Lithium-ion battery life can be extended with new cathode coating

Despite numerous attempts to find an adequate alternative for existing lithium-ion batteries, they still dominate the battery market.

Therefore, some scientists are engaged in their direct modernization to increase the existing characteristics.

A research team from Argonne National Laboratory in collaboration with scientists from the University of Hong Kong and technologies have developed a completely new cathode coating, which significantly improves performance lithium-ion batteries.

What is the problem with lithium-ion batteries

As you know, lithium-ion batteries have a number of significant disadvantages. And one of the key disadvantages is the fact that an excessive amount of oxygen can be released at the cathode, which reacts with the electrolyte.

As a result, a film forms around the cathode, which reduces energy flow and thereby significantly reduces battery performance.

Now, in order to neutralize this negative factor in most batteries, the cathode is covered with a special coating. But such a coating inevitably reduces the passage of lithium ions, thereby reducing the overall efficiency of the battery.

And since the applied coating still does not completely cover the cathode, in places where it is not there, degradation processes still take place.

Proposed solution

So, in order to neutralize this drawback, it was proposed to use a different coating for the cathode. And a polymer called PEDOT.

Experiments have shown that this polymer perfectly protected the cathode and at the same time practically did not interfere with the passage of lithium ions.

And since this polymer is formed from a gas through the use of oxidative-chemical deposition, it completely covers the cathode and thus leaves no vulnerable spots on it.

Thanks to the new coating, it was possible to increase the operating voltage of the lithium-ion battery from 4.2 V to 4.6 V. And, according to the researchers, this will lower the final cost of the battery packs and increase the life of the batteries themselves.

When the modified lithium-ion batteries will go on sale is not reported. But given that the technology for producing a new coated cathode is not that complicated, things are likely to happen very quickly.

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