boost for lithium battery performance

October 22, 2008

The capacity of lithium-ion batteries may have received a significant boost as a result of research in Korea.

Researchers located at Korea’s Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) and Sungkyunkwan University have reported that the thermal nitridation of lithium titanate used to modify the structure of material in order to introduce a thin conducive film can increase capacity by as much as 600 per cent at a high charge current density compared to pristine LTO material.

A number of battery makers are already using lithium titanate as an anode material thanks to its improved thermal stability. This results in an improved fast-charge and safety characteristics. The likes of EnerDel, Toshiba and AltairNano are already benefiting from this system.

Now it is hoped that this latest battery capacity boost could allow for further progression in the development of future lithium-ion battery technology.