New type of electrolyte for lithium batteries: 1000 charge and discharge cycles without attenuation

2024-01-12

Due to its high energy density, long service life, and small size, lithium batteries have been widely used in the fields of electronic products and electric vehicles. Nowadays, the use of lithium metal anodes has become one of the most promising technologies to replace traditional lithium batteries.

According to foreign media reports, a new study published by scientists from the Georgia Institute of Technology in the journal Nature shows that they have developed a rubber electrolyte that makes lithium metal batteries more durable and safe.

Compared to the lithium dendrites formed during traditional lithium-ion reduction in lithium-ion batteries, solid-state electrolytes are one of the key technologies for the safe operation of lithium-metal batteries, which can effectively suppress the occurrence of lithium dendrites.

However, the mechanical and electrochemical properties of solid electrolytes currently cannot meet the practical requirements of lithium metal batteries. The rubber electrolyte developed by researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology effectively addresses these two challenges.

Researchers say that this rubber material electrolyte, due to its elasticity, can not only suppress the generation of protrusions inside the battery, but also maintain a smooth connection with the electrode. This can maintain high conductivity and prevent the occurrence of lithium dendrites.

Secondly, in order to make the rubber material conductive, researchers embedded a conductive plastic crystal called succinonitrile and fixed it through a three-dimensional interconnect structure, giving the electrolyte shape and stability.

In the test, lithium metal batteries made with new electrolytes were able to operate at room temperature at a voltage of 4.5 V, without producing lithium dendrites after 100 cycles of charging and discharging, and with almost no capacity degradation after 1000 cycles of charging and discharging.

Researchers indicate that there is still room for further improvement in the material. Currently, the research team is researching methods to improve cycle time and ion conductivity. By increasing the specific energy and energy density of these batteries, the driving range of electric vehicles can be increased while ensuring safety.

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