Scientists say that a breakthrough in lithium-ion batteries using small silicon particles and gel polymers could lead to electric cars capable of traveling over 1000 km (over 600 miles) on a charge.
range-anxiety, or the fear of how long a battery will last in a vehicle, has been cited by drivers as one of their main concerns about switching to electric cars.
Researchers around the world are working to improve battery performance in electric vehicles (EVs) by experimenting with new electrode designs.
Due to its high capacity to store charge, researchers have tried to use silicon in lithium-ion battery systems for electric vehicles.
This has been a problem because silicon expands more than three-fold during charging and shrinks back to its original dimensions when discharging. This severely damages the structural integrity and efficiency of batteries.
The use of large particles of silicon as an electrode is limited by the expansion problem.
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Scientists in South Korea have developed a high-energy lithium-ion system of “next generation” that utilizes gel polymer electrodes and tiny silicon particles.
The gel electrolyte in the battery facilitates the movement of particles between the anode (positive terminal) and cathode (negative terminal).
Gel electrolytes have a polymer elastic structure and are more stable than liquid electrolytes.
Researchers found chemical connections between the gel and tiny silicon particles which disperse internal stress due to volume expansion in the battery.
Scientists wrote that the intertwined systems displayed excellent properties. They were able to reduce volumetric expansion and deliver high ionic conductivity.
According to the study, the “cost-effective gel electrolyte” system had a conductivity that was similar to liquid electrolytes used in conventional batteries. It also showed a 40 percent improvement in energy density.
“We used micro-silicon as anodes, and yet we have a battery that is stable.” This research is bringing us closer to real lithium-ion batteries with high energy density,” said Soojin park, study co-author.
Researchers say that the findings highlight the potential for this new method to increase energy density in future batteries.
The researchers say that the research could revolutionise energy-storage systems, and help EVs reach a range of up to 1,000 km. Currently, EVs can travel 700 km with a single recharge.