Professor Kyu-Younger Park of the Institute of Ferrous & Eco Supplies Know-how, Division of Supplies Science & Engineering, POSTECH led a analysis staff that collaborated with Samsung SDI, Northwestern College, and Chung-Ang College to develop expertise that may considerably improve the lifespan and power density of electrical automobile (EV) batteries. The research was lately printed in ACS Nano.
A battery utilized in electrical automobiles should proceed functioning even after being charged and drained quite a few instances. Nevertheless, the prevailing expertise has a big drawback: the battery’s constructive energetic parts always broaden and contract throughout the charging and discharging course of, resulting in small cracks contained in the battery.
The battery’s efficiency considerably declines with time. Researchers try to cease this by strengthening the cathode energetic supplies or including reinforcing dopants, however these strategies aren’t but viable.
The important thing to this discovery is the ‘nano-spring coating’ method, which might create elastic constructions. The researchers utilized a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) on the floor of battery electrode supplies.
This absorbed pressure power is created throughout the charging and discharging processes, stopping cracks and limiting electrode thickness variations, therefore enhancing stability. The staff efficiently and successfully managed cracks throughout the battery, extending its lifespan and enhancing efficiency.
This strategy reduces resistance brought on by quantity variations within the materials utilizing solely a small quantity (0.5wt%, weight share) of conductive materials. It will probably obtain a excessive power density of 570 Wh/kg or greater. It additionally has a excessive longevity, with 78% of the preliminary battery capability remaining after 1,000 cost and discharge cycles or extra.
This system, specifically, could also be simply built-in into present battery manufacturing processes, permitting for speedy scale manufacturing and commercialization. This development is more likely to surpass present restrictions in battery expertise, paving the best way for extra environment friendly and long-lasting EV batteries, which might help design superior electrical automobiles.
With a distinct strategy from present ones, this analysis successfully managed modifications that would happen to a battery throughout the charging and discharging course of. This expertise will be extensively used not solely within the secondary battery trade but additionally in numerous industries the place materials sturdiness is vital.
Kyu-Younger Park, Professor, Pohang College of Science and Know-how
This analysis was funded by Samsung SDI, the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, and Vitality, and the Ministry of Science and Info Know-how’s primary analysis fund.
Journal Reference:
Lim, J.-H. et. al. (2025) Enhancing Mechanical Resilience in Li-Ion Battery Cathodes with Nanoscale Elastic Framework Coatings. ACS Nano. doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.4c14980