Lithium metal batteries have become the cornerstone for future power systems due to their high energy storage capacity. Now, Chinese scientists have developed a new battery system that could enable lithium cells to operate safely for thousands of hours, an advance that could lead to better batteries for electric vehicles and power grids.
However, the current liquid electrolytes in these cells pose several risks, including leakage and combustion, and the growth of lithium metal inside batteries into needle-like or branch-like structures during charging (called dendrites), can compromise battery safety and performance.
Emerging studies suggest new types of electrolytes, called deep eutectic gel electrolytes (DEGEs), can help overcome these issues due to their high charge conduction capacity and inherent thermal stability.
Source: MSN: Read The Article
PSR Analysis: The fact that these electrolytes can improve the life span and thermal stability of batteries is a big step in making lithium batteries more useful and safer, and that’s a big plus given all the myths and fake news about batteries catching fire. Yes, if a lithium battery (using an NMC cathode) is pierced it can lead to thermal runaway. However, the chances of this happening are less than the chances of a gasoline-powered car catching fire. PSR
Guy Youngs is Forecast and Technology Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research
