Latest news with #NASICON
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Solid-state revolution: 100x power battery tech may soon run at room temp
As conventional lithium-ion batteries near their performance limits, scientists are exploring alternative technologies that promise higher energy density, faster charging, and greater sustainability. Traditional lithium-ion batteries, while foundational to modern electronics and electric vehicles, face limitations such as safety concerns, limited energy storage capacity, and reliance on scarce materials. Solid-state batteries, which replace the liquid electrolyte with a solid one, offer a promising solution—enabling the use of cheaper, more sustainable materials that could boost energy density by up to 40%. However, they present their own set of challenges as performance hinge on solid electrolytes that can maintain stable contact with solid anodes. When voids or contact losses appear at the interface, the battery can fail entirely. Researchers at the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) are addressing this challenge by developing a novel solid electrolyte based on sodium super ionic conductors (NASICON) to make solid-state batteries more powerful and suitable for everyday use. This novel solid electrolyte offer high ionic conductivity at room temperature and are more sustainable solution conventional lithium-ion batteries. They are chemically stable when paired with potassium In fact, these liquid anodes are already showing energy performance 100 times greater than graphite, but they currently require 250°C to function. 'In a study, we were able to show that a liquid alkali metal anode is a hundred times more powerful than conventional graphite anodes,' Gustav Graeber, battery material expert at Humboldt University in Berlin and guest researcher at BAM, said in a release. 'However, this technology can currently only be used at 250 degrees Celsius. Our goal is to transfer its advantages to room temperature.' This is significant because potassium is being tested as an additive to lower the melting point of liquid alkali metal anodes, making it possible to harness their exceptional performance without requiring extreme heat. However, most conventional solid electrolytes break down when exposed to potassium, posing a challenge for researchers. NASICON material is currently stabilized with hafnium, a rare and expensive element. BAM's research team, led by guest scientist Gustav Graeber, is now searching for alternative dopants that are just as effective but more sustainable and widely available. If successful, their work could help scale up sodium-based solid-state batteries that are safer, cheaper, and far more efficient, paving the way for a new class of energy storage systems for mobile devices, electric vehicles, and the grid. The most promising candidates are being tested directly in sodium batteries. 'Our research project is a decisive step toward high-performance batteries that are more sustainable, cheaper, and more efficient,' says Graeber. 'Sodium solid-state batteries could drastically reduce charging times and significantly improve the performance of mobile and stationary energy storage systems—an important contribution to decarbonization.'
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists uncover unexpected use for EV battery parts in major tech breakthrough: 'This could open the door to a new class'
Rice University battery researchers are at it again when it comes to harvesting precious metals needed for lithium-ion cells. This time, they are repurposing a state-of-the-art pack component — the solid-state electrolyte — to extract lithium, according to a Rice news release. Success could alleviate reliance on foreign supply chains and invasive mining, helping lower costs for packs and the tech they power. When batteries operate, ions move between two electrodes through the electrolyte. Solid-state cells, which have a hard electrolyte instead of a liquid one, are potentially lighter, safer, and charge faster than the more common latter. But experts have struggled to develop an affordable manufacturing process for them, according to Top Speed. Companies, including Mercedes-Benz, are investing in recycling efforts to reclaim some of the parts inside as part of the solution. "The challenge is not just about increasing lithium production but about doing so in a way that is both sustainable and economically viable," corresponding study author Professor Menachem Elimelech said in the Rice report. His team is using the solid-state electrolyte as a membrane in aqueous lithium extraction with "near perfect" results. There are a variety of solid electrolytes from which to choose. Rice researchers are using a sodium super ionic conductor, or NASICON, according to Science Advances. The substance is designed to promote high ion conductivity. As an extractor, it tested well at separating lithium and water in "aqueous mixtures." Using an electric field to drive lithium ions across the solid electrolyte membrane effectively collected only the wanted particles. This, in part, is due to the electrolyte's tight crystalline lattice composition, which prevents water and other larger molecules from being collected. The selective feature is a huge win for the process. "The lattice acts as a molecular sieve," Elimelech said. There is going to be a growing need for lithium, according to Sustainability by Numbers. Analysts there estimated we will need tens of millions of tons to power the clean energy transition by 2040. But that's still far short of the 16.5 billion tons of fossil fuels mined annually. The good news is that battery prices are already expected to drop by next year, thanks to better tech, lower component prices, and increased recycling. Goldman Sachs predicted nearly half-price packs by 2026. If you were going to buy an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Good driving range Low sticker price High-tech features Cheap maintenance Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. That's important for continued EV adoption, a key part of globally reducing planet-warming tailpipe gases. Medical experts have linked the fumes to a wide range of health risks, including brain diseases. Each EV that replaces a fuel-burner prevents thousands of pounds of exhaust each year, per the U.S. Department of Energy. And it's still a good time to switch, due in large part to $7,500 in tax breaks that remain available for certain models. That's on top of the roughly $1,500 you can save annually in fuel/maintenance expenses. At Rice, the team thinks its electrolyte innovation can help backfill what it calls an expected lithium shortage as battery demand grows. Experts expect the technique to be applicable for harvesting other useful substances, as well. "This could significantly lower the environmental footprint of lithium production while making the process more efficient," Elimelech said. "This could open the door to a new class of membrane materials for resource recovery." Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
