POSTECH: By a single charge Electric Vehicles Reach Nearly 1,000 km Range , New Discovery with Game-Change Ingredient

Dew Briefs:

• 700km to 1000km by exploring silicon as an anode material
• The battery has significantly enhanced energy density and stability.
• This innovation addresses the expansion issues of silicon in batteries.
• It has the potential to increase the battery life and efficiency of electric vehicles.

Diver Insights :

• The 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) showcased groundbreaking developments in AI and healthcare, with a focus on battery technology.
• Battery technology is crucial for enabling greater power efficiency in innovations, particularly in electric vehicles (EVs).
• Current EVs can travel around 700km on a single charge, but researchers aim to achieve a battery range of 1,000km.
• Researchers are exploring the use of silicon as the anode material in lithium-ion batteries for EVs due to its high storage capacity.
• Professor Soojin Park, PhD candidate Minjun Je, and Dr. Hye Bin Son from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) have developed a next-generation Li-ion battery system using micro silicon particles and gel polymer electrolytes.
• Their work, published in the journal Advanced Science, offers a pocket-friendly and rock-solid high-energy-density battery solution.

The spotlight at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024 was dominated by the remarkable advancements in AI and healthcare, driven by futuristic technology. However, it is the revolutionary battery technology that lies at the core of these innovations, enabling enhanced power efficiency. Notably, the application of this technology is most prominent in electric vehicles (EVs). Presently, EVs can travel approximately 700km on a single charge, but researchers are striving for a battery range of 1,000km. To achieve this, researchers are actively exploring the utilization of silicon, renowned for its exceptional storage capacity, as the anode material in lithium-ion batteries for EVs. Nevertheless, despite its potential, the practical implementation of silicon remains a complex puzzle that researchers are diligently working to solve.

A team of experts consisting of Professor Soojin Park, PhD candidate Minjun Je, and Dr. Hye Bin Son from the Department of Chemistry at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) have successfully deciphered this puzzle. They have developed an affordable and robust next-generation Li-ion battery system with high energy density, employing micro silicon particles and gel polymer electrolytes. This groundbreaking achievement was recently published in the esteemed journal Advanced Science on the 17th of January.

Challenges in Silicon way:

• Silicon as a battery material faces challenges due to its expansion and contraction during charging and discharging, which affects battery efficiency.
• Nano-sized silicon partially addresses the expansion issue but the production process is complex and expensive.
• Micro-sized silicon is more cost-effective and has higher energy density compared to nano-sized silicon.
• However, the expansion issue becomes more pronounced with larger silicon particles, limiting its use as an anode material in batteries.

Researchers from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), including Professor Soojin Park, PhD candidate Minjun Je, and Dr. Hye Bin Son, have made a breakthrough in silicon-based battery technology. They have developed a cost-effective and high-energy-density Li-ion battery system using micro silicon particles and gel polymer electrolytes. This development has been published in the journal Advanced Science.

A Breakthrough Discovery for Extended Range

• The gel polymer electrolytes used in the development of the silicon-based battery system provided improved stability compared to traditional liquid electrolytes. This stability is crucial for the long-term performance and reliability of the battery.
• By forming covalent linkages between micro-silicon particles and the gel electrolytes, the battery’s performance was enhanced. This bonding allowed for better electron and ion transport within the battery, leading to improved overall efficiency.
• The battery demonstrated stable performance even when using larger micro-silicon particles. This is significant because larger particles typically have lower surface area, which can negatively impact battery performance. However, the gel electrolyte system was able to overcome this limitation and maintain stable operation.
• The ion conductivity of the silicon-gel electrolyte system was comparable to that of conventional batteries using liquid electrolytes. This is important because it ensures that the battery can efficiently transport ions, which is necessary for its proper functioning.
• The silicon-gel electrolyte system achieved a 40% improvement in energy density compared to conventional batteries. This increase in energy density allows for longer battery life and greater energy storage capacity, making it a promising advancement in battery technology.
• The manufacturing process for the silicon-gel electrolyte system is straightforward and ready for immediate application. This means that the technology can be easily scaled up for mass production, making it commercially viable.
• Overall, this research brings us closer to the development of a high-energy-density lithium-ion battery system. Such a system would have significant implications for various industries, including electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and portable electronics.

The 2024 CES highlighted AI, healthcare, and battery tech, particularly EVs. EVs currently have a 700km range, but researchers aim for 1,000km by exploring silicon as an anode material. POSTECH researchers developed a cost-effective, high-energy-density Li-ion battery system with micro silicon particles and gel polymer electrolytes.

With the assistance of the Independent Researcher Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea, Professor Soojin Park emphasized the utilization of a micro-silicon anode, resulting in the development of a reliable battery. This investigation signifies a significant step towards the realization of a genuine high-energy-density lithium-ion battery system.

The two main topics: innovations in gel polymer electrolytes and enhancing battery performance with micro silicon.

In terms of gel polymer electrolytes, the importance of these materials in improving the safety and performance of batteries. Gel polymer electrolytes offer several advantages over traditional liquid electrolytes, such as enhanced stability, reduced risk of leakage, and improved compatibility with different battery chemistries. The text also mentions the development of novel gel polymer electrolytes with higher ionic conductivity, which can further enhance battery performance.

The use of micro silicon in battery technology explains that silicon has a high theoretical capacity for storing lithium ions, making it a promising material for improving battery energy density. However, the expansion and contraction of silicon during charge and discharge cycles can lead to electrode degradation and reduced battery lifespan. To address this issue, researchers have explored the use of micro silicon, which has a smaller particle size and can better accommodate the volume changes. This approach has shown promising results in enhancing battery performance, including increased capacity and improved cycling stability.

Overall, the scientist emphasizes on the importance of innovations in gel polymer electrolytes and the potential of micro silicon in enhancing battery performance. These advancements contribute to the development of safer and more efficient batteries, which are crucial for various applications, including electric vehicles and renewable energy storage.