Major Advancement Enables Electric Vehicles to Travel 1,000 Kilometers on Single Charge
One of the primary concerns in the transition from petrol-based vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) revolves around the range issue – how far can an EV travel on a single charge? However, researchers are optimistic as they unveil a groundbreaking formulation that promises to expand the traditional design’s capabilities significantly, potentially pushing the average range of EVs beyond 1,000 kilometers (600 miles). The key ingredient? Silicon.
Unveiling Silicon’s Potential
Due to its widespread availability globally, Silicon has long been an intriguing element for integration into battery architectures. Yet, it comes with a significant drawback – its tendency to expand during charging, which engineers find challenging to manage effectively.
Traditionally, Silicon has been used in batteries as nanoparticles, offering numerous advantages but posing production complexities and higher costs. However, researchers from Pohang University of Science and Technology in South Korea have taken a novel approach by focusing on silicon particles on a larger scale – jumping from the nano to the micro level.
Overcoming Expansion Hurdles
By working with approximately 1,000 times larger silicon particles, the researchers have simplified the production process and achieved remarkable energy density. While expansion remains a primary concern at this scale, the team has developed innovative solutions to mitigate this issue.
They introduced a gel polymer electrolyte that can adapt to the charging process, allowing for the size changes of silicon particles. To ensure effective integration, the gel and microparticles underwent irradiation with an electron beam, creating covalent links that enhance stability and counteract expansion effects.
Promising Results and Future Prospects
The performance of these batteries proved stable, showcasing properties comparable to standard lithium-ion batteries while boasting an additional 40 percent improvement in energy density.
Professor Soojin Park expressed optimism: “We used a micro-silicon anode, yet we have a stable battery. This research brings us closer to a real high-energy-density lithium-ion battery system.”
The straightforward manufacturing process suggests that this approach is ripe for immediate application. However, the true test lies in implementing this technology into full-size battery systems, offering exciting prospects for the future of EVs.
Read the original article on Advanced Science.
Read more: Engineers Develop Ultra-Fast Charging Lithium Battery.
