Reverse aging in lithium batteries – China’s precision therapy to extend EV cell life
The new technique, which involves injecting a lithium-ion carrier molecule into old batteries, has been found to extend their life beyond 12,000 discharge cycles.
Chinese researchers have come up a new ‘precision therapy’ for old lithium-ion batteries to restore them to near factory-fresh condition. Developed by a team at Fudan University in Shanghai, the method could extend battery life beyond 12,000 discharge cycles.
This could have huge implications across several sectors, including electric vehicles (EVs), smartphones and energy-storage facilities. Such technology would prove revolutionary for batteries typically lasting between 1,000 and 1,500 cycles (around six to eight years of use).
The new technology relies on a lithium carrier molecule, which can be injected into old batteries to replenish lost lithium ions. Likened to precision surgery in human beings, this new method could extend battery life and offer important benefits for reducing battery waste and environmental pollution.
Regenerative ‘surgery’ for lithium batteries
Gao Yue from Fudan University explained,
Just like treating a human illness, we focused on repairing the battery’s core issue while preserving its healthy components,
Gao, said:
This carrier molecule can be ‘injected’ into deteriorating batteries to precisely replenish lost lithium ions, providing a ‘precision treatment’,
He added,
The structure of this molecule is quite simple, with lithium electrons at one end and the rest of it acting like a vehicle that transports lithium electrons into the aging battery. The vehicle component is eventually discharged as gas,
The paper, published in the journal Nature, explained that a lithium-ion battery consists of a cathode, anode, and active lithium ions in between. The study noted that a typical battery is retired when it loses too many ions.
Gao, noted:
Our approach is to retain the cathode and anode, which are still functional while addressing the problematic part.
“We aimed to develop a transformative functional material that provides precise lithium-ion replenishment to significantly extend a battery’s life span,”
According to the team behind the technology, designing the carrier molecule was a significant challenge. With no existing examples, researchers had to use their imagination and artificial intelligence (AI).
Finding the right carrier molecule
The team noted that any candidate molecule had to meet a complex set of requirements to work. These include dissolving well in the battery’s existing electrolyte and participating in reactions without damaging the battery.
It had to also be highly compatible with various active materials and electrolytes. To this end, the team used machine learning to identify potential candidates by digitizing molecular properties and utilizing extensive organic chemistry, electrochemistry, and materials engineering datasets.
The result, CF3SO2Li, emerged as an ideal solution for the problem. It is relatively cheap, easy to make, and compatible with most mainstream batteries today.
After rigorous testing, the team found that batteries exposed to this new molecule retained near-production performance even after 12,000 to 60,000 charge-discharge cycles. This significantly improved industry standards from the current range of 500 and 2,000 cycles.
Gao, said:
The new solution not only delays battery retirement but also slashes resource waste and pollution,
“Whether extending the battery lifespan or preventing large-scale waste and environmental pollution, this ‘precision treatment’ offers a viable technical solution,” read a statement by Fudan University.
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