...longer lasting lithium battery life alongside battery recycling efforts only mean that over time, there would be less lithium being used for each EV produced.
....in addition to future deployment of sodium-ion battery in cheaper model EVs, you start seeing less and less lithium being used for every EV produced.
.....so higher demand for EVs do not translate into higher demand for lithium over time, as we are now set to believe. You could possibly have a situation where a 50% growth in demand only sees as 20% growth in demand for lithium. As demand growth for lithium declines over time despite increasing EV growth, amidst increasing supply, lithium price could stagnate indefinitely at just about a tad higher than average global production cost.
....the big ASSUMPTION the lithium fraternity had been making is that its demand can only go exponentially higher as mass adoption of EV takes place. Wouldn't that be one giant blindside if EV growth continues strength to strength but instead at the very expense of lithium price and growth. 750% longer lithium battery life achieved with water-based breakthrough
They stabilized lithium growth and boosted the lifespan of next-gen lithium batteries with eco-friendly hollow nanofiber layers. Updated: Dec 13, 2024 06:05 AM EST Jijo Malayil
9 days ago
Korean researchers have extended lithium metal anodes’ lifespan by 750 percent using water, marking a major breakthrough in battery technologies.
The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) team’s next-generation anode material aims at overcoming the performance limitations of commercial batteries.
Researchers created an innovative membrane with hollow channels that direct ion flow for consistent lithium plating. The eco-friendly design uses hollow nanofiber layers to enhance lithium stability and extend the lifespan of next-generation lithium metal batteries.
“By leveraging both physical and chemical protective functions, we were able to guide reversible reactions between lithium metal and the electrolyte more effectively and suppress dendrite growth, resulting in lithium metal anodes with unprecedented lifespan characteristics,” said Professor Il-Doo Kim, part of KAIST’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, in a statement.
Eco-friendly batteries
Rechargeable batteries have advanced, but their energy storage capacity remains limited. Metallic lithium (Li) anodes offer high specific capacity (3860 mAh g−1 for Li metal batteries, 1670 mAh g−1 for Li–S batteries) and low electrochemical potential (−3.040 V vs standard hydrogen electrode), surpassing conventional systems.
However, Li anodes face challenges like dendrite growth and dead Li formation, leading to poor efficiency, volume changes, and safety risks. These issues arise from interfacial reactions between Li and organic electrolytes, forming unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layers.
According to researchers, ideal SEI layers should prevent failures by stabilizing chemical reactions and withstanding mechanical stresses during cycling. Artificial SEI layers, using materials like metal-organic frameworks and polymer films, offer solutions but involve high costs, complex processes, and limited functions.
Polymer-based alternatives often require multiple steps and additives. Eco-friendly approaches using biocompatible materials show promise but must address sustainability and disposal for widespread application.
In the new study, researchers developed a bifunctional artificial SEI membrane using a sustainable electrospinning process. Increased lifespan
The membrane combines lithium-ion-substituted carboxymethyl guar gum (CMGG-Li) and polyacrylamide (PAM), providing both mechanical and chemical stability to lithium metal anodes. CMGG and PAM, both biocompatible and water-processable, enable a completely green, water-based manufacturing process.
The membrane features unique hollow nanofibers that enhance lithium-ion transport, achieved solely by controlling interactions between CMGG-Li and PAM, without additives or high-temperature calcination.
According to researchers, the lithiophilic properties of CMGG-Li and the amide group in PAM contribute to stable SEI formation, ensuring effective lithium plating and dendrite prevention.
“The nanofiber protective layer effectively controlled reversible chemical reactions between the electrolyte and lithium ions. The hollow spaces within the fibers suppressed the random accumulation of lithium ions on the metal surface, stabilizing the interface between the lithium metal surface and the electrolyte,” said the team in a statement.
Lithium metal anodes with this protective layer showed a 750 percent lifespan improvement over conventional anodes. The battery maintained 93.3 percent capacity after 300 cycles, demonstrating exceptional performance.
Additionally, the natural protective layer fully decomposes in soil within a month, confirming its eco-friendly design from production to disposal.
“As the environmental burden caused by battery production and disposal becomes a pressing issue due to surging battery demand, this water-based manufacturing method with biodegradable properties will significantly contribute to the commercialization of next-generation eco-friendly batteries,” said Il-Doo Kim, in a statement.
