Among the batteries of the future, many companies and research institutes are working on a very promising chemistry: lithium-sulphur. It has a number of features that make it highly attractive, particularly in terms of the mobility needs of the future.
Lithium-sulphur batteries offer high energy density, relatively low weight and low production costs thanks to the different raw materials used: mainly sulphur instead of cobalt. So why haven''t they taken over the market yet? Because there is no shortage of criticism.
Lithium-sulphur batteries, like the vast majority of rechargeable batteries, exploit the difference in electrical charge of two electrodes and the passage of ions from one to the other for charge and discharge cycles. More specifically, they have a predominantly lithium anode (negative pole) and a predominantly sulphur cathode (positive pole). They are separated by a layer of inert material and are immersed in an electrolyte whose function is to allow the passage of ions between the electrodes during the charge and discharge phases.
Lithium-sulphur batteries are characterised by their high energy density. Whilst the average lithium-ion battery achieves around 250 to 300 Wh/kg, lithium-sulphur batteries easily reach values of around 550 to 600 Wh/kg. But there are laboratory studies that allow values as high as 900 Wh/kg.
This means that by replacing the lithium-ion battery in a modern smartphone with a lithium-sulphur battery of equivalent size, the phone could easily operate for a week before needing to be plugged in. On an electric car, to continue the comparisons, you could easily travel more than 2,000 km (1,243 miles) on a full tank of electrons without increasing weight, bulk or cost. In short, the advantages seem obvious.
What''s more, lithium-sulphur batteries are lighter than lithium-ion batteries - which, in the automotive sector, is an added advantage - and they are also more reliable. They require little maintenance, suffer damage and malfunction less frequently and operate correctly over a wider range of temperatures.
So why aren''t they on the market yet? Because they have a short lifespan for use in electric cars and consumer electronics. On average, they lose a considerable percentage of their performance after just a hundred or so cycles.
They also suffer from self-discharge problems, a phenomenon whereby energy is lost even when the batteries are not in use. However, in recent times, significant progress has been made thanks to increased research.
After years of being relegated to the status of a marginal solution, lithium-sulphur batteries look set to enter the market. Silicon Valley-based start-up Lyten has discovered that by using porous graphene cages to cover the cathode, it is possible to increase battery life without compromising performance. Lyten has apparently developed lithium-sulphur cells that can withstand more than 1,000 charging cycles.
The company, which is funded by both the US government and car manufacturers such as Stellantis, is confident that it will be able to develop a marketable product by 2025. And it is not alone. In the United States in particular, a number of players such as PolyPlus Battery, NexTech Battery and Zeta Energy LLC look set to take the lead in an industry that is currently worth $32 million and will exceed $200 million by 2028.
The rechargeable batteries can be categorized into various types based on their materials. Currently, lithium-ion batteries are the most widely used batteries. Since it was first commercialized in 1991, lithium-ion batteries have been servicing various fields even today in 2022. However, as the battery need for electric vehicles and ESS, the world is looking for next-generation batteries.
Lithium-sulfur batteries use sulfur as cathode and lithium metal as anode. Sulfur used as cathode for lithium-sulfur batteries is less expensive than cobalt used in lithium-ion batteries. Since the sulfur cathode and lithium anode have low density and high capacity per weight than lithium-ion batteries, the battery’s energy density can become two-fold (>500Wh/kg). In other words, the lithium-sulfur battery is rising as a next-generation battery since it could offer high capacity at a lower price.
This confirms that the battery exhibits stable performance even in extreme environments at a temperature of -70 degrees Celsius and with very low atmospheric pressure that is only 1/25 of the ground level.
The lithium-sulfur battery has already been patented by American scientists Herbert Danuta and Ulam Juliusz in 1962. Its commercial application, however, did not bear fruit due to some technical problems until now. Last April, during Battery Day 2021, LG Energy Solution announced its plans to commercialize lithium-sulfur batteries beginning 2025, capturing the attention of many people.
When used commercially, lithium-sulfur batteries are expected to power the URM (Urban Air Mobility). It may not be far out in the future when LG Energy Solution serves the drone industry with its lithium-sulfur battery technology. The images we usually see in sci-fi movies involving flying cars or air taxis in busy cities may become a reality sooner than we think. How great would it be when the day comes!
Ask any energy expert what the key ingredient to maximising the efficiency and reliability of renewable energy is and they''ll tell you: the ability to store it cheaply. Australia is ripe with options for generating renewable energy and projects are underway across the country to advance transmission, but ultimately, cost-effective storage solutions will be integral to transitioning our energy system and meeting net zero targets. Researchers from Monash University have created a new class of lithium-sulfur batteries that far outpace and outlast their lithium-ion counterparts.
A team from Monash University''s Faculty of Engineering, led by Professor Matthew Hill, Dr Mahdokht Shaibani and Professor Mainak Majumber, are behind the breakthrough in lithium battery development which centres around a new lithium-sulfur battery interlayer that promotes exceptionally fast lithium transfer, as well as improving the performance and lifetime of the batteries.
The lithium-sulfur battery development, which was funded by the Australian Research Council and Monash University, is cheaper, greener, and enables the charge and discharge of batteries and discharge of energy at a much faster rate than previously offered, with the capacity to be manufactured in Australia.
As the world increasingly swaps fossil fuel power for emissions-free electrification, lithium batteries are becoming a vital storage tool to facilitate the energy transition. They are the go-to choice to power everything from household devices like mobile phones, laptops and electric vehicles to major industries such as aviation and marine technology.
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