New research has discovered that the bipolar principle used in fuel cells can now be applied to lithium batteries. Currently, more than 50 per cent of the volume of batteries is occupied by housing and contacting structures. This means cells are unable to be packed densely. But this new discovery means that cells can be stacked one above the other over a big area.
Project manager Dr Mareike Wolter of the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems in Dresden explained that this new approach could see the range of electric cars increase in the medium term to 1,000km, New Electronics reports.
This new bipolar battery can be built directly into the chassis of a vehicle and the researchers say it can eliminate the housing and contacting structure. The current flows over the surface of the battery via direct connection of the cells in the stack, “considerably” reducing electrical resistance.
As for the bipolar electrode, this is a metallic tape that’s been coated with ceramic storage materials so that one side is the anode and the other the cathode. Dr Wolter was quoted as saying: “We have used our expertise in ceramic technologies to design the electrodes in such a way that they need as little space as possible, save a lot of energy, are easy to manufacture and have a long life.”
Similarly, ElectriPlast – involved in the development and commercialisation of electrical conductive hybrid plastics – is working on providing bipolar plates for the lead acid battery market. Such plates allow for greater energy density of the battery, which means more energy storage in a smaller size and weight battery package.
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