Xinhua News Agency, Sydney, April 3 (Liu Shiyue) Researchers from the University of Queensland in Australia have developed a new type of nano-coating that can extend the life of lithium batteries and reduce the environmental harm of waste batteries. Related papers have been published in the British journal "Nature Communications".
The researchers said that lithium batteries have high energy density and high output voltage, and are widely used in smartphones, laptops, electric vehicles and other products, but their cathode materials are usually made of metal cobalt, which is not only expensive but also toxic.
Wang Lianzhou, a professor at the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Queensland, who led the research, told Xinhua that they "added" a new atomic-thick coating to the positive electrode of the lithium battery. Nickel and magnesium materials were added to this nano-coating. Extremely strong and durable, nickel and magnesium are less expensive and release less toxic substances. The new coating has strong adhesion and can firmly adhere to the positive electrode of the battery, preventing the battery material from decomposing over time, which can greatly extend the battery life. The lithium battery treated in this way can still maintain stable performance after more than 1,000 charges and discharges, which is more than double the charge and discharge times of the original battery.
Wang Lianzhou said that under the dual pressure of industrial development and low-carbon environmental protection, it is crucial to develop lithium batteries with lower cost, higher energy density and longer cycle life. He believes that this new technology is expected to have wider applications in consumer electronics, electric vehicles and energy storage, and hopes that this technology can be produced on an industrial scale within two or three years.
