Researchers have found a new way to curb some of the potential dangers of lithium-ion batteries. Repeated deposition/dissolution of lithium during charging/discharging will lead to serious accidents, because the deposition of lithium dendrites will penetrate the separator, causing internal short circuit. Researchers hope to solve these problems through electroplating technology, and finally achieve a compact, high-capacity battery.

A research team from Shinichi University in Japan has found a new method to curb some potential dangers caused by lithium-ion batteries.

The research team led by Xin Inojin, professor of the Department of Material Chemistry of the Institute of Carbon Science and Technology of Xinshu University and director of the Carbon Materials Application Research Office, recently published their research results in Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics.

According to the author, these batteries are usually used in electric vehicles and smart grids, which can help society achieve a low-carbon future. The problem is that although lithium can conduct electricity under high capacity theoretically, it will also lead to so-called thermal runaway during charging and discharging cycles.

Arai said: "Due to certain safety risks, lithium metal is not suitable for rechargeable batteries." "Repeated deposition/dissolution of lithium during charging/discharging will lead to serious accidents, because the deposition of lithium dendrites will penetrate the separator, causing internal short circuit."

As the demand for batteries with larger energy capacity increases, the demand for safer storage inside the battery becomes critical.

Dendrites, named after their biological brothers, branch out as a major source and send electrical pulses in potentially unsafe locations.

"In order to prevent the growth of lithium dendrites, many methods have been developed... They are complex and have some problems," said Masahrio Shimizu, an assistant professor and the first author of the paper. "In contrast, our strategy of adding magnesium sulfites is extremely simple."

The researchers introduced a magnesium sulfite that can combine with lithium to prevent the continuous branching of lithium. This worked, but they found it difficult to reverse, which was necessary for rechargeable batteries.

Now, researchers are studying the benefits of other types of magnesium sulfites, and are committed to improving the electrochemical stability of the combination of salts and lithium to make the reversal easier.

The researchers hope to solve these problems through this electroplating technology, and finally achieve a compact, high-capacity battery.

"Our goal is to show a significant improvement in lithium deposition/dissolution reversibility and achieve stable operation for at least 1000 cycles," Arai said. "The ultimate goal is to create a fully charged battery that can run 500 kilometers in electric vehicles."