Bendable Solid Electrolyte Could Usher in Next-Generation Lithium Batteries

• Published in: Chemical engineering progress Vol. 113; no. 6; p. 8
• Format: Magazine Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York American Institute of Chemical Engineers 01.06.2017
• Subjects: Alignment; Batteries; Battery cycles; Ceramics; Chemical engineering; Conductivity; Discharge; Electrolytes; Fabrication; Flammability; Flexibility; Formability; Freezing; Liquid nitrogen; Lithium; Lithium batteries; Molten salt electrolytes; Nanoparticles; Polymers; Researchers; Solid electrolytes
• ISSN: 0360-7275; 1945-0710

A new solid electrolyte that combines the high conductivity of ceramic with the flexibility of polymers could be a feasible alternative to the highly flammable liquid electrolytes used in lithium batteries today. Solid-state electrolytes are the subject of intense research because of the potential dangers of liquid-electrolyte-based lithium batteries; Samsung's struggles with the exploding Note 7 over the past year illustrate the issue. But developing a feasible solid electrolyte is difficult. The researchers used low-cost production to make their prototype. Haowei Zhai a doctoral and engineering at Columbia University says that slightly pricier fabrication methods, such as using liquid nitrogen in the freezing process, should improve the structure's vertical alignment and thus the electrolyte's conductivity. The research team will also need to test their new electrolyte in a battery in cycling charge-discharge experiments.