When we charge a lithium-ion battery, the liquid electrolyte shuttles the ions from the cathode to the anode. During this process, the ions cluster in sets of four or five solvent molecules. However, at low temperatures the electrolyte begins to freeze, and can no longer transport the ions. Scientists at U.S. Argonne laboratory have developed a lithium battery with anti-freeze electrolyte, that solves this problem.
More About the Anti-Freeze for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Reliability of electric vehicle batteries is of great importance to vehicle owners living in colder climates. If they have lithium-ion batteries, then they may know the electrolyte liquid begins to freeze at sub-zero temperatures. And that this severely constrains their ability to charge their electric vehicles at low temperatures in winter.
The Argonne scientists have developed a new electrolyte, containing a fluorine that performs well in sub-zero temperatures. In a sense this means we now have a lithium battery prototype with antifreeze properties.
“Our research thus demonstrates how to tailor the atomic structure of electrolyte solvents. And to design new electrolytes for sub-zero temperatures,” according to John Zhang, Argonne group leader. He goes on to explain two key factors to their success:
- An antifreeze electrolyte with charging performance that does not decline at -4 degrees fahrenheit.
- A deep understanding at the atomic level concerning what makes this product so effective.
Even Greater Potential for New Antifreeze Electrolyte
Lithium ion batteries are proving popular in many applications, because of their superior capacity and density. It follows logically then, that the lithium battery with anti-freeze electrolyte will also prove useful in grid storage applications. As well as, we imagine consumer electronics like phones and computers.
As an added bonus, the new antifreeze electrolyte is not flammable because it cannot catch fire, coincidentally eliminating that risk too. A patent application is in progress for the Argonne low temperature and safe electrolyte battery, and the laboratory is reaching out for an industrial partner.
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