Researchers at the University of Cambridge have just identified a new set of materials that can be used to make higher power batteries. They have found that lithium ions can penetrate the complex microstructure of tantalum tungsten oxide materials at speeds far beyond typical electrode materials. , which means it can achieve faster charging speeds. In short, this discovery may become the key to building the next generation of lithium-ion batteries. They are expected to complete charging in minutes (rather than hours), and will not Dangerous overheating.
Study Figure-1: Nb
16W
5O
55And Nb
18W
16O
93Crystal structure / particle morphology
Lithium-ion batteries have been used continuously and widely since the 1990s. Unfortunately, their energy density has increased by only 3-4% per year – far below the expectations of electric vehicles and consumer electronics manufacturers.
More importantly, these improvements usually come from the optimization of the packaging material, not the electrode itself. This strategy can hardly make up for another inherent disadvantage of battery technology - the charging speed is slow.
In order to increase the charging rate, it is necessary to speed up the flow of charged lithium ions from the positive electrode to the negative electrode. Scientists have been trying to achieve this by establishing special nano-structures inside the electrodes:
This is designed to reduce the distance traveled by lithium ions, but your particles are tricky and expensive to use, and they also create unwanted chemical reactions that shorten battery life.
Study Figure-2: Electrochemical properties of two materials
In the latest findings from Cambridge, researchers used different approaches:
It chose a larger particle with a rigid, open-column structure. This structure allows lithium ions to move unhindered in large quantities, increasing their throughput by several levels.
New electrode materials can also be a safer alternative:
The negative electrode in most lithium-ion batteries is made of graphite. In high-speed charging, dendrites, especially the microstructure of lithium fibers, are formed.
Dendrites can cause short circuits or even fires in batteries, but Cambridge's new electrode materials don't.
Study Figure 9: Expectations of bulk and bronze ternary tungsten oxides, and electrochemical comparison with binary cerium oxides.
Professor Clare Grey, a senior research author, said:
In fast-fill applications, security is a place that needs more attention. This kind of potential new material is definitely worth seeing because we need a safer alternative to graphite.
In addition, nano-factors require multiple steps to be manufactured, resulting in extremely low yields and scalability issues.
In contrast, tantalum tungsten oxide is simpler to manufacture and does not require additional chemicals or solvents. Of course, we still have a lot of work to do before putting it into practice.
