Finally: a lithium-anode compatible electrolyte developed

Researchers at Delft University of Technology and Tsinghua University have developed an electrolyte that’s compatible with metallic lithium anodes. This result opens a door to lithium-ion batteries that can store up to ten times more energy compared to current generations of the widely-used storage technology.

Pure lithium metal is the holy grail of lithium-ion battery anodes, but up until now, batteries that feature them don’t live for very long. Because of its high reactivity, lithium continually ‘eats’ the electrolyte, degrading performance. A closely related issue is the formation of so-called dendrites. These ‘spikes’ grow uncontrollably until the battery shorts out.

While the newly developed electrolyte also reacts with the lithium, this is actually a good thing because the product of the reaction forms a protective layer on the anode. This stops the detrimental lithium-electrolyte interaction in its tracks. Importantly, the so-called solid-electrolyte interface gladly let’s lithium ions pass through.