The Elements of Innovation Discovered
The Elements of Innovation Discovered
Silver-carbon anode key to improved capacity, life and safety Metal Tech News Weekly Edition – March 18, 2020
Yuichi Aihara, principal engineer from Samsung R&D Institute Japan (left), Yong-Gun Lee, principal researcher (middle) and Dongmin Im, master from Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (right).
Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) and the Samsung R&D Institute Japan (SRJ) are working on high-performance, long-lasting all-solid-state batteries that are expected to significantly increase the range of electric vehicles.
A prototype pouch cell developed by the SAIT and SRJ teams would enable an EV to travel up to 500 miles (800 kilometers) on a single charge and features a cycle life of over 1,000 charges.
Compared to widely used lithium-ion batteries, which utilize liquid electrolytes, all-solid-state batteries support greater energy density, which opens the door for larger capacities, and utilize solid electrolytes, which are demonstrably safer.
"The product of this study could be a seed technology for safer, high-performance batteries of the future," said Dongmin Im, master at SAIT's Next Generation Battery Lab and the leader of the solid-state battery research project.
The lithium metal anodes commonly used in all-solid-state batteries, however, are prone to trigger the growth of dendrites, or crystalline growth that can protrude through the insulating layer in a cell. This can short circuit the battery, reducing its lifespan and potentially causing a fire.
Finding a way to eliminate the growth of dendrites has been a primary goal of researchers looking to increase the capacity and safety of the EV battery-of-choice.
To overcome those effects, Samsung's researchers have developed a silver-carbon composite that replaces the dendrite growing lithium-metal anode.
The team found that incorporating an ultrathin silver-carbon layer into the prototype pouch cell enabled the battery to support a larger capacity, a longer cycle life, and enhanced its overall safety.
With a thickness of just five micrometers, this nanocomposite layer allowed the team to reduce anode thickness. This allowed the pouch battery to pack more power into about half the volume of a conventional lithium-ion battery.
Samsung said this promising research coming out of SAIT and SRJ is expected to help drive the global expansion of EVs.
"Going forward, we will continue to develop and refine all-solid-state battery materials and manufacturing technologies to help take EV battery innovation to the next level," said Im.
The silver-carbon all-solid-state battery study has been presented to Nature Energy, one of the world's leading scientific journals.
With more than 16 years of covering mining, Shane is renowned for his insights and and in-depth analysis of mining, mineral exploration and technology metals.
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