We wrote a post about a fellow named John Goodenough in October 2016. We marveled how, at age 94 he was still not content with having invented lithium batteries. At the time, he was still searching for a super-battery to allow wind and solar to replace gasoline and oil. Yesterday Texas Uni announced details of John Goodenough’s all-solid-state-battery cells. It claims these are ‘fast-charging, non-combustible batteries’ because of the new design.
Goodenough’s Multipurpose All-Solid-State-Battery Cells
The university reports the world’s first all-solid-state battery is versatile. Accordingly, it can adapt for electric cars, grid storage, and personal mobile devices too. Goodenough’s all-solid-state-battery cells are a joint project with research fellow Maria Braga.
They say their brainchild has an extended cycle life, with fast rates of charge and discharge. Moreover, it is high density and cannot catch fire.
Details of World First All-Solid-State Battery Cells
The research team reports three times greater battery density than lithium-ion. This should provide a corresponding increase in electric vehicle driving range. Furthermore, the batteries should last longer because they can tolerate more charging cycles. This is a significant saving in a critical cost of electric transport. Finally, Braga and Goodenough’s all-solid-state-battery cells will recharge in minutes as opposed to hours.
Comparing All-Solid-State Technology to Lithium-Ion
Lithium-ion batteries use liquid electrolyte to ferry ions between electrodes during charging and recharging. This design is technically inefficient.
Additionally, lithium-ion batteries can catch fire after dendrites spread through the permeable electrolyte.
This is technically impossible with Goodenough and Braga’s design. Because they use solid glass as their electrolytic separator. Braga and Goodenough’s all-solid-state-battery design enables the use of lithium, potassium, or sodium alkali-metal anodes.
They say this increases energy density and cycle life. Thus far, they have recycled 1,200 times with low cell resistance. We wish the researchers well with their endeavors. And we look forward to seeing the practical benefits emerge for electric vehicles.
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