Pulsed charging sends current pulses to batteries with relaxation pauses between. This is somewhat different from sending a steady, reducing flow of electricity, which is a popular alternative method. A team of scientists from Technical University of Berlin in Germany, and Aalborg University, Denmark report how pulsed current can extend the service life of lithium-ion batteries.
Benefits of Pulsed Charging Lithium-Ion Batteries
Lithium batteries are so powerful, compared to others, that we find them almost everywhere in our lives. They have become indispensable for successful electric vehicle roll out, although this might change. Meanwhile ‘burp’ pulse charging could help delay the capacity loss that ages lithium-ion batteries, and defer the need to recycle them.
The battery tests were performed at Aalborg University in Denmark. Their procedures involved constant current, and pulsed charging using a ‘new charging protocol’. The researchers report that they found clear differences, after several charging cycles according to Battery News:
- The solid electrolyte interface at the anode was thicker after constant current recharging, impairing capacity.
- By contrast, there were fewer structural changes and cracks using the pulsed method, and a thinner interface layer.
Summarizing the Implications of This Research
‘Pulsed charging could bring many advantages in terms of the stability of electrode materials and interfaces. They could significantly extend the service life of batteries,’ the researchers add. However, the frequency of the pulse can be the deciding factor.
Battery News explains how the team found the best results when they applied ‘high-frequency pulse charging protocols with square-wave current’. They further remark how this could extend the service life of commercial lithium-ion batteries, with a doubled cycle life plus 80% capacity retention.
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