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Sustainable innovation can accelerate the development of more durable, lighter and more energy-dense batteries
Researchers from Washington State University have discovered an unusual way to improve the performance of lithium-sulfur batteries. By using corn protein in a battery component, the team was able to significantly increase its durability and efficiency.
The innovation could help expand the use of these batteries in electric vehicles, renewable energy storage and other applications.
Lighter and more ecological
Lithium-sulfur batteries are seen as promising because they can store more energy with less weight. This means that, in practice, vehicles Electric cars could use smaller, lighter batteries. Plus, these batteries are more environmentally friendly. They use sulfur at the cathode, a cheap, abundant and non-toxic material.
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Lithium-ion batteries, which are common today, use metal oxides and heavy metals, such as cobalt and nickel, which are toxic and expensive. Therefore, the use of sulfur represents a cleaner and more sustainable option.
Problems that hinder use
Despite their advantages, lithium-sulfur batteries face technical challenges. One of them is the so-called “back-and-forth effect,” which occurs when sulfur escapes into the liquid part of the battery and ends up migrating to the lithium side. This process reduces the battery’s lifespan.
Another problem is “dendrites,” metallic spikes that form on the lithium side. They can cause short circuits and compromise the safety of the device. Because of these two factors, the commercial use of these batteries is still limited.
The corn protein solution
To address these issues, scientists developed a protective barrier in the battery separator, made from corn protein combined with a common plastic. This barrier helped prevent both the back-and-forth effect and the formation of dendrites.
The tests were carried out on button-type batteries. According to the study, they were able to maintain their charge for more than 500 cycles, representing a significant improvement over versions without corn protein.
"Corn protein is a good material for batteries because it is natural, abundant and sustainable”, explained Jin Liu, a professor in the university’s School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and an author of the paper.
How it works in practice
Proteins are made up of amino acids, which interact with the battery's internal materials. These interactions help the movement of lithium ions and reduce the back-and-forth effect. However, the protein has a naturally folded structure, which can hinder its performance.
To solve this, the researchers added a small amount of flexible plastic. This helped to “open up” the protein structure, improving the separator’s efficiency.
“The first thing we need to think about is how to open up the protein, so we can use these interactions and manipulate it,” Liu said.
Next steps in research
The study was published in Journal of Power Sources and was led by graduate students Ying Guo, Pedaballi Sireesha, and Chenxu Wang. The researchers also conducted experiments and simulations to test the effectiveness of the new solution.
Now, they want to delve deeper into how exactly the protein interacts with the battery. The goal is to find out which amino acids are most efficient and how the structure can be optimized.
“A protein is a very complex structure,” said Katie Zhong, a professor at the school and a co-author of the study. “We need to run more simulations to identify which parts of the protein work best to deal with the back-and-forth effect and the dendrites.”
The team also plans to partner with companies to test larger batteries and develop methods for scale-up production. If successful, the corn application could become part of the future of cleaner, more durable batteries.
