Graphene doubles ceramic toughness in solid electrolytes

The strategy, described in Matter, could be useful in bringing solid-state batteries to the mass market.

Semi-solid electrolyte improves lithium-sulphur batteries

"There's huge interest in replacing the liquid electrolytes in current batteries with ceramic materials because they're safer and can provide higher energy density," said Christos Athanasiou, a postdoctoral researcher in Brown's School of Engineering and lead author of the research. "So far, research on solid electrolytes has focused on optimising their chemical properties. With this work, we're focusing on the mechanical properties, in the hope of making them safer and more practical for widespread use."

Liquid electrolytes are found in most batteries but at high currents, tiny filaments of lithium metal can form inside the electrolytes, which cause batteries to short circuit. Liquid electrolytes are highly flammable, so shorting can lead to fires.

Solid ceramic electrolytes are not flammable, and evidence suggests they can prevent the formation of lithium filaments, which could enable batteries to operate at higher currents. However, ceramics are highly brittle materials that can fracture during the manufacturing process and during use.