Thread for new battery breakthrough PR releases

[fechter]

From MSN news

Researchers have recently discovered a way to make an efficient battery out of zinc — an inexpensive, commonly found metal — instead of the rare metals used in lithium batteries.

Most rechargeable batteries today are lithium-ion batteries, which include other metals like cobalt and nickel, Tech Xplore reports. As electric vehicles (EVs) and large-scale energy storage get more common, we’ll need more and more of those metals — but because they’re uncommon, the costs are often massive.

Many researchers are working on cheaper battery options to reduce or replace these metals. One Chinese company has created a car powered by a sodium battery, and a University of Maryland researcher has invented a partly biodegradable battery made of zinc and crab shells. Researchers have even found not one but two ways to store energy in ordinary sand.

According to Tech Xplore, this new project, led by Xiulei “David” Ji of Oregon State University, offers yet another alternative to lithium-ion batteries: accessible, efficient zinc metal batteries.

The secret is a new electrolyte developed by Ji and his team, Tech Xplore explains. A battery electrolyte is a liquid inside the battery that helps aid the chemical reactions to store and release energy.

rtunately, past electrolytes in zinc batteries were not very efficient. Much of the energy stored in the battery was previously used up in extra, unwanted chemical reactions. Not only did that mean the battery couldn’t release as much energy as it had put into it, but it also generated dangerous hydrogen gas. This meant that zinc wasn’t practical for rechargeable batteries.


Ji’s team has created a new electrolyte formula that almost eliminates these unwanted reactions, Tech Xplore reports. It forms a protective coating on the zinc component of the battery that prevents that type of energy loss. A similar protective coating is what allows lithium-ion batteries to release more than 99% of the charging energy. The new zinc battery releases 99.95% of the energy it is charged with on each cycle.

Not only is the zinc battery efficient, but it’s also safer than a lithium-ion battery, according to Tech Xplore. The new electrolyte isn’t flammable, while the ones used in lithium-ion batteries often are combustible. Both zinc and the components of the electrolyte are also cheaper and more common than the materials used in lithium-ion batteries.

“The breakthrough represents a significant advancement toward making zinc metal batteries more accessible to consumers,” Ji told OSU News and Research Communications. “These batteries are essential for the installation of additional solar and wind farms. In addition, they offer a secure and efficient solution for home energy storage, as well as energy storage modules for communities that are vulnerable to natural disasters.”

Thanks to the work of Ji and his team, Tech Xplore suggests rechargeable zinc batteries are likely to hit the market in the near future.

 

[speedmd]

Munro gets a tour of Amprius line. Nice look at the nano wire structures under high mag and multi step vapor dep setup. They show cell charging to 80% in six minutes.

 

[neptronix]

Looks like Toyota will be putting solid state batteries into some hybrid cars around 2024.

Also.. Honda will be following suit

Honda Teases EVs With High-Range 'Solid State' Batteries This Decade

Can't wait to get my hands on some cell pulls

 

[speedmd]

I would not hold my breath waiting for Toyota or Honda to bring new battery tech to market. They are still working hard on hydrogen internal combustion motor tech.

Jordan does a great job going through the new patent applications on lithium doping of dry coating process.

 

[neptronix]

They are doing that and also working on solid state batteries. The new CEO has a different attitude than the technologically conservative previous one.

What's the big deal on the tesla patent? what does it improve?

 

[speedmd]

what does it improve?

Looks like they found some good ways to keep the cells at 100% and not drop the initial 5- 7% in capacity upon first few charges. Other cost and weight savings are potentially in reach with the techniques as well as added shop life and process improvements. from what I can gather.
Hope your right on the new leadership for all the good folks working for them.

Lyten also added some news (Multiple sources) on the lithium sulfur chem. Few new details other than they are sending out test cells shortly. Must be worth wider testing at this point.
Big deal as they potentially can have 3x the energy density of the lithium ion chem. Things are moving fast now.

 

[speedmd]

Greater Bay Phoenix (GAC Motor)

8C charge rate (7.5 min full charge). Claim 18 times heat exchange area and can preheat -20 to +25 in 5 min. 260 wh/kg and claim 800000 km life. Multiple sources estimating they are Shipping end of this year.

