Battery study explores safer rapid-charging methods

Researchers at Adelaide University have discovered a promising new strategy which could deliver fast battery charging.

The team, led by Professor Shi-Zhang Qiao, an ARC Industry Laureate Fellow in the University’s School of Chemical Engineering, created pouch battery cells using interfacial anion-reduction catalysis to record a charge of more than 85% after six minutes.

The cells also provided about 240.4 watt-hours per kilogram after less than six minutes of charging.

Fast-charging capabilities are essential for accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles. Qiao said current models of high-capacity batteries, like those of silicon and lithium, are fast, but their capacities fade rapidly.

“Current models also increase heat generation during fast charging, which can exacerbate battery degradation and safety risks. Until now, achieving more than 90% charge within 10 minutes without sacrificing energy density and cycle life has been a formidable challenge,” Qiao said.

Qiao and his team, which included researchers from Imperial College London, researched the capabilities of a cell using interfacial anion-reduction catalysis.

“The catalytic sites on the electrode surface attract anions to the battery interface and promote the formation of a robust inorganic protective layer, which is critical for fast charging and long-term stability,” he said.

“Unlike traditional electrolyte engineering, which often affects the entire electrolyte system, this strategy regulates reactions only at the interface, allowing fast charging without sacrificing ionic conductivity.”

Qiao added that the discovery provides a new strategy for developing practical fast-charging lithium-ion batteries.

“Our test cell exhibited excellent performance, achieving about 76% capacity retention after 500, six-minute cycles. The cells also exhibited excellent stability at 10 minutes of charging. The discovery could help enable electric vehicles that charge in minutes without sacrificing battery life or energy density,” Qiao said.

The findings have been published in the journal Nature Energy.

The team will now focus on scaling up the technology and testing its long-term performance under practical operating conditions.

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