Lithium batteries are very common in our world today. They are found in many technological gadgets, including laptops and electric vehicles. However, lithium batteries can be expensive and dangerous. The danger often lies in the batteries catching fire due to the liquid electrolyte found within the batteries.
Now a research team at the University of Leeds believe that they have found an alternative to the traditional liquid electrolyte system. Their system is not only safer but cheaper as well, factors which may propel the technology into the mainstream market in the near future. The team of researchers have developed a jelly which performs the same task as the current liquid electrolyte concoction currently in lithium batteries.
The researchers developed their jelly using a polymer mixed with a liquid electrolyte which combined to form a gel. This combination is then placed in between the electrodes in the battery. The lead of the study, Ian Ward, stated: “The polymer gel looks like a solid film, but it actually contains about seventy percent liquid electrolyte.”
The jelly form of lithium batteries do not have the same concern regarding fire, another positive for the invention. Traditionally lithium batteries can generate significant heat, leading to fire and overheating. This is why electric vehicles have battery casings which are significantly insulated to reduce overheating. However, jelly lithium batteries would reduce these problems and lead to lighter devices, including batteries which go into electric vehicles and laptop batteries.
The team of researchers believe their jelly version of the lithium batteries would also cost significantly less than traditional batteries used in these devices. The researchers estimate that the jelly-version would be between ten to twenty percent of the current cost of the traditional lithium batteries.
The researchers have invented a combination of a cheaper, lighter and safer battery for the major devices used in today’s world. It is likely that this jelly lithium battery will become a popular development in the near future, especially as consumers continue to request lighter electronics.
