Revolutionizing Battery Performance via Metal Texture Innovation
To innovate batteries essential for electric vehicles (EVs), portable electronics, and renewable energy solutions, scientists have delved into alternative materials, innovative designs, and experimental chemical compositions.
The Overlooked Factor: Metal Texture
However, an often-neglected element is the texture of metals utilized within these power storage systems.
“Metals like lithium and sodium exhibit remarkable properties that make them suitable candidates as negative electrodes in batteries. Lithium is particularly regarded as a leading option for future high-capacity rechargeable systems,” stated Professor Shirley Meng from UChicago PME. She emphasized a significant gap in comprehending how grain orientation—also termed texture—affects the efficacy of rechargeable metal batteries.
A Breakthrough Study Published
A recent study emerging from Meng’s Laboratory for Energy Storage and Conversion partnered with Thermo Fisher Scientific has achieved crucial insights into this area by establishing that refining metal texture can lead to considerable enhancements in battery function. This research appears in the prestigious journal Joule.
Innovative Techniques Yield Major Improvements
“Our investigation revealed that incorporating a thin silicon layer between lithium metal and its current collector facilitates an optimal texture,” explained Minghao Zhang, Research Associate Professor at UChicago PME and lead author of the study. “This modification increased all-solid-state battery efficiency using lithium almost tenfold.”
The Optimal Texture Design
An ideal battery anode configuration allows atoms to traverse swiftly along its surface plane—a characteristic which supports faster charging and discharging processes.
“We identified that variations in surface energy among soft metals could dramatically influence their textures,” Zhang noted. “Considering that both sodium and lithium-based batteries are dependent on precise textures for enhanced rate capabilities, we hypothesized that modifying these textures might improve power outputs.”
Pioneering Microscopy Techniques Used
This exploration necessitated overcoming challenges associated with microscopy techniques. The team skillfully combined milling conducted via a plasma-focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope (PFIB-SEM) with electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) mapping to gain fresh insights about material textures.
Zhao Liu from Thermo Fisher Scientific elaborated on this technique: “Accurately capturing textural data on soft metals is complex due to their reactive nature coupled with accessibility challenges.” He continued: “The PFIB-EBSD pairing excels at addressing these issues by providing access to critical areas while yielding surfaces characterized by minimal faults alongside detailed textural data.”
Aiming Towards Commercialization
The research team has formed alliances with LG Energy Solution’s Frontier Research Laboratory aimed at commercializing their breakthrough technology.
“We are keen on collaborative ventures to advance our position within the fast-paced battery sector,” remarked Jeong Beom Lee from LG Energy Solution Research Department. He indicated awareness about growing demand trends for electric vehicles and energy storage technologies while emphasizing collaboration between innovative university research efforts paired with manufacturing prowess.”
Future Directions: Sodium Metal Exploration
The researchers’ subsequent objective will focus on reducing test pressure levels from 5 megapascals (MPa) down to 1 MPa—the prevailing industrial benchmark recognized across commercial battery markets. Additionally, they aim to explore textural implications related specifically to sodium—a material Professor Meng has extensively studied as a cost-effective alternative relative to lithium.
“With our newfound understanding surrounding soft metal texturing processes,” Zhang articulated confidently; “we anticipate sodium exhibits similar preferences towards textured formations facilitating rapid atomic movements.” This suggests promising avenues whereby sodium-centric all-solid-state configurations could manifest significant advancements within upcoming energy storage paradigms.”
