Enhancing the Performance of Lithium-ion Batteries

Despite the recent reduction in the cost of lithium-ion batteries driven by mass manufacture, the widespread adoption of battery electric vehicles is still hindered by cost and durability, with the lifetimes of the batteries falling below consumer expectations for long-term applications such as transport. Additionally, fast charging of battery electric vehicles is crucial to help assuage range anxiety and provide the operational convenience required for mass adoption of the technology. Fast charging, however, can rapidly accelerate degradation and even trigger degradation mechanisms that are not present in ‘normal’ operating conditions.

Drawing on the mechanistic understanding of graphite batteries obtained from a former project on battery degradation from the Grey Group, LEAP (Lithium-ion: Enhancing and Accelerating Performance) will investigate other types of batteries and how they degrade under fast charging conditions. This will underscore potentially highly sustainable and high performance materials to be used in the next generation of batteries. By creating batteries that are more resistant to degradation, this work will streamline the transition to electrification needed to substantially reduce emissions and curb climate change.