Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular, but their range is limited by the battery technology available. Researchers at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory have developed a new lithium-air battery that could revolutionize electric vehicle technology.
The lithium-air battery consists of a lithium metal anode, air-based cathode, and solid ceramic polymer electrolyte (CPE). On discharge and charge, lithium ions (Li+) go from anode to cathode, then back. This new battery design could potentially power domestic airplanes and long-haul trucks, as well as electric cars.
The main new component in this lithium-air battery is a solid electrolyte instead of the usual liquid variety. Batteries with solid electrolytes are not subject to the safety issue with the liquid electrolytes used in lithium-ion and other battery types, which can overheat and catch fire. The solid electrolyte also enables a four-electron reaction at room temperature, which increases the energy density of the battery by up to four times that of lithium-ion batteries. This translates into longer driving range for electric vehicles.
The team employed many different techniques to establish that a four-electron reaction was actually taking place. One key technique was transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the discharge products on the cathode surface, which was carried out at Argonne’s Center for Nanoscale Materials, a DOE Office of Science user facility. The TEM images provided valuable insight into the four-electron discharge mechanism.
The team also built and operated a test cell for 1000 cycles, demonstrating its stability over repeated charge and discharge. With further development, the team expects their new design for the lithium-air battery to reach a record energy density of 1200 watt-hours per kilogram, nearly four times better than lithium-ion batteries.
This research was published in a recent issue of Science and was funded by the DOE Vehicle Technologies Office and the Office of Basic Energy Sciences through the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research. The potential applications of this new battery technology are exciting, and could revolutionize electric vehicle technology in the near future.
FAQ
Q1. How electric car batteries are recycled?
A1. Electric car batteries are recycled by breaking them down into their component parts and then separating the metals, plastics, and other materials for reuse. The process is similar to how other types of batteries are recycled.
Q2. What electric car has the longest range?
A2. The Tesla Model S has the longest range of any electric car currently on the market, with a range of up to 370 miles on a single charge.
Q3. What electric car charges the fastest?
A3. The Tesla Model 3 can charge up to 80% in just 30 minutes with a Tesla Supercharger, making it the fastest charging electric car currently available.
