Researchers at McGill University have made a significant advancement in the development of all-solid-state lithium batteries, a crucial step in the evolution of electric vehicle (EV) battery technology. This innovation could pave the way for safer, longer-lasting EVs by addressing a long-standing issue with battery performance. The findings are published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science.
Overcoming a Key Barrier
The resistance problem is at the interface of ceramic electrolyte with electrodes. This ultimately weakens the battery itself and drops its energy reserve capabilities. These data show that a porous ceramic membrane could be used to overcome this issue, by eliminating the traditional dense plate and filling the sponge with polymer at very low percentages.
“With the use of a polymer-filled porous membrane, we can provide free pathways to Li-ions and mitigate the solid electrolyte interfacial resistance with our electrodes,” said George Demopoulos, who led the research and is not only a Professor in the Department of Materials Engineering but also one of his authors. This will not only enhance the battery’s performance, but also make it that much more robust and capable of moving in step with industry expectations for operation at high voltage.
Making EVs Safer and More Efficient
Traditional lithium-ion batteries use liquid electrolytes, which are flammable and potentially unsafe. According to the blog, all-solid-state batteries are an attempt at overcoming safety and efficiency concerns by eliminating liquid components in favor of solids. That new design is a unique one, and according to Bao, it could help solve one of the biggest obstacles blocking all-solid-state batteries from being mainstreamed in EVs.
Phatamines Safer and More Efficient Batteries for Tomorrow’s Electric Cars “We Hope that this Growing Portfolio of New Storage Technologies the Potential to Revolutionize how We Store Energy Solutions — Our Data Suggestthat Development Findings at Rice University, Said,” The First Author Sen Hao Wang, a Ph. Ph. D in the Department of Materials Engineering
Advancing Battery Technology
This advance by the researchers may have broad ramifications for electric vehicles going forward. This opens up for safer and more efficient all-solid-state batteries with more energy, improved cycle life, as well as theoretical estimates of three to six times the energy density of lithium-ion batteries.
The innovation in battery tech is a key component to global auto electrification, which is the primary driver of greenhouse gas reductions and one of the most significant tools in combating climate change. As the world turns towards a sustainable future, these kind of innovations developed by the McGill University researchers could prove to be instrumental in defining the future generation of electric transportation.
