Researchers create safe, long-lasting, high-temp battery

In recent years, batteries have become ubiquitous in consumers’ daily lives. However, existing commercial battery technologies, which use liquid electrolytes and carbonaceous anodes, have drawbacks such as safety concerns, a limited lifespan and inadequate power density, particularly at high temperatures.

There is an increasing need for batteries that can operate in extreme conditions, such as the high temperatures required in various industrial sectors, including thermal reactors and subsurface exploration. This has prompted researchers to search for solid electrolytes that are safe and compatible with lithium metal anodes, which are known for their high theoretical specific power capacity.

Now, a team of researchers from the University of Hong Kong has developed a new generation of lithium metal batteries. Their innovation uses microcrack-free polymer electrolytes, which extend the lifespan of the batteries while enhancing safety at elevated temperatures.

The microcrack-free polymer electrolytes developed by Professor Dong-Myeong Shin and his team of researchers are synthesised via a straightforward one-step click reaction, exhibiting notable attributes including resistance to dendrite growth and non-flammability, demonstrating a high electrochemical stability window up to 5 V and an ionic conductivity of 3.1 x 10−5 S cm⁻¹ at high temperatures.

These enhancements are attributed to tethered borate anions within the microcrack-free membranes, which facilitate accelerated selective transport of Li+ ions and suppress dendrite formation. These anionic network polymer membranes enable lithium metal batteries to function as safe, long-cycling energy storage devices at high temperatures, maintaining 92.7% capacity retention and averaging 99.867% coulombic efficiency over 450 cycles at 100°C.

This development could pave the way for future advancements in anionic polymer electrolyte design for next-generation lithium batteries.

“Apart from applications in high-temperature scenarios, the microcrack-free electrolyte membranes also have the potential to enable fast charging due to low overpotential. This capability could allow electric vehicles to recharge in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee, marking a significant advancement towards a clean energy future,” Shin said.

The research findings have been published in the journal Advanced Science.

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