Power Electronics / Power Management


Research towards limitless Li-ion battery lifetime

15 June 2016 Power Electronics / Power Management Electronics Technology

Researchers from the University of California, Irvine, have invented nanowire-based battery material that can be recharged hundreds of thousands of times – a breakthrough that could lead to commercial batteries with greatly lengthened lifespans for computers, smartphones, appliances, cars and spacecraft.

Scientists have long sought to use nanowires in batteries. Thousands of times thinner than a human hair, they’re highly conductive and feature a large surface area for the storage and transfer of electrons. However, these filaments are extremely fragile and don’t hold up well to repeated discharging and recharging, or cycling. In a typical lithium-ion battery, they expand and grow brittle, which leads to cracking.

The researchers solved this problem by coating a gold nanowire in a manganese dioxide shell and encasing the assembly in an electrolyte made of a Plexiglas-like gel. The combination is reliable and resistant to failure. The study leader, UCI doctoral candidate Mya Le Thai, cycled the testing electrode up to 200 000 times over three months without detecting any loss of capacity or power, and without fracturing any nanowires.

This was a marriage of hard work and serendipity, according to senior author, Reginald Penner. “Mya was playing around, and she coated this whole thing with a very thin gel layer and started to cycle it,” said Penner, chair of UCI’s chemistry department. “She discovered that just by using this gel, she could cycle it hundreds of thousands of times without losing any capacity. That was crazy, because these things typically die in dramatic fashion after 5000 or 6000 or 7000 cycles at most.”

The researchers think the goo plasticises the metal oxide in the battery and gives it flexibility, preventing cracking. “The coated electrode holds its shape much better, making it a more reliable option,” Thai said. “This research proves that a nanowire-based battery electrode can have a long lifetime and that we can make these kinds of batteries a reality.”





Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Powering Innovation eBook: Changing what’s possible
Power Electronics / Power Management
This exclusive read, entitled ‘Changing what’s Possible,’ delves into how power dense Vicor modules enable many world-changing innovations across various sectors.

Read more...
16-channel multicell battery monitor
Altron Arrow Power Electronics / Power Management
The ADBMS6830B is a multicell battery stack monitor that measures up to 16 series-connected battery cells with a lifetime total measurement error of less than 2 mV.

Read more...
Reliable redundancy with the Mibbo M3DN Series
Conical Technologies Power Electronics / Power Management
Designed for use with two parallel-connected power supplies, the M3DN Series allows for true redundancy, making it ideal for mission-critical applications.

Read more...
Automotive power-over-coax inductor
RS South Africa Power Electronics / Power Management
TDK has launched the ADL8030VA, a high-performance inductor designed specifically for power-over-coaxial applications.

Read more...
Rugged PSU for challenging conditions
Conical Technologies Power Electronics / Power Management
Built for rugged reliability, the Mibbo MFC Series delivers stable, efficient power in environments where moisture, dust, and temperature extremes are everyday challenges.

Read more...
Enhance SiC device efficiency using merged-pin Schottky diodes
NuVision Electronics Editor's Choice Power Electronics / Power Management
Silicon carbide (SiC) has advantages over silicon (Si) that make it particularly suitable for Schottky diodes in applications such as fast battery chargers, photovoltaic (PV) battery converters, and traction inverters.

Read more...
15 W power module with wide input range
Brabek Power Electronics / Power Management
RECOM’s miniature power modules provide 15 W output and operate over a wide input range of 18-264 V AC or 18-375 V DC.

Read more...
Industrial-grade DIN rail PSU
Conical Technologies Power Electronics / Power Management
The Mibbo MTR960W is a reliable and cost-effective PSU option that delivers a solid 960 W of output power at 24?or 48 V DC.

Read more...
Energy harvesting and Matter for smarter homes
RF Design Power Electronics / Power Management
Qorvo’s collaboration with e-peas on the Matter Enabled Light Switch marks another significant step in advancing Matter adoption across the IoT industry.

Read more...
3-terminal filters for automotive applications
RS South Africa Power Electronics / Power Management
TDK has expanded its YFF series of 3-terminal filters for automotive applications to include higher voltages up to 35 V and higher capacitances up to 4,7 µF.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved