A group of researchers from China has presented an innovative way to “reanimate” old lithium-ion batteries. By using artificial intelligence They selected a unique molecule that significantly extends the life of batteries.
The scientists compared their method to a medical procedure: a special chemical solution is injected into the battery electrolyte, restoring its capacity. During experiments, lithium-based batteriesiron-phosphate (LFP), which typically fail after 2,000 charge cycles, survived nearly 12,000 cycles while retaining up to 96% of their original capacity.
The technology has also been successfully tested on other types of batteries, including the popular nickel-manganese-cobalt. This discovery could radically change the approach to battery recycling.
Every year, millions of tons of lithium-ion battery waste are generated worldwide. By 2040, their volume may exceed 20 million tons. Nowadays, old batteries are either recycled at great cost or used in low-power devices. The new technology will reduce this waste and reduce the need to manufacture new batteries.
Fudan University is already collaborating with Zhejiang Yongtai to commercialization development. However, before mass implementation, several problems must be solved: adapt the technology for different types of batteries, check the safety of refurbished cells and develop a convenient access system for “injections”.
This innovation could be a breakthrough in the field of energy, making electric cars and other devices more environmentally friendly and economical.
The material was prepared with the support of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science as part of the Decade of Science and Technology
Source: @Metals_Mining
Photo: scientificamerican.com
