The new battery technology is expected to improve the performance and lifespan of electric vehicles and other electronic devices.
Researchers at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) and Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) have developed the world’s first electrode design for a high-performance lithium-ion battery.
The battery could, in the future, significantly improve the performance and stability of batteries used in electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles (EVs).
To achieve this, the researchers used an electrode (anode) structure that enhances the reliability and performance of traditional lithium-ion batteries. The anode is designed with grooves allowing small materials with improved ion conductivity and electrical conductivity to be placed between high-capacity materials.
The innovative design is able to maintain high performance and reliability even when the electrode of the lithium-ion battery is thick.
Electrode (anode) with a grooved, patterned bilayer structure / KIMM
Image credit: Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM)
The majority of lithium-ion battery electrodes are manufactured by coating and drying a mixture of solids and liquids that chemically react to generate electricity, known as a slurry.
The uniformity of the slurry determines the performance of a battery. Therefore, the thicker the electrode, the lower the energy density and uniformity, making it difficult to maintain performance in a high-power environment.
However, with the anode structure, stability and high energy density can be maintained throughout the electrode, even if the electrode is thick. This is particularly helpful in improving the performance and lifespan of batteries.
Looking forward, the team said it plans to continue to make efforts to apply this new technology to electric vehicles and soft robots that require high energy density in high-power environments, as well as to electronic devices such as commercial smartphones and laptops.
The results of their research achievement were published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.
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