Stanford University Claims Lithium Battery Breakthrough

Posted by at 12:33 pm on July 28, 2014

Stanford-university-logoScientists at Stanford University believe they have solved one of the major issues facing lithium battery technology.

The researchers contend a pure lithium battery is best. “Of all the materials that one might use in an anode, lithium has the greatest potential. Some call it the Holy Grail,” said Stanford Professor Yi Cui. “It is very lightweight and it has the highest energy density. You get more power per volume and weight, leading to lighter, smaller batteries with more power.”

The problem, however, is that lithium anodes form dendritic and mossy metal deposits that can cause batteries to crack, lose ions, and possibly ignite fires. In order to solve this problem, the researchers coated the lithium anode with a monolayer of interconnected amorphous hollow carbon nanospheres.

The researchers say this helps isolate the lithium metal depositions and stabilizes the battery entirely. “The ideal protective layer for a lithium metal anode needs to be chemically stable to protect against the chemical reactions with the electrolyte and mechanically strong to withstand the expansion of the lithium during charge,” said Cui.

The solution could apply to lithium batteries used in smartphones, tablets, laptops, and even cars, vastly extending battery life.

Leave a Reply

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Sign up to receive breaking news
as well as receive other site updates

Enter your Email


Preview | Powered by FeedBlitz

Log in

Copyright © 2008 - 2024 · StreetCorner Media , LLC· All Rights Reserved ·