Cathode Contact Resistance: The Overlooked Lever Behind Single-Crystal NMC811 Longevity

Paper front cover: Improving cell longevity of high nickel single crystal NMC by reducing the contact resistance

Quick facts The prompt for this piece Prof Louis Piper (WMG/Warwick, Faraday Institution) posted a summary of this paper on LinkedIn, describing work from the Faraday Institution’s LEAP project led by Eleni Fiamegkou and Daniela Proprentner. His framing of the result is worth repeating directly, because it’s the thesis the underlying data set out to … Read more

Why Electrode Microstructure Architecture Determines Cell Performance

AION Engineering INC In lithium-ion batteries, electrode performance is governed not only by material chemistry but by the three-dimensional microstructure formed by particles, pores, binder, and conductive additives. Before production begins, this microstructure already defines how ions and electrons will move through the electrode. Once manufacturing starts, many of these structural characteristics can no longer … Read more

How Anode Porosity Changes at High Energy Densities

anode porosity versus energy density

AION Engineering INC Anode Electrode Porosity vs. Energy Density: The Turning Point in High-Energy Lithium-Ion Cells In lithium-ion cell design, one of the most critical relationships shaping performance is the link between anode porosity and energy density. As energy density increases, conventional design logic suggests reducing anode porosity to pack more active material into the … Read more

Cathode Coating Porosity and ASR

ASR and porosity

AION Engineering INC Why High Porosity Can Lower Resistance in Power Cells Introduction Area Specific Resistance (ASR) is one of the most important performance indicators in lithium ion cathodes. Engineers often assume that reducing porosity improves conductivity and therefore lowers ASR. This idea comes from the expectation that a denser structure provides better particle contact … Read more

Importance of Electrode Parameter Changes After Calendaring in Lithium-Ion Cell Production

AION Engineering INC Calendaring is a crucial step in lithium-ion battery manufacturing, where electrodes are compressed to reduce porosity and increase density. Optimizing this process directly impacts the performance, longevity, and efficiency of the final cell. Why Calendaring Matters The primary goals of calendaring are: Effectively, proper calendaring ensures a balance between mechanical stability, electrochemical … Read more