Korean engineers have created a porous solid electrolyte lithium-ion battery which they claim is safer than existing technologies.
Researchers at South Korea’s Pohang University made the battery using molecules of cucurbituril ( CB[6]), which are organised in a honeycomb-like structure.
CB[6] enables the lithium ions inside the battery to diffuse more freely than in conventional lithium-ion batteries. Tests reportedly showed the CB[6] solid electrolytes exhibited greater lithium-ion conductivity.
The new technology apparently also works without separators.
Researchers found the batteries have the lithium transference number at 0.7 to 0.8.
During testing, the researchers found the technology showed no thermal runaway and hardly any change in conductivity even when run through cycles of temperature between 24.85°C 99.85 °C.
The CB[6] framework is said to accommodate various conventional liquid electrolytes and could pave the way for lithium air batteries.
pic: South Korea’s Pohang University
