Battery maker Toshiba Corporation has developed a lithium-ion battery using a cobalt-free 5V-class cathode material that it claims significantly suppresses performance-degrading gases produced as side reactions.
It plans to bring it to commercialisation in 2028. It said the battery can operate a wide range of applications, from power tools to electric vehicles (EVs).
The company said a side reaction that causes electrolyte decomposition and the generation of gas that degrades battery performance has hampered development. It said its new cathode significantly suppresses gas generation when used with a conventional high conductivity electrolyte.
Toshiba has prototyped a pouch lithium-ion battery that combines its new cathode with a niobium titanium oxide (NTO) anode. In tests, the battery demonstrated a high voltage of over 3V, fast charging to 80% of capacity in five minutes, high power performance, and excellent lifetime characteristics, even at a 60°C temperature.
Image: Test results of the newly developed battery. Toshiba
