The use of renewable resources such as solar and wind for electricity generation is on the rise. The world is shifting its focus towards sustainable energy generation, storage, and sustainable transport. This has increased the demand for Lithium-ion batteries.
The trend of personal smartphones and other e-gadgets has also increased the demand for Lithium-ion batteries. Li-ion batteries are used in a majority of the electronic devices as they have high energy densities. But battery degradation is one of the consumer’s chief complaints about electronic devices.
A new saviour technology could help solve the problem by tripling the energy storage and lifetime of Lithium-ion batteries.
Increasing the energy storage density in Lithium-ion batteries could help increase the lifetime of the battery. This technology would help in reducing the amount of energy used to charge the battery. Long lasting batteries are in high demand for installation of renewable energy systems.
Lithium-ion batteries have an anode and a cathode. Cathodes materials used in the battery have a limitation for further improving the energy density of lithium-ion batteries. The current material has a potential to transfer a single electron. Use of other materials like iron trifluoride could transfer multiple electrons and increase the energy density of the battery.
Scientists at University Of Maryland, USA, have synthesized a new cathode material, a modified and engineered form of iron trifluoride (FeF3). The material is composed of cost-effective and eco-friendly elements—iron and fluorine. FeF3 is cheap and environmentally friendly, appears to be unique as a cathode candidate with a total theoretical energy density of 1922 Wh kg−1 and a relatively high working potential due to its ionic nature. The study was recently published in nature. The project is supported by U.S. Army Research Laboratory DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Increasing the energy storage capacity and lifespan of these batteries could save a lot of carbon footprint. This technology would make renewable energy systems more sustainable.