Scientists at the John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory In the US have created a flexible?lithium-ion battery that prevents it from destruction when physically damaged or overcharged.
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The lithium-ion batteries that are currently equipped on electronics that we use these days are susceptible to exploding with even the slightest of physical damage.?
Researchers have created a different kind of electrolyte solution to prevent it from catching fire upon getting tampered.
When these electrolytes are included in the lithium-polymer sandwich, they reduce the water activity in the battery. This not only enhances the battery performance and life but also helps get rid of getting spontaneously on fire?
"Li-ion battery form factors have not changed much since their commercialisation in the early 1990s; we still use the same cylindrical or prismatic cell types. The liquid electrolyte and required hermetic packaging have a lot to do with that,"said Konstantinos Gerasopoulos, a senior research scientist and lead investigator at APL.?
"Our team's efforts have generally been focused on replacing the flammable liquid with a polymer that improves safety and form factor. We are excited about where we are today," he further added.
There are quite a few advancements happening in the field of battery tech that plans to make our lives simpler.?
Representative Image: Reuters
A research team at IIT Madras has officially developed the world's first 'iron-ion' battery.?The battery is made using an anode made from low-carbon steel along with a cathode of vanadium pentoxide that will facilitate the movement of the iron ion thanks to its larger gap. Along with this, the iron-ion battery is also equipped with an electrolyte made using iron chlorate.?
When you put this side-by-side with a conventional lithium-ion battery, not only is it cheaper to manufacture, (since iron isn't as expensive as other metals, and easily available than lithium) but it also consists of better storage capacity while being more stable and less susceptible to damage.?