Japanese innovation in batteriesA gel that promises to revolutionize lithium batteries
Japanese scientists have created a gel-type electrolyte for lithium batteries that improves safety, allows for fast charging, and simplifies recycling. Its manufacturing is cleaner and cheaper, and it could even be applied in electric cars.
The Tokyo Institute of Science has developed an innovative quasi-solid electrolyte that could transform the safety, performance, and sustainability of lithium-ion batteries. This material, named 3D-SLISE (3D-Slime Interface Quasi-Solid Electrolyte), addresses historical problems of this type of accumulator, such as the risk of flammability, high production costs, and difficulties in recycling.
Lithium-ion batteries are used in everything from mobile phones to electric cars, but their dependence on flammable organic solvents, energy-intensive manufacturing processes, and inefficient recycling methods have raised significant concerns regarding safety, cost, and the environment.
Fast charging and cleaner production
The team led by Professor Yosuke Shiratori and Associate Professor Shintaro Yasui, from the Zero Carbon Energy Research Institute, has created a matrix of borate and water combined with amorphous lithium tetraborate, lithium salt, and carboxymethylcellulose. The result is a viscous interface that allows for the three-dimensional movement of lithium ions, improving ionic conductivity and the versatility of the system.
Two variants have been developed: the Type E, which is mixed with lithium cobalt oxide for the cathode and lithium titanate for the anode, and the Type S, used as a quasi-solid layer between electrodes.
With these, batteries of 2.35 volts have been manufactured that can charge or discharge in just 20 minutes, maintaining their performance after 400 cycles at room temperature. The ionic conductivity reaches 2.5 mS/cm with a low activation energy of 0.25 eV, allowing for efficient operation under environmental conditions.
One of the most notable points is that the manufacturing process does not require dry rooms, glove boxes, or high-temperature treatments. The mixtures dry naturally at room temperature, reducing costs, energy consumption, and carbon footprint. This approach paves the way for a more scalable and sustainable industrial production.
Direct recycling without aggressive chemicals
The water-based composition of 3D-SLISE offers another key advantage: direct and simple recycling. Since it does not contain polyvinylidene fluoride binders or toxic solvents, it is sufficient to immerse the electrodes in water to separate and recover the active materials. This allows for reclaiming valuable metals like cobalt without the need for aggressive chemical treatments or energy-intensive processes.
This simplicity could help address the growing problem of battery waste at the end of their useful life, promoting a circular economy where materials are reused instead of discarded. According to Yasui, the technology has the potential to be applied not only in portable devices and stationary storage systems but also in electric cars.
The combination of safety, recyclability, and low environmental impact positions 3D-SLISE as a promising pathway towards cleaner energy storage without sacrificing performance.
Fuente: ISCTFotos: ISCT