Rechargeable battery technology promises to extend range of electric vehicles

A new rechargeable battery technology could double the output of current lithium ion cells, an advance that promises to extend electric vehicle ranges and the time between mobile phone charges.

By using a ceramic, solid-state electrolyte, engineers at the University of Michigan have harnessed the power of lithium metal batteries without the historic issues of poor durability and short-circuiting. Their breakthrough could lead to longer-lasting drop-in replacements for lithium ion batteries.

"This could be a game-changer - a paradigm shift in how a battery operates," said Jeff Sakamoto, a U-M associate professor of mechanical engineering who led the work.

The first rechargeable lithium metal batteries contained combustible liquid electrolytes. Furthermore, lithium atoms that moved between the electrodes tended to build dendrites on the electrode surfaces, eventually shorting the battery and igniting the electrolyte.

Lithium ion batteries followed, replacing lithium metal with graphite anodes, which absorb the lithium and prevent dendrites from forming. This increased safety at the cost of energy density.