Cellulose nanofibrils take charge in solid-state batteries
Researchers have developed a new material for use in solid-state batteries that is derived cellulose nanofibrils found in trees.
In research published in Nature, the team from Brown University and the University of Maryland demonstrated a solid ion conductor that combines copper with cellulose nanofibrils, which are polymer tubes derived from wood.
The paper-thin material has an ion conductivity that is 10 to 100 times better than other polymer ion conductors, the researchers said. It could be used as a solid battery electrolyte or as an ion-conducting binder for the cathode of an all-solid-state battery.
“By incorporating copper with one-dimensional cellulose nanofibrils, we demonstrated that the normally ion-insulating cellulose offers a speedier lithium-ion transport within the polymer chains,” said Liangbing Hu, a professor in the University of Maryland’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering. “In fact, we found this ion conductor achieved a record high ionic conductivity among all solid polymer electrolytes.”
The work was a collaboration between Hu’s lab and the lab of Yue Qi, a professor at Brown’s School of Engineering.
Register now to continue reading
Thanks for visiting The Engineer. You’ve now reached your monthly limit of news stories. Register for free to unlock unlimited access to all of our news coverage, as well as premium content including opinion, in-depth features and special reports.
Benefits of registering
-
In-depth insights and coverage of key emerging trends
-
Unrestricted access to special reports throughout the year
-
Daily technology news delivered straight to your inbox
Biodegradable sustainability boost for food packaging
While these type of developments make for a nice PhD project, an unintended consequence is the adverse effect on plastic recycling. Seven years ago,...