be.

Slide 16:
Nanomaterials can be employed to improve electrolyte ion conductivity and stability.
Nanostructured materials with enhanced ion diffusion pathways and adsorption capabilities can
be utilized. Nanomaterial additives can enhance separator mechanical strength and thermal
stability. By controlling nanostructures, permeability, and selectivity of the separator, ion
transport efficiency can be improved.

Slide 17/18:
One of the current nanomaterial in research is graphene. Graphene is an allotrope of carbon
that consists of a single layer of atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. It’s a two-dimensional
form of crystalline carbon, either a single layer of carbon atoms forming a honeycomb
(hexagonal) lattice or several coupled layers of this honeycomb structure.

Slide 19:
Graphene, due to its unique properties, is being explored as a game-changer in the battery
industry1. Here’s how it could improve the performance of batteries:
1. High Electrical and Thermal Conductivity: Graphene has excellent electrical and thermal
conductivity, superior to copper, one of the most commonly used conductive metals23.
This means it can move electricity or heat with high efficiency, making it a promising
choice for batteries2.
2. Lightweight and Strong: Graphene is incredibly strong, flexible, and lightweight. These
properties make it an ideal material for use in batteries.
3. Supercapacitors: The ideal use of graphene in a battery is as a “supercapacitor”.
Supercapacitors store current just like a traditional battery but can charge and discharge
incredibly quickly

However, it’s important to note that while graphene has many promising properties, there are
still challenges to overcome, particularly in terms of mass production and cost12. But research
is ongoing, and we may see more widespread use of graphene in batteries in the future

That’s it for today’s session, thank you for listening, bye.