Glucose-Based Substance Increases Capacity of Lithium Sulfer Batteries

Oct, 2021 - By WMR

Scientists developed a novel, high-capacity battery structure that is sugar-supported for lasting efficiency.

A team of scientists at the Monash Energy Institute, Australia, developed a new structure of lithium sulfur batteries that lasts longer and promises higher capacity by simply adding sugar to it. The new lithium sulfer battery structure is lighter, longer-lasting, and more sustainable than the traditional lithium-ion batteries that are today necessary for almost all the electronic devices. According to the research published in the journal Nature Communication on September 10, 2021, using a glucose-based substance on the positive electrode stabilises lithium-sulfer battery technology, which is hyped as the next generation power supply for electronic devices.

Lithium sulfer batteries are said to have capacity to store more energy than lithium-ion batteries of the same weight. However, in practical, the positive sulfer electrode and the negative lithium electrode in lithium sulfer battery gets weakened. When the positive sulfer electrode expands and contracts while charging, it is subjected to extensive stress which results into quick deterioration of it. Meanwhile, the negative lithium electrode is contaminated by sulfur and also gets weakened. To tackle this issue of deteriorating electrodes, the team added a sugar-based substance to the structure of electrode, which acts as a binder and forms a same web-like structure as the electrode. This microstructure stabilises the battery by creating more room for the electrode to expand safely while charging and preventing it from moving as well as covering the lithium electrode. In the experiment, the lithium sulfer battery containing additive glucose-based substance showed the capacity of around 700mAh/g and lasted for at least 1000 cycles.

The technology still needs further development to be used at large scale. However, the team claims that in few years, this technology could be used in not just normal vehicles but also in electric buses and trucks that can travel long distances without needing a recharge.