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Researchers have utilized an ingenious chemical technique to address a significant hurdle confronting future power cells. Their discovery sets the stage for advanced electric vehicle (EV) batteries, enabling travel of 500 miles (800 kilometers) on a solitary, 12-minute power-up.
Lithium-metal batteries are distinct from typical lithium-ion batteries because the graphite anode is substituted for lithium metal. These configurations present considerably greater energy density, as stated by the researchers.
For those who drive EVs, this indicates batteries that replenish power more rapidly and travel farther. However, scientists have struggled to construct functional lithium-metal batteries owing to “dendrites” — a crystalline, branching matter that develops on the anode during recharging, diminishing battery capability over time. This effect intensifies during swift charging and elevates the likelihood of the battery experiencing a short circuit.
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However, in a recent study, documented on Sept. 3 in the periodical Nature Energy, scientists have discovered a technique to halt dendrite propagation.
The key resides in a novel variety of liquid electrolyte. The “cohesion-inhibiting” liquid electrolyte impedes dendrite development, enhancing the rapid-charging attributes of the batteries and amplifying their service life to beyond 185,000 miles (300,000 km), according to the researchers.
Both lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries integrate a liquid electrolyte, which facilitates the conveyance of lithium ions between the cathode and anode during battery charging and discharging. The distinction, as previously indicated, between the two battery forms is that lithium metal substitutes the graphite in a lithium-ion battery.
Within battery science, energy density alludes to the quantity of energy a battery can hold relative to its mass or capacity — a pivotal determinant in the distance an electric vehicle can traverse on a single charge.
The investigation group deduced that the fundamental rationale for dendrite emergence was the “uneven interfacial cohesion on the lithium metal’s surface,” as communicated by the researchers. In essence, they recognized that lithium ions do not deposit uniformly across the anode during charging, yielding vulnerable areas where dendrites can commence formation.
To resolve this issue, they engineered a liquid electrolyte that is chemically configured to bolster a more consistent ion deposition across the anode surface — aiding in the prevention of their aggregation into dendrites.
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During laboratory assessments, the battery charged from 5% to 70% in a span of 12 minutes and retained that pace over 350 cycles. A variant with amplified capacity attained 80% charge in 17 minutes across 180 charging cycles, as stated by the scientists.
“This investigation has evolved into a crucial cornerstone for surmounting the technological quandaries of lithium-metal batteries by comprehending the interfacial configuration,” voiced study co-author Hee Tak Kim, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), in the announcement.
“It has conquered the principal impediment to the introduction of lithium-metal batteries for electric vehicles.”
Owen Hughes
Owen Hughes functions as a freelance author and editor concentrating on data and digital technologies. Having previously served as a senior editor at ZDNET, Owen has been involved in tech journalism for exceeding ten years. Throughout this period, he has addressed a broad spectrum of subjects ranging from AI, cybersecurity, and supercomputers, to programming languages and IT within the public sector. Owen displays a pronounced fascination with the convergence of technology, life, and professional activities – during his past assignments at ZDNET and TechRepublic, he extensively documented business leadership, digital progress, and the shifting landscape of remote employment.
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