Automotive Engineering - March 2023 - BET28

porous polymer membrane with several
micron pores and a photo-cross-linkable
polyethylene glycol PEG-based polymer
electrolyte. The polymeric solid electrolyte
realized a wide potential window
(4.7 V), a high Li-ion conductivity in the
10-4 S/cm class, which is equivalent to a
liquid and sufficient for practical use, and
a high Li-ion transference number (0.39).
Li-ions transferring in the electrolyte
move in various directions due to natural
diffusion. The distance is several µm to
10 µm and does not always move linearly
between electrodes, which is one of
the reasons for the decrease in ionic conductivity.
In the current study, therefore,
the performance of photo-cross-linked
PEG-based solid polymer electrolytes
improved by compositing them with micron-sized
porous membranes.
A photograph (left), scanning electron microscope image (center), and schematic illustration
of composite electrolyte structure (right), respectively. (Image: Grewal and Yabu)
This polymeric solid electrolyte not
only shows high performance as an electrolyte
but is also expected to be effective
in deterring the formation of Li dendrites
(dendritic crystals), which can cause ignition,
due to the inclusion of a porous
membrane. Through the realization of
safe, high-performance Li-ion batteries,
this achievement will contribute to the
realization of a sustainable energy supply.
For more information, contact Hiroshi
Yabu at hiroshi.yabu.d5@tohoku.ac.jp.
Using Nano-Engineering Techniques to Develop a
Safer Battery
The technology replaces the volatile and highly flammable organic solvents found in Li-ion batteries with
saltwater.
University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
A
research team at the University of
Central Florida has developed technology
that could prevent electric
vehicle fires, like those caused by saltwater
flooding from Hurricane Ian.
The technology, an aqueous battery,
replaces the volatile and highly flammable
organic solvents found in electric
vehicle Li-ion batteries with saltwater to
create a battery that is safer,
faster
charging, just as powerful and won't
short circuit during flooding. The work is
detailed in a new study
in Nature
Communications.
" During Hurricane Ian, a lot of electric
cars caught fire after they were soaked in
floodwater, " said Yang Yang, an Associate
Professor in UCF's NanoScience
Technology Center who led the research.
" That is because the saltwater corrodes
the battery and causes a short circuit,
which ignites the flammable solvents
and other components. Our battery uses
saltwater as an electrolyte, eliminating
the highly volatile solvents. "
28
Electric vehicles flooded in saltwater could pose a fire risk, as saltwater can corrode the battery
and cause a short circuit, igniting flammable solvents and other components. (Image:
Adobe Stock)
Battery & Electrification Technology, March 2023

Automotive Engineering - March 2023

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