Ball Milling Modification of Titanite Powders for Enhancing the Thermal Stability of Polypropylene Separators for Lithium-Ion Batteries

This study presents the synthesis and ball-milling modification of titanite (CaTiSiO5) powders to enhance the thermal stability and performance of polypropylene (PP) separators for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). CaTiSiO5 was synthesized using a ceramic route, and the experimental design varied the milling cycles and sphere sizes. Characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infra-red spectroscopy, surface area analysis, thermal analysis, and electrochemical tests, confirmed the production of high-purity monoclinic CaTiSiO5. Ball milling effectively reduced the particle and crystallite sizes while increasing the specific surface area, total pore volume, double-layer capacitance, and ionic conductivity, while also reducing the cell resistance. Coating PP separators with the modified CaTiSiO5 significantly improved their thermal stability and enhanced their electrochemical properties, including the electron transfer rate and Coulombic efficiency. These findings demonstrate the potential of ball-milled CaTiSiO5 as a valuable material for developing safer and more efficient LIBs.