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Researchers have developed a revolutionary lithium-ion battery with a single crystal electrode, offering superior durability with more than 20.000 charge and discharge cycles.
A new generation of lithium-ion batteries could transform the electric vehicle market in the coming years. Developed with a single crystal electrode, this innovative technology supports more than 20.000 charge and discharge cycles, maintaining 80% of the original capacity.
For an electric vehicle, this could mean achieving incredible 8 million kilometers before needing replacement.
The study behind the record
Researchers from Dalhousie University, in Canada, conducted extensive testing for six years to evaluate battery performance.
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Using a synchrotron ultra bright provided by Canadian Light Source (CLS), they analyzed the behavior of the battery in scale microscopic without having to disassemble it.
The results showed that, even after years of use, the single-crystal battery maintained practically the same state as a new cell.
According to Toby Bond, senior scientist at CLS, the technology is a major breakthrough: “We can see how the material behaves at the atomic level. The single-crystal electrode battery showed no significant cracks or degradation, which is an impressive milestone."
Journal of the Electrochemical Society (2024). DOI: 10.1149/1945-7111/ad88a8
The comparison
The main difference between a conventional electrode and a single crystal electrode is the structure of the material. In a conventional battery, the electrode is made up of tiny particles that resemble compacted snowflakes.
Under constant stress, these particles develop cracks, leading to pulverization of the material and loss of efficiency.
In the single crystal electrode, the structure is similar to an ice cube, offering greater resistance to expansion and contraction caused by lithium ions. This feature is crucial to prevent premature wear and ensure battery longevity.
Impact on the electric vehicle market
Currently, standards require electric vehicle batteries to maintain 80% of their capacity after eight years of use.
However, this new technology promises to last much longer than the vehicle itself. This opens up possibilities for reusing these batteries in renewable energy storage systems, such as wind and solar power plants, after their useful life has ended. EVs.
"We need vehicles to last as long as possible. The more they are used, the greater the reduction in their carbon footprint.”, emphasized Bond.
A sustainable and commercially viable future?
The research, funded by Tesla Canada and by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), shows that the technology is close to becoming a reality in the market.
Single crystal batteries are already being fabricated commercially and should be available in the coming years.
The study was published in Journal of the Electrochemical Society, highlighting the potential impact of this innovation on the sustainability and efficiency of electric transport.
Revolution in transport and energy
With the advancement of these batteries, electric vehicles may finally be able to overcome historic challenges in durability and performance.
Furthermore, reusing batteries after the vehicles’ life cycle contributes to the circular economy, reducing waste and promoting greater adoption of clean energy sources.
This technology could be the missing milestone to consolidate electric vehicles as protagonists of a more sustainable future.
For now, electric cars, whether from China or Tesla, are still a joke for those who want to use them for traveling. They are only good for taking your kids to school and going to church on Sundays. In addition to being very expensive, they are useless for long distances.