A group of researchers from the Andlinger Energy and Environmental Center has developed a new type of solid-state battery, which can significantly exceed lithium-ion batteries by energy density and efficiency. Their breakthrough is a non -fed solid -state battery that eliminates one of the main restrictions on traditional batteries and can make a revolution in energy storage.
Modern lithium-ion batteries use a liquid electrolyte that provides an ionic flow between the cathode and the anode. Solid -state batteries, as the name implies, uses a solid electrolyte, which makes them more compact, safe and durable. Key advantages of solid -state batteries: higher energy density - they can provide a larger supply of energy per unit of volume, a longer service life - less degradation of materials in the process. Safety - the absence of flammable liquid electrolytes reduces the risk of fire. A wider temperature range - they can function effectively in both cold and hot conditions.
The greatest innovation offered by researchers is the elimination of the anode. In traditional batteries, the anode is a key component where ions accumulate when charging. In a non -fed battery, ions are directly settled on the current, forming a thin layer of metal. It has several advantages: less weight and size - removing the anode makes the battery more compact, cheaper production - no need to use expensive materials for the anode. Improved energy efficiency - less obstacles to the movement of ions. One of the biggest obstacles to the introduction of solid state batteries is to ensure stable contact between the solid electrolyte and the current. If the contact is too weak or too strong, it can cause the battery to fail. Researchers have found that the nano -cover between the electrolyte and the current can improve the transfer of ions and ensure a uniform precipitation of the metal. The tests have shown that silver and carbon nanoparticles are best suited. The most effective results were achieved when using 50-nanometer silver particles, which allowed to create uniform metal structures. Despite significant progress, researchers recognize that you still need to solve several technical problems before such batteries will become commercially available. Production processes should be adapted for mass release, and contact between materials should be improved for stable work in real conditions. "The task is to move from research to real use in just a few years," said Professor Kelsi Gatzel.
If scientists succeed, we can get a new generation of batteries that will allow electric vehicles to travel more than 800 km on one charge, and mobile devices work several times longer without recharging.
