In a significant stride toward the future of electric vehicles (EVs), a research team led by Jennifer Rupp at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Technical University of Munich has pioneered a groundbreaking approach to develop smaller, lighter, more powerful, and safer electric vehicle batteries. Published in the journal Angewandte Chemie, their innovative synthetic process utilizes solid-state cells with metallic lithium anodes instead of traditional graphite, presenting a promising solution to the challenges posed by conventional lithium-ion batteries.
The U.S. Department of Energy's targets for transitioning from gasoline-powered vehicles to EVs face obstacles due to the limitations of existing lithium-ion batteries, such as restricted storage capacity and high production costs. The new process, based on a liquid precursor compound rather than a ceramic one, opens avenues for overcoming these challenges, potentially leading to a new era of cost-efficient, high-performance rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
Supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation through the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure Network, the research team focused on characterizing the lithium oxide crystallization process. The introduction of a thin ceramic layer serves as both a solid electrolyte and separator in these batteries, offering increased safety by countering issues like short circuits caused by lithium dendrite growth and thermal runaway. Notably, the absence of liquid organic electrolytes and easily ignited liquids distinguishes these solid-state batteries from their conventional counterparts.
This groundbreaking development marks a crucial step towards realizing solid-state batteries, opening doors for EVs to achieve enhanced power, extended range, and competitive costs, propelling us closer to a sustainable and efficient electric transportation future.
Source: new.nsf.gov