New Lithium Ion Batteries Created By Japanese Research Team

TOHOKU UNIVERSITY, MIYAGI, JAPAN. A team of researchers in Japan has recently created a new kind of lithium ion conductor which may be conveniently used for future batteries. It will surely create a whole new generation of solid-state lithium ion batteries.

Lithium ion batteries are the best type of rechargeable batteries in the market today. Aside from its ability to store huge amounts of energy, it also comes in smaller package. That means lithium ion batteries are more compact and more portable which makes it even more ideal to use for almost everything from implantable medical devices to wearable consumer electronics.

However, there is also a risk involving the use of lithium ion batteries. Since this kind of battery relies on liquid chemicals with lithium salts dissolved in organic solvents, it becomes highly flammable. This risk can be avoided if lithium ion batteries were completely solid-state.

With the new lithium ion technology, rock salt Lithium Borohydride (LiBH4) is used instead of the usual lithium salts dissolved in organic solvents. LiBH4 is also a well-known agent in organic chemistry laboratories which has been another option for batteries even before. The only problem with using LiBH4 is that it only worked at high temperatures or pressures.

To stabilize the high-pressure form of Lithium borohydride, the researchers working on the project had to cover a cubic lattice of KI molecules with the LiBH4. This created a solid solution at normal atmospheric pressure while being stable at room temperature.

Hitoshi Takamura led the research team at Tohoku University. They called this mechanism “parasitic conduction” since the LiBH4 is a sort of ‘parasite’ but not a host material. They have also suggested that it may be widely used to create new types of lithium ion batteries. Takamura also added that this work suggests the potential of this mechanism in the ongoing search for the perfect material for use in solid state batteries.

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