A different kind of lithium sulphur battery has been developed by researchers at Penn State University that could potentially be more efficient, safer and less expensive than the ones we currently use.
A flexible hybrid solid-electrolyte interphase layer was examined, one that is deposited by organosulfides and organopolysulfides with inorganic lithium salts. It was found that the organic sulphur compounds were able to serve as plasticisers to improve the mechanical flexibility and toughness of the interphase layer.
This layer then allows the lithium to deposit but without growing any dendrites, which are a little like needles and can potentially cause hazardous short circuiting. Lithium metal does boast exceptional charge storage capacity but there is a high risk of dendrite formation.
Sulphur, meanwhile, is a good choice of compound because it’s cheap and gives the battery with a high charge capacity, as well as higher energy density. So lithium sulphur batteries will have more energy.
Associate professor of mechanical engineering with the university Donghai Wang said: “We demonstrated this method in a coin battery. But, I think it could eventually become big enough for cell phones, drones and even bigger for electric vehicles.”
This comes after scientists from the US Army Research Laboratory and the University of Maryland developed a lithium-ion battery that doesn’t have the same risks of fire or explosion that some of the current ones do.
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