A recently discovered set of materials could enable rapid battery charging, improve the likelihood of a smartphone fully charging in minutes, and accelerate adoption of major clean technologies such as electric cars and solar power.
Part of the speed at which a battery can be charged depends on how quickly the positively charged particles, called lithium ions, move towards the negative electrode, where they are then stored. One of the factors limiting our ability to make "super" batteries with quick charging is the speed at which lithium ions move in ceramic media.
One possible solution is to shrink each material by using nanoparticles. But nanoparticles are expensive and complex to make. So scientists have been looking for alternative materials to get around the problem.
To measure the movement of lithium ions in these unusual media, the researchers used techniques similar to those found in MRI scanners. They found that lithium ions move hundreds of times faster in these materials than traditional ceramic electrode materials.
Another advantage of these alternative materials is that they are cheap and easy to make. "" these oxides are easy to make and do not require additional chemicals or solvents," "Griffith said.
Optimized batteries could revolutionize the two green technologies of electric vehicles and solar grid storage.
Clare Grey, who led the research, said the next step was to optimize the material's use throughout the battery, which could be recycled for the time and mileage required for electric vehicles. "For example, electric buses can be charged quickly at stations," adds Clare.
