SR-CT data showing the effects of mechanical degradation at the cell level (a)–(c) and cathode particle level (d)–(f) for each of the three cells discussed in this study. Credit: Journal of The Electrochemical Society (2024).
Scientists have developed a groundbreaking type of battery that lasts far longer than current lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs).
This innovation could lead to EVs that outlive their batteries and allow old batteries to be repurposed for storing renewable energy like wind and solar power.
Today, EV batteries in the U.S. must maintain at least 80% of their original charge after eight years.
However, many experts believe we need batteries that can last decades to make the most of their potential.
Batteries that outlive EVs could find a second life powering the electrical grid, helping to store green energy.
Researchers from Dalhousie University have been testing a new battery material called a **single-crystal electrode**.
After six years of continuous testing, this battery lasted over 20,000 charge cycles before hitting the 80% capacity mark.
To put that into perspective, it could power an EV for about **8 million kilometers**. In comparison, a regular lithium-ion battery only lasts about 2,400 cycles before dropping below 80%.
The team, led by Professor Jeff Dahn and using advanced tools at the Canadian Light Source, studied why this new battery performed so well. They used ultra-bright light to look inside the batteries and found a key difference.
In regular batteries, repeated charging causes tiny particles in the electrode material to crack over time. These cracks grow larger, eventually breaking down the battery. “It’s like a snowball,” said researcher Toby Bond.
“The tiny particles that make up the electrode are packed together, but they expand and contract during use, eventually breaking apart.”
The new single-crystal electrode battery is different. Instead of being made up of small particles, its electrodes are formed from one solid piece of crystal—similar to an ice cube.
Bond explained, “If you try to crush a snowball, it’s easy. But an ice cube is much tougher. That’s why the new battery can handle stress much better.”
After six years of testing, the single-crystal battery showed almost no signs of wear and tear, looking as good as new under the microscope. This durability could make batteries the least likely part of an EV to wear out, meaning cars could last much longer and reduce their environmental impact.
Once these batteries can no longer power vehicles, they could be bundled together to store energy for the grid, where high energy density isn’t as important.
Already in production, these new batteries are expected to become more common in the next few years, helping EVs last longer and making renewable energy storage more reliable. The study was published in the [_Journal of The Electrochemical Society_.](https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1149/1945-7111/ad88a8)
_Source: KSR._