United States. A team of researchers from the University of California, Riverside, has made significant progress in solving the dendritic problem over 40 years of age.
Lithium-ion batteries made of metal create dendrites uncontrollably during charge cycles. Dendrites are microscopic fibers that look like tree shoots and can degrade battery performance and also present a safety issue because they can short-circuit the battery and in some cases catch fire.
The team found that by coating the battery with an organic compound called methyl cellogene the battery's performance can be stabilized. They could eliminate dendrite growth and increase battery life by more than three times compared to the current standard electrolyte used with lithium metal anodes.
"This has the potential to change the future," said Chao Wang, an assistant professor of chemistry at UC Riverside, who is the paper's lead author. "It's low-cost, easily manipulated and compatible with today's lithium-ion battery industry."
The researchers designed a new strategy to form a stable coating to improve the lifespan of lithium-metal anodes. They used methyl cello, which has been used in other applications due to its ability to change color when reduced.
The methyl viologene molecule used by the researchers can dissolve in electrolytes in charged states. Once the molecules encounter the lithium metal, they are immediately reduced to form a stable coating on top of the metal electrode.
By adding only 0.5% of viologen in the electrolyte, the cycle life can already be improved by three times. In addition, methyl viologene has a very low cost and can be easily scaled.
Data Source Provider: University of California, Riverside.
