We already have clear evidence that physical pressure can affect how well a lithium-ion battery works. In fact, battery makers often apply light pressure during manufacture to keep the parts in position. However, to date there have been no clear guidelines for getting the battery pressure spot on.
Too Much Battery Pressure Can Be a Bad Thing
We understand that too much pressure can damage the materials inside a battery, making it harder for it to store and deliver energy. Over time, this pressure can reduce the battery’s capacity and shorten its useful life too.
It is also common knowledge that some battery designs handle pressure better than others. Cylindrical cells with strong metal cases, for example, usually resist mechanical stress better than soft pouch cells in many electronic devices.
Excessive pressure can also create safety risks, if it damages the barriers that separate the battery’s internal components. While light controlled pressure can help a battery, we know that excessive pressure can reduce performance, shorten lifespan, and create safety. concerns.
Turning The Battery Pressure On In Cambridge
Researchers at University of Cambridge in England, have established that maintaining constant pressure could DOUBLE battery life. This would have been unthinkable until now.
This Is Something Previously Unheard Of
We have hailed 10% improvements as remarkable! Just imagine what 100% could do for the green revolution in terms of electric vehicles. Why, it could halve the rate at which their spent batteries are piling up.
Getting The Battery Pressure Spot On Matters
However, achieving these gains in practice would be impossible without getting the battery pressure spot on. The key, the Cambridge team tells us, is consistently maintaining the exact right pressure.
They have proved their point in their laboratory with a custom device. So there you have it. No additional expensive materials and no fancy new chemistry either. Just plain common sense, although as they say this is not always that ‘common’.
Imagine What We Could Achieve With The Right Pressure
We could keep our phones with fixed batteries longer, and delay the irritation of commissioning new ones. We could cost justify the solar energy system we always wanted. What a breakthrough!
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