Researchers’ Solid-State Battery Milestone Reaches New HeightsUniversity of Maryland researchers studying solid-state battery design have introduced a new chemistry that could power electric vehicles (EV) with higher energy and safety. Work led by Chunsheng Wang, a professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, revealed results that outperformed previous battery designs in cell energy, cycle life in room-temperature and low-pressure environments, a milestone that was published yesterday in the journal Nature Materials. The team tailored the properties of the key battery component, the solid electrolyte, to enable operation under practical conditions through a strategy called “electrophile reduction.” The goal was to enhance the electrochemical stability of solid electrolytes and suppress lithium dendrite growth, prominent barriers in solid-state battery commercialization that often causes cell short circuit and battery failure. “This solution is both unique and groundbreaking,” said Wang. “It simultaneously stabilizes the high-voltage cathode and lithium metal anode, achieving globally leading performance. At the same time, it is highly efficient and practical, requiring neither advanced machinery nor complex processes for current battery manufacturing. With no scalability challenges, it can be rapidly commercialized for markets.” As many as 3 million registered EVs in the U.S. run on lithium-ion batteries, while the range anxiety and the flammability of liquid electrolytes slow wider consumer adoption. On the other hand, solid-state lithium metal batteries, with the mechanical robustness and non-flammability of solid electrolytes, are considered safer while offering higher energy densities compared to their lithium-ion counterparts. However, no single electrolyte for solid-state batteries has met all the necessary properties needed. Current solid electrolytes have a narrow electrochemical stability window. And lithium dendrites, a needle-like structure that can penetrate the electrolytes, are a critical issue that can only be mitigated by using high temperature and high pressure, making it undesirable for industry applications. Digging for a solution, Weiran Zhang, a postdoctoral research associate in Wang’s lab, investigated the interface in batteries and the mechanism behind lithium dendrite and sought a way to enhance the electrochemical stability of the solid electrolytes to suppress the dendrites. This is very challenging in solid electrolyte materials as they have limited composition formulas. They discovered that a family of electrophile gain electrons and cations from solid electrolytes upon contact, being electrochemically reduced to a dense and electron-blocking inorganic lithium-flourine rich layer on material surfaces. This significantly suppresses the lithium dendrite growth, enabling high-performance solid-state lithium metal batteries to operate at practical temperature and pressure. “This discovery in interphase chemistry enhances the electrochemical stability of solid electrolytes and is adaptable to a wide range of battery materials, including cathodes and anodes,” Zhang explained. “We see it as a seamless integration of organic chemistry with inorganic materials, offering versatile solutions for advanced energy systems.” This achievement sets a new benchmark in the field that could bring solid-state batteries closer to widespread commercial adoption. Moving forward, the researchers aim to patent their invention and found a start-up venture to commercialize it.
January 21, 2025 Prev |
