Scientists Overcome Key Barrier to Safer, More Efficient EV Batteries

By McGill University October 6, 2024

Collected at: https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-overcome-key-barrier-to-safer-more-efficient-ev-batteries/

Researchers at McGill University have discovered a method to enhance the performance of all-solid-state lithium batteries.

Researchers at McGill University have made a major breakthrough in advancing all-solid-state lithium batteries, a promising next-generation technology for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

By addressing a long-standing issue with battery performance, this innovation could pave the way for safer, longer-lasting EVs.

The challenge lies in the resistance that occurs where the ceramic electrolyte meets the electrodes. This makes the battery less efficient and reduces how much energy it can deliver. The research team has discovered that creating a porous ceramic membrane, instead of the traditional dense plate, and filling it with a small amount of polymer can resolve this issue.

Improved Battery Performance and Stability

“By using a polymer-filled porous membrane, we can allow lithium ions to move freely and eliminate the interfacial resistance between the solid electrolyte and the electrodes,” said George Demopoulos, Professor in the Department of Materials Engineering, who led the research.

“This not only improves the battery’s performance but also creates a stable interface for high-voltage operation, one of the industry’s key goals.”

Current lithium-ion batteries rely on liquid electrolytes, which pose safety risks due to their flammability. All-solid-state batteries aim to replace liquid components with solid ones to improve safety and efficiency. This new design offers a novel way to overcome one of the key barriers to making all-solid-state batteries a reality for the EV industry.

“This discovery brings us closer to building the next generation of safer and more efficient batteries for electric vehicles,” said first author on the study and PhD graduate in the Department of Materials Engineering Senhao Wang.

Reference: “4.8-V all-solid-state garnet-based lithium-metal batteries with stable interface” by Senhao Wang, Stéphanie Bessette, Raynald Gauvin and George P. Demopoulos, 18 September 2024, Cell Reports Physical Science.
DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2024.102213