A South Korean research team has achieved a breakthrough in battery technology, addressing a critical issue in lithium metal batteries. Short lifespans have long hampered these next-generation power sources, but a new nanoparticle electrolyte technique promises to change that.
On Friday, the National Research Foundation of Korea announced that a collaborative effort led by Jinwoo Lee and Namsun Choi from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Taekyung Lee from Gyeongsang National University has developed an innovative nanoparticle electrolyte technology. This advancement simultaneously enhances the performance and longevity of lithium metal batteries.
Lithium metal batteries have garnered significant attention in energy storage due to their potential for unparalleled energy density. By replacing the traditional graphite anode with pure lithium metal, these batteries can theoretically store more power in a smaller package.
However, the path to commercialization has seen challenges. In real-world applications, these batteries suffered from rapidly diminishing lifespans and were prone to corrosion under high-voltage conditions. Previous attempts to solve these issues relied on fluorine-based additives, which proved costly and environmentally problematic.
The research team’s novel approach introduces a non-fluorinated material—nano silicon nitride—into the electrolyte. This nanoparticle electrolyte serves a dual purpose: It stabilizes the movement of lithium ions and creates a uniform, thin protective layer within the battery, resulting in improved overall performance.
Moreover, the silicon nitride effectively mitigates the formation of hydrofluoric acid, a corrosive byproduct of electrolyte breakdown, thereby enhancing the battery’s durability.
In tests simulating real-world conditions, the new lithium metal batteries incorporating the nanoparticle electrolyte demonstrated remarkable resilience. They maintained high performance even when subjected to temperatures of 50°C (122°F) and 4.5 voltages – conditions that typically accelerate battery degradation.
Perhaps most impressively, the batteries retained 74% of their original capacity after 100 charge- discharge cycles, a strong indicator of their potential for commercial viability.
Jinwoo Lee noted, “This marks the first application of non-fluorinated nanoparticle additives in pouch-type batteries.” He continued, “We believe this development will play a crucial role in bringing lithium metal batteries to market.”
The team’s findings have been published in the prestigious journal Energy & Environmental Science, underscoring the significance of this advancement in energy storage technology.