Harvard SEAS researchers have engineered a groundbreaking solid-state battery with a 10-minute recharge time and the ability to undergo more than 6,000 charge and discharge cycles.
Creating Solid-State Battery that Charges in 10 Minutes
A groundbreaking solid-state battery has been created by researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). This can recharge in just 10 minutes and boasts the capability of being charged and discharged over 6,000 times.
Diverging from conventional graphite anodes, Electrek reported that the solid-state battery developed by Harvard incorporates a lithium metal anode.
These novel anodes exhibit ten times the capacity of commercial graphite anodes, utilizing micron-sized silicon particles to prevent the formation of dendrites on the anode.
Dendrites are minute metal projections that can accumulate on the anode's surface, causing an uneven structure, as highlighted by Electrek.
Harvard has already produced prototype batteries, each the size of a postage stamp. Remarkably, these batteries retained 80% of their capacity after 6,000 cycles, showcasing a remarkable performance surpassing traditional pouch cell batteries.
SEAS associate professor of Materials Science, Xin Li, expressed the significance of lithium metal anode batteries, citing their tenfold capacity compared to commercial graphite anodes and the potential to enhance the driving range of electric vehicles significantly.
"Our research explains one possible underlying mechanism of the process and provides a pathway to identify new materials for battery design," Li stated.
The research conducted represents a crucial advancement toward the development of more practical solid-state batteries suitable for industrial and commercial applications.
In a strategic move, the Harvard Office of Technology Development has licensed the technology to Adden Energy, a company co-founded by Xin Li and three other Harvard alumni.
In 2021, the team devised a multilayer battery incorporating different materials of varying stabilities between the anode and cathode. While effective in controlling and containing lithium dendrites, this design did not entirely prevent their formation.
In their latest research, the scientists have successfully halted dendrite formation by utilizing micron-sized silicon particles in the anode. These particles constrict the lithiation reaction, enabling the homogeneous plating of a substantial lithium metal layer.
In the Harvard researchers' innovative design, lithium ions moving from the cathode to the anode during charging experience a constricted lithiation reaction at the shallow surface. The ions attach to the silicon particle's surface without penetrating further.
This unique configuration allows for swift plating and stripping on an even surface, resulting in the battery's rapid 10-minute recharge time.
Joining Other Companies
Many in the automotive industry view solid-state batteries as the upcoming frontier for electric vehicles, as reported by Car Scoops.
Toyota, a leading car manufacturer, is actively involved in the development of these advanced batteries and has announced plans to release electric vehicles equipped with solid-state batteries within the next few years.
These cutting-edge batteries are expected to deliver rapid recharge times of approximately 10 minutes and an impressive range of up to 750 miles (1,200 km)
