Recent advancements introduce a method that reduces the fluorine required in lithium metal batteries, enhancing their environmental friendliness, stability, and cost effectiveness.
Lithium metal batteries are a leading option for the next generation of high-energy batteries. They can hold at least twice the energy per unit volume compared to today’s widely used lithium-ion batteries.
However, lithium metal batteries have a major drawback: their liquid electrolyte needs a lot of fluorinated solvents and salts, which harms the environment. Without these fluorine additives, the batteries would be unstable. This means a short lifespan, and be at risk of short circuits, overheating, and catching fire.
Recent studies led by Maria Lukatskaya significantly cuts down the amount of fluorine needed in lithium metal batteries, making them more eco-friendly, stable, and affordable.
The new method uses electrostatic attraction. Electrically charged fluorinated molecules transport the fluorine to the protective layer, which is significant in maintaining the stableness of the battery performance.
A major benefit of this method is that it can be easily added to the current battery production process without extra costs for changing the setup. The batteries tested in the lab were the size of a coin. Next, the researchers plan to test the method’s scalability and apply it to pouch cells, like those in smartphones.
