We came across a post in Times Union media that pondered, could sulfur-based batteries do the trick, and replace lithium-ion. The document was quite long, and so we decided to create a shorter version, with due acknowledgement to The Conversation. But first, why do we need these batteries in the first place?
Reasons Why We Need Sulfur-Based Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere in world, for example our electric vehicles, smartphones, laptops and utility storage systems. However, these batteries cannot store the amount of electricity we need, despite tweaking by a generation of scientists.
This situation in which we find ourselves, leads forward-thinkers to wonder, if sulfur-based batteries could do the trick instead. For if they could do that, then our electric cars, smartphones. and so on could last longer between recharges.
Lithium-sulfur and lithium-ion batteries both consist of an anode, a cathode, a separator, and electrolyte. However, within that standard format their materials and chemistries are very different. But perhaps the greatest variance is lithium is expensive and scarce, while sulfur is much cheaper and more abundant.
More to Do Before Sulfur Comes to the Party
The chemical differences between lithium-ion and sulfur-based batteries, mean sulfur ones store considerably more energy. The possibility of a 1,000-mile electric vehicle driving range, makes the sulfur option extremely attractive.
But there is a catch we need to solve first, before sulfur-based batteries could do the trick in practice. You see, the problem is all about durability this time, or how long a particular battery lasts. A quality lithium-ion battery could theoretically charge and discharge as much as several thousand times.
But the current generation of sulfur-based batteries begin losing their capacity after as few as 100 of those cycles. This translates into shorter driving ranges, and shorter phone run-time too. The core problem is some active sulfur compounds dissolve in the liquid electrolyte.
And so, for now at least, battery scientists have more work to do before sulfur-based batteries could do better then lithium ion. But it could just be a matter of time before someone, somewhere, comes up with a solution.
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