Korean scientists have discovered a way to make dual-ion batteries work better. Dual-ion batteries are very fast to charge and can store more energy than normal lithium batteries.
Dual-ion batteries use lithium but in a different way. They use more of a carbon material called graphite, which is cheaper and easier to find.
But there are some challenges to overcome. The graphite changes its size when the battery is used or charged, which can damage the battery. There is also a glue-like substance that holds the battery together. The usual glue for lithium batteries does not work well for dual-ion batteries.
Scientists have found a new glue formula made from a nitrogen thing and a carbon thing. This glue helps the graphite stay in place, even when it changes its size.
It was also easy to put the glue in the battery, taking only an hour to make it work. Dual-ion batteries with this glue lasted for a long time—more than 3,500 times of use and charging. They could also charge very fast, getting back 88% of their energy in less than 2 minutes.
“Dual-ion batteries are not only cost-effective but also leverage Earth’s abundant graphite resources,” says team leader Professor Soojin Park, a researcher in the Department of chemistry at the Pohang University of Science and Technology, South Korea.
“This research will stimulate further exploration of dual-ion batteries, extending beyond electric vehicles to various other applications.”