The pace of battery research is quickening as lithium batteries penetrate every corner of the market. The hunt is on for solid electrolytic solutions, because of the thermal risks of known liquid ones. However, the challenge is to develop a solid electrolyte that conducts the ions equally fast. A scientist at Fraunhofer IWM has been mulling over the future of solid ceramic electrolytes.
Accelerating Research into Solid Ceramic Electrolytes
Fraunhofer IWM researches component and system reliability, safety, durability and functionality in Freiburg Germany. It identifies weaknesses in current materials and components, and then identifies solutions. It also develops new functional materials and more efficient manufacturing methods.
Daniel Mutter is a staff member at Freiburg University. He is an expert in molecular dynamics simulation, and computational materials science. He plays a key role in battery research at Fraunhofer IWM because he can accelerate the process through computer simulations. Electrive reports Daniel Mutter has investigated the ideal chemical composition of solid ceramics in lithium batteries.
Interesting New Possibilities for Daniel Mutter’s Electrolytes
Daniel Mutter has identified a new class of solid ceramic materials. These contain chemical elements sodium, zirconium and phosphorus in various combinations. If he is correct, then his NZP ceramics class could be one to watch closely in future.
Ions exchange slower through conventional solid ceramic electrolytes than liquid alternatives. This new material permits faster migration of ions between electrodes in lithium batteries. While it’s important to note this finding is from atomic simulations, it is still significant. Moreover, it avoids the need for expensive, resource heavy conventional research that could take years.
Daniel Mutter’s new class of electrolytes comes from abundant, non-toxic materials. The next step would be to test the theory in practice, based on knowledge gained of the atomic processes in these new ceramic materials.
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Preview Image: Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials
