In a new study, UC Santa Barbara researchers test safer, more efficient alternatives to traditional lithium-ion batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries, which power technology from phones to electric vehicles, use liquid electrolytes that can overheat and catch fire. Solid-state batteries, on the other hand, use non-flammable solids instead– making them safer, more compact and longer lasting.
According to a paper published in ACS Materials Letters, UCSB Materials and Mechanical Engineering Professor Jeff Sakamoto tested a solid state electrolyte material called LLZO. He added small amounts of aluminum or gallium to see how they affected the battery’s ability to move and store energy.
Aluminum improved battery stability but slowed performance, while gallium sped up energy flow but reacted poorly with lithium metal over time.
Sakamoto said the results will help researchers eventually build solid-state batteries that are both stable and durable.
“In the end, it wasn't overall bad news that the ceramic electrolyte wasn't stable,” Sakamoto said. “We just learned the limits.”
According to Sakamoto, solid-state batteries can hold twice as much energy as traditional lithium ion batteries. They’re smaller, more compact and stay safe even at higher temperatures.
