Wednesday, July 17, 2024 Researchers have announced the development of a groundbreaking battery technology that could enable electric vehicles (EVs) to travel up to a million kilometers. This innovative approach, spearheaded by a team from Pohang University of Science & Technology, promises to address one of the major limitations of current EVs: battery lifespan and durability. The Problem with Current EV Batteries A significant challenge facing electric vehicles is the degradation of their lithium secondary batteries over time.
As these batteries age, their capacity diminishes, necessitating costly and complex replacements. This not only incurs financial expenses for vehicle owners but also poses environmental concerns due to the disposal of degraded batteries. The root of this problem lies in the way lithium secondary batteries store and release energy.
These batteries convert electrical energy into chemical energy for storage and then back into electrical energy for use. This process relies on nickel cathode materials that contain tiny crystals capable of storing large quantities of lithium ions. However, these nickel-based materials gradually deteriorate through repeated charging and discharging cycles.
Innovative Approach to Enhance Battery Durability To combat the degradation issue, researchers have proposed the production of cathode materials using single large particles or crystals instead of numerous tiny ones. These larger crystals are less prone to breakdown, poten.