Numerous efforts are being made to improve battery technology for longer life and reliability. Many of these efforts have revolved around new or modified battery chemistries. University of Tokyo researchers are betting that using a new material for the inner battery metallic layer could hold the secret to longer battery life.
The research, led by University of Tokyo professor Atsuo Yamada and his team, centers using oxygen redox-layered oxide (Na2RuO3) to stem the degradation of the metallic layers from repeated charging and discharging. In fact, the materials actually allow the layers to essentially self-repair, because the material is held fast by a force called columbic attraction, which is far stronger than the Van der Waals force.
The metallic layer degradation has been a problem with traditional lithium-ion batteries, as well as in newer chemistries such as sodium. While both types of batteries have large storage capacities, repeated charge and discharge cycles cause the metallic layers to deteriorate over time and develop cracks or flakes that ultimately reduce capacity.
“This means batteries could have far longer life spans, but also they could be pushed beyond levels that currently damage them,” says Yamada. “Increasing the energy density of batteries is of paramount importance to realize electrified transportation.”