Key Takeaways
1. Researchers from KAIST and LG Energy Solution have developed lithium-metal batteries that can enable electric vehicles to travel 800 kilometers (500 miles) after just 12 minutes of charging.
2. The breakthrough addresses safety and performance issues caused by dendrite formation during charging, which has limited the use of lithium-metal batteries.
3. Dendrites are tree-like formations on battery anodes that can lead to reduced performance and safety risks, including short-circuits.
4. The team created a new liquid electrolyte that inhibits dendrite growth by promoting even lithium deposition on the anode.
5. Laboratory tests showed the new battery could charge from 5% to 70% in 12 minutes over 350 cycles, with energy densities reaching up to 386 Wh per kilogram.
Researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) along with LG Energy Solution have made a significant advancement. This development could enable electric vehicles to cover 800 kilometers (or 500 miles) after just 12 minutes of charging.
Major Achievement in Battery Technology
The study, which was featured in the journal Nature Energy, highlights a breakthrough in lithium-metal batteries that addresses a crucial safety and performance concern that has been hindering the progress of this technology. Lithium-metal batteries can deliver a much greater energy density when compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries, as they rely on pure lithium metal instead of a graphite anode. Yet, lithium-ion batteries remain the standard today due to the tendency of lithium-metal batteries to form dendrites.
Understanding Dendrites and Their Impacts
Dendrites are sharp, tree-like formations of lithium that can develop on the anodes of lithium batteries during the charging process. Their presence not only reduces performance but can also lead to short-circuits, posing a safety risk. To tackle this issue, the research team carefully examined how dendrites formed and created an innovative strategy to stop their growth. They found that the formation of dendrites was sparked by “non-uniform interfacial cohesion on the surface of the lithium metal.” As a solution, they invented a “cohesion-inhibiting new liquid electrolyte” that features an anion structure with a low binding affinity for lithium ions. This method allows lithium to be deposited evenly across the anode, which helps to minimize dendrite growth even during fast charging.
Impressive Results in Testing
In laboratory tests, the new battery was able to charge from 5% to 70% in just 12 minutes over more than 350 cycles. Additionally, the team created models of high-density designs that achieved energy densities up to 386 Wh per kilogram, capable of charging from 10% to 80% in 17 minutes.
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