By redesigning the structure of a key component, a team of Chinese researchers has developed extremely fast charging technology that allows a lithium-ion battery to reach 60% capacity in minutes.
Optimize the internal structure of the anode
Published in the journal Science Advancestheir work focused on improving the anode of batteries lithium-ion (which constitutes the positive terminal), opening the way to a substantial increase in their storage capacity and their recharging speed.
If it had previously been shown that replacing the graphite and copper with pure lithium, or incorporating experimental nanospheres were promising solutions, researchers at theuniversity of science and technology of china have developed a new porous architecture strewn with graphite particles of different sizes.
The idea was to remedy the unordered nature of current anodes, which have many cavities making them unsuitable for fast charging.
The spatial distribution of the graphite particles, as well as the porosity of the electrodes, was optimized using different theoretical models, and nanowires and a copper coating were added to improve the performance of the anode. When the latter was heated and then cooled, the graphite suspension compressed, forming a much more ordered material.
Significantly reduced charging time
The experimental anode was then attached to a lithium-classic battery in order to be able to assess its impact on charging time. The team found that the modified cell recharged to 60% in just 6 minutes (compared to less than 40% for the control device, incorporating a conventional anode) and reached 80% charge in just over 11 minutes.
Described as a ” extremely fast charging lithium-ion battery This new technology is, according to its creators, a promising springboard towards much more practical electric vehicles.