Researchers at Humboldt University have used structural disorder to develop high-performance anodes for lithium and sodium-ion batteries with high charging speed and stability.
The research involved disrupting the atomic order of the batteries in a targeted way to enhance ionic conductivity, increase cycling stability, and unlock novel storage mechanisms of batteries. Traditional batteries have highly ordered crystal structures to provide predictable pathways through the electrodes.
The research into structural disorder was published in two separate studies in the Nature Communications and Advanced Materials journals.
New materials were developed for lithium-ion batteries by using structural disorder in niobium-tungsten oxides and controlled amorphisation to iron niobate. This process is the transition of the material to a disordered state.
Researchers said it is a durable material, where a large proportion of the original performance is retained after 1,000 charging cycles. A new material for sodium-ion batteries has also been developed.
It is said to change significantly when first charged but retains important structures, which results in high storage capacity and a service life of over 2,600 charging cycles with similar performance.
The disordered lithium anodes and amorphous sodium anodes could be used for fast charging EVs, stationary storage solutions for renewable energy, and safe alternatives to previous battery technologies.
“Our results show that targeted imperfection can be a powerful tool in material design,” said Professor Nicola Pinna, lead researcher, Humboldt University.
Dr Patrícia Russo, lead researcher, added, “By deliberately breaking the atomic order, we are opening up completely new avenues for more powerful, longer-lasting and therefore more sustainable high-performance batteries”.
Image: An example of an iron niobate being used for an amorphous sodium anode. Credit: Humboldt University.
