UNIST representatives stand behind the latest findings in this regard (Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology) and Kerr (Korea Energy Research Institute). They believe that with the progress they have made, they are on their way to a breakthrough in highly efficient energy storage.
Read also: Electric cars charge faster than smartphones. This could be the nail in the coffin for classic cars
The result of their efforts are guidelines for the design of electrodes and cells in these batteries. Those with solid electrolytes are very different from classic lithium-ion variants. They are an attractive alternative, which is why engineers around the world are trying to make the most of them.
In addition to the general principles of designing individual components, South Korean engineers also used their own rules to create pioneering devices. This showed that their findings are not just theoretical, but can be implemented in practice.
Solid electrolyte batteries with increased energy density could extend the driving range of electric vehicles.
An increase in battery energy density, for example, means an increase in the driving range of electric cars on a single charge. This is one of the most important factors determining the usefulness of these vehicles. Let’s add to this the issue of increased safety and fast charging. In such circumstances, one can imagine the overthrow of lithium-ion variants.
Although the latter is very popular, it has its limitations. What’s more, lithium – while it works well in battery production – has limited resources, and its exploitation is harmful to the environment. Solid electrolytes are non-flammable, so the risk of fire is greatly reduced. However, just a few weeks ago, there was a lot of news about a lithium-ion battery fire that paralyzed a US highway.
Read also: Twisting like a tornado, they leave batteries behind. These structures can store vast amounts of energy.
The lack of real progress to date in increasing the energy density of solid electrolyte variants is partly due to the lack of consistent design principles. Scientists from South Korea have taken up the challenge of changing this situation. They have developed specific rules that will enable the full potential of solid electrolyte batteries to be exploited.
In its miniaturized form, the device achieved an energy density of 310 Wh/kg, much better than that of commercial lithium-ion batteries. These typically reach around 250 Wh/kg. The research team even released a toolkit known as Solid X CellAnyone interested can use it and gain knowledge in the field of designing efficient batteries using solid electrolyte.
