Chinese researchers have found a way to extend the
life of batteries by rejuvenating them when they are “dead.” An EV battery
typically reaches the end of its life when it reaches 80% of its original
capacity. These spent batteries can be used to power other things, but powering
an EV requires more of their original capacity. In yet another success for AI
modeling to find ideal materials or chemicals, the researchers identified
suitable chemicals for their needs. Scientific American explains:
“The researchers used an artificial intelligence model
trained on the rules of chemistry. They fed it a database of electrochemical
reactions and had it look for molecules that would meet their requirements,
such as dissolving well in an electrolyte solution and being relatively cheap
to produce. The model recommended three candidates, and the team identified one
of them, a salt called lithium trifluoromethanesulfinate (LiSO2CF3), as ideal.”
“The researchers tested this lithium-ion salt by
dissolving it in an electrolyte solution, which allows ions to pass between a
cell’s positive and negative terminals.”
When this substance was tested on
a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery, the results were phenomenal. Typically,
an LFP battery will drop below the 80% capacity threshold after about 2000
charge and discharge cycles. When the team added the electrolyte whenever the
battery neared the 80% threshold, most of the battery’s capacity was restored.
After 12,000 charge-discharge cycles, the battery cell regained 96% of its
capacity. A typical EV battery is said to last 8-10 years. If it could be
increased sixfold, it would potentially last 48-60 years! That won’t happen
anytime soon, but the results are quite significant. Follow-up experiments on
NMC (nickel, manganese and cobalt) lithium-ion batteries showed similar
results. The results were one of the focuses at the 17th Shenzhen International
Battery Technology Exchange Conference/Exhibition (CIBF 2025) in May, explained
as follows:
“During the exhibition, Yongtai New Energy held a
special meeting on the innovative technology of new organic lithium salt
lithium supplementation, focusing on the latest progress of lithium
trifluoromethylsulfinate as a new organic lithium salt lithium supplement. This
technology is the result of the school-enterprise cooperation between Yongtai
New Energy and Fudan University. Compared with the traditional lithium
supplementation technology, such as the addition of lithium metal to the
negative electrode, which is easy to cause side reactions, and the inorganic
lithium supplemental agent at the positive electrode affects the performance of
the battery, the lithium trifluoromethylsulfinate developed by Yongtai New
Energy, as a new type of organic lithium salt lithium supplement, has a high
theoretical specific capacity of 191mAh/g and a low decomposition voltage of
3.8V, which can be fully decomposed in the battery formation process. This
technology is suitable for multiple scenarios such as electrolyte lithium
supplementation, cathode lithium supplementation and battery repair, and does
not need to modify the existing production line, the process is simple, the
cost is controllable, and it has the conditions for industrial application.”
One of the authors of the paper
published in Nature, chemist Yue Gao, sees a future “widespread system of
“battery-boosting stations” where EV owners will be able to bring dead power
sources to be rejuvenated.” There are remaining challenges in implementing
the new electrolyte technology, including compatibility with other battery
chemistries and ensuring safety. The method has only been tested on individual
battery cells. It needs further testing on whole battery packs, which include
heat control systems and other components, along with hundreds or thousands of
cells. The vision is for a “direct-recycling process” for EV batteries.
Currently, used EV batteries are used to power other things like mopeds and energy
storage, or they are crushed for materials recycling.
This research offers a very
important breakthrough, which, if successful, could be commercialized and
result in a better way to refurbish batteries and make them last for many
years. I am currently driving a car with a 16-year-old hybrid battery that may
have lost a cell but still gets excellent mileage.
References:
AI
Found a ‘Magic Potion’ That Can Bring Dead Batteries Back to Life. You
Xiaoying. Scientific American. June 2, 2025. Reviving Dead Lithium-Ion Batteries
with an AI-Derived Electrolyte Solution | Scientific American
Focus
on CIBF 2025 | Yongtai New Energy Innovation debuted to talk about the future
of lithium battery. Yongtai Technology. May 17, 2025. Focus on CIBF 2025 |
Yongtai New Energy Innovation debuted to talk about the future of lithium
battery
External
Li supply reshapes Li deficiency and lifetime limit of batteries. Shu Chen,
Guanbin Wu, Haibo Jiang, Jifeng Wang, Tiantian Chen, Chenyang Han, Wenwen Wang,
Rongchen Yang, Jiahua Zhao, Zhihang Tang, Xiaocheng Gong, Chuanfa Li, Mengyao
Zhu, Kun Zhang, Yifei Xu, Ying Wang, Zhe Hu, Peining Chen, Bingjie Wang, Kai
Zhang, Yongyao Xia, Huisheng Peng & Yue Gao. Nature volume 638, pages 676–683.
February 12, 2025. External
Li supply reshapes Li deficiency and lifetime limit of batteries | Nature
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