Researchers think they have made a breakthrough in energy storage. According to a new study, a battery that can operate a phone without charging it for 5 days, can take an electric vehicle for more than 1000 kilometers without charging. According to the research, what will make this progress is that lithium sulphide batteries will be used instead of lithium ion batteries used from iPhones to pacemakers. Theoretically, it was known that lithium sulfur batteries could store 5 times more energy than lithium ion batteries, but so far it has not been practical for commercial use. The biggest issue with lithium sulfur batteries was the instability of the cathode. The size of the cathode varied by 78 percent per charge cycle. Therefore, the battery could wear out quickly and could not be recharged repeatedly. Researchers at Monash University in Australia managed to control expansion and contraction without significant wear using a highly flexible cathode. Researchers think they are making the world’s most efficient lithium sulfur battery. The leader of the team conducting the research Mahdokht Shaibani says new radical energy storage technologies are needed to combat climate change. Shaibani underlines that lithium sulphide batteries are made from cheap materials that are available worldwide, as well as to store more energy. Another researcher, Matthew Hill, thinks that new lithium sulfur batteries can play a leading role in reducing environmentally hazardous waste. Shaibani notes that the battery will be used for commercial purposes within 2 to 4 years and the patent for the manufacturing process is approved. While prototypes are being produced in Germany, tests for solar systems and vehicles will be held in Australia this year. Shaibani argues that solar energy will be stored more easily, an electric vehicle will go further, but most importantly, the battery will become safer, simpler and more ethical. The researcher predicts that the new lithium sulfur batteries will outperform the current lithium ion batteries at high competitive price points. You may also like.
