Battery manufacturer 24 M has rolled out dual-electrolyte battery, boasting high energy density of 350 Wh/kg, plus lower cost and longer life.
Joe Adiletta, manager of 24 M, explains that electrolytes for the battery's anode and cathode are different and separated by a new isolation diaphragm featuring ion-conductivity and impermeability. As a result, there are more electrolyte materials for choice for the battery.
As a mainstream energy storage technology, lithium-ion battery is plagued by the formation of dendrite at its anode, due to uneven deposition of lithium ions during charging and discharging, which can penetrate isolation layer, causing malfunction and even fire of the battery. In the dual-electrolyte battery, new kinds of anode electrolyte and cathode electrolyte are employed, capable of dampening the formation of dendrite and raising battery voltage, respectively.
24M notes that energy density of dual-electrolyte battery can reach up to 350 Wh, with the possibility of hitting 450-500 Wh following optimization design in the future, compared with 180-240 Wh of existing batteries.
24 M points out that it plans to incorporate the dual-electrolyte design into semi-solid state lithium flow battery, which it developed in 2015. The latter features simpler manufacturing and lower cost, with energy density reaching 250 Wh. The company is scheduled to establish a 100 MWh dual-electrolyte battery production in the U.K. by the end of 2019.
(Collaborative media: TechNews, first photo courtesy of pixabay)