GAC-backed Greater Bay unveils Phoenix battery that claims to be able to charge from 0 to 80% in 6 minutes

The Phoenix battery will be in mass production next year and is expected to be used in production vehicles by the end of next year, Greater Bay said.

cnevpost.com

 

[Hillhater]

Claim 18 times heat exchange area and can preheat -20 to +25 in 5 min. 260 wh/l and claim 800000 km life.

I assume that should be 260 wh/kg ?……obout the same as current commercial lithium tech .

 

[speedmd]

Yes, I corrected it on the original post. Thanks! Decent pack level specific energy density. Press release is very Low on chemistry details. Most likely a bit of a puff piece directed at lowering fears of being left behind in perceived battery developments.

 

[Jrbe]

Using neutron reflectometry to look inside working solid-state battery and discover its key to success.

Enter lithium phosphorus oxynitride, or LiPON, a solid electrolyte invented at ORNL nearly 30 years ago. "It's never been understood why it works really well," Westover said. "We want to make what works with LiPON work on a much larger scale. But we have to understand it first."

Using neutron reflectometry to look inside working solid-state battery and discover its key to success

 

[Warren]

 

[neptronix]

Good interview.

Impressive cells too if 10C is real.
The All-New Amprius 500 Wh/kg Battery Platform is Here | Amprius Technologies

 

[hallkbrdz]

Good interview.

Impressive cells too if 10C is real.
The All-New Amprius 500 Wh/kg Battery Platform is Here | Amprius Technologies

I agree. I sent an inquiry for more information from them as this might make electric sprint karts something more than the overweight science experiments they are currently. And I certainly welcome a pouch design, as 18650 battery construction for commercial use is expensive (wire bonding $$$).

 

[TheBeastie]

Good interview.

Impressive cells too if 10C is real.
The All-New Amprius 500 Wh/kg Battery Platform is Here | Amprius Technologies

What I don't get is why hasn't Elon Musk bought out Amprius or made a deal with them to plan massive expansion.
Instead, Tesla seems to be stuffing around with its 4680 cell which apparently isn't working out bcos they can't get the dry coating technology they acquired from Maxwell working very well.
They should just spend the time/money on trying to shove whatever Amprius has into a 4680 cell, even if they initially start off with poor theoretical efficiency it will surely still be better than their current 4680 cell technology.

 

[myzter]

They use off-the-shelf deposition machines & target aerospace / drones b/c they can sell batteries at a high premium low volume, which is why they have customers and revenue.

 

[Hillhater]

This will not be of use for vehicles, but could be a player in the grid storage game..
. It offers long term , high capacity storage using common base materials.

Shell Backs MGA Thermal Demonstration Plant | MGA Thermal | Large-scale Energy Storage

MGA Thermal is thrilled to announce we have been awarded funding by global energy provider Shell. The funding, provided under Shell GameChanger, the company’s start-up acceleration program, is to accelerate the completion of the MGA Thermal Energy Storage pilot. Located at MGA Thermal’s new commerc

www.mgathermal.com

 

[neptronix]

What I don't get is why hasn't Elon Musk bought out Amprius or made a deal with them to plan massive expansion.
Instead, Tesla seems to be stuffing around with its 4680 cell which apparently isn't working out bcos they can't get the dry coating technology they acquired from Maxwell working very well.
They should just spend the time/money on trying to shove whatever Amprius has into a 4680 cell, even if they initially start off with poor theoretical efficiency it will surely still be better than their current 4680 cell technology.

Yeah.. Lithium cell technology seems close to tapped out and i'm actually a bit surprised that Toyota might be selling cars with Solid State batteries before Tesla.. if so, that's an egg on their face for not helping push the state of the art further.

Honestly it's quite frustrating that we've been stuck with batteries that get just a few % better each year since what, 2014?

 

[Hillhater]

Another candidate for the next battery breakthrough ?…
Solid state, Lithium Sulphate, 500Wh/kg, 800Wh/ ltr, non flamable, ….etc
from NASA ?