Monash University researchers have developed a battery design that requires less lithium, has more energy per unit volume, lasts longer and is half the price of lithium-ion batteries.
The lithium-sulphur (Li-S) battery design features a nanoporous polymer-coated lithium foil anode that reduces the amount of lithium required in a single battery.
In their recent paper, “A Nanoporous Permselective Polymer Coating for Practical Low N/P Ratio Lithium Metal Batteries”, PhD student Declan McNamara, Professor Matthew Hill and Professor Mainak Majumder of Monash Engineering, with Dr Makhdokht Shaibani of RMIT University, outline how applying the nanoporous polymer directly onto the lithium foil anode has created an efficient battery design.
Li-S batteries are an emerging energy storage technology that utilise metallic lithium and sulphur to deliver more energy per gram than lithium-ion batteries. They are highly efficient, but finding, extracting and transporting lithium leaves a significant environmental footprint.
McNamara says the thin polymer coating on lithium improves the number of times a Li-S battery can be cycled.
“The polymer contains tiny holes less than a nanometre in size – one billionth of a metre – which allow lithium ions to move freely while blocking other chemicals that would attack the lithium,” he says.
“The coating also acts as a scaffold for lithium, and helps it charge and discharge repeatedly.
“Metallic lithium is a bit of a double-edged sword. Lithium is packed full of energy, but in a bad battery, this energy is wasted on side reactions.
“On the other hand, if the energy is channelled correctly, it can make some incredible energy storage devices that are easier to make. This coating is a step towards highly efficient, easily manufactured Li-S batteries.”
Professor Majumder says the new battery design does not require nickel or cobalt, and that widespread adoption of Li-S batteries and other lithium metal-based energy storage systems is an environmental win.
“Li-metal protection technologies will become crucial in our quest towards energy dense and sustainable batteries of the future,” he says.
“The study establishes a framework to protect Li-metal from rapid decay or catastrophic failure which has been an Achilles heel for Li-S batteries.”
Professor Hill says the new lithium technology will have a widespread impact on numerous industries.
“The market for electric vehicles, drones and electronic devices is on a steep growth pattern and this research is commercially ready for manufacturing to support that growth,” he says.
“Producing more economical and environmentally sensitive battery options in Australia would be a great use of this technology, and we look forward to working with commercial partners to develop and manufacture it.”
