Research News

Lithium ion batteries use liquid electrolytes that have several drawbacks, which can be overcome by all-solid-state lithium secondary batteries (ASSBs). However, it is important to find efficient electrode materials for ASSBs. A research team from Japan has recently developed a novel electrode material for ASSBs by combining lithium sulfate and lithium ruthenate, which results in improved performance. The scientists hope that their novel approach will guide future research and the eventual commercialization of such high-capacity batteries.

[Quick Summary Video]The research team has recently developed a novel electrode material for ASSBs.

The invention of commercial lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in the 1990s marked a turning point in the technological revolution. These lightweight, rechargeable batteries power most of the electronic devices we use today, from pacemakers to electric vehicles. However, with their ever-increasing popularity emerged two major problems. The first has to do with safety: if not manufactured with the highest standards, LIBs can malfunction. Secondly, because lithium is typically found in low concentrations in the Earth’s crust, our “addiction” to modern technologies is—slowly but surely—depleting our current reserves of the metal.

Anticipating the ever-growing demand for technology, scientists are looking at various alternatives to make batteries safer and more sustainable in the long run. At the Osaka Prefecture University, Associate Professor Atsushi Sakuda, Dr. Kenji Nagao, and their colleagues at the Department of Applied Chemistry have been studying a type of battery that, they believe, holds the key to the future of energy storage: all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs). “In 2019, we developed a solid electrolyte using sodium ions, which showed the highest conductivity in the world reported at room temperature,” states Dr. Sakuda. Their latest study, published in Science Advances in June 2020, details an innovative method for developing novel electrode materials for safe and highly efficient ASSBs.

The main difference between ASSBs and conventional LIBs is that the former uses a solid electrolyte instead of a liquid one. The liquid electrolyte in LIBs is highly flammable and also tends to have a lower conductivity; it also prone to leakage and is thus all the more dangerous. Swapping this with a more stable solid electrolyte could solve the battery’s safety and performance issues, the researchers say. The non-flammable nature of solid electrolytes makes ASSBs extremely safe. It is also possible to “miniaturize” these cells, as they do not require separators or cooling systems.

However, one obstacle remains: it is difficult to achieve effective contact between the electrolyte and the electrode active material, and this decreases the energy density and the battery’s performance. “Finding novel, efficient electrode materials is therefore key for manufacturing ASSBs with high energy density,” claims Dr. Sakuda.

To solve the problem mentioned above, the researchers looked at the electrode’s composition. The active material in the electrode is what allows the battery to function: by losing or gaining electrons through redox (reduction–oxidation) reactions, the material enables charge transfers between the electrode and the electrolyte. The more redox reactions occur, the more charge is stored in the battery, and the more energy density it has.

Based on this knowledge, the researchers developed a positive electrode material, by combining two lithium compounds: lithium sulfate (Li2SO4) and lithium ruthenate (Li2RuO3). The resulting matrix provided more space for ions to flow through, enabling a faster transfer of charge. The addition of Li2SO4 also made the overall structure more “ductile” and “amorphous,” or easy to mold, which enables a reversible redox reaction and allows for the matrix to be further compressed to increase electronic and ionic conductivity and—thus—stability.

The performance of these novel batteries is impressive: with a “reversible” capacity (the ability to charge and re-charge) of 270 mAh/g, they outperform most previous ASSBs. But, the researchers want to go further still, by swapping out the expensive ruthenium (Ru) element in the electrode with another, cheaper metal with similar properties. That being said, they believe that their method provides a solid basis for the manufacture of next-generation batteries.

So, where can we expect such batteries to be used? “We believe that safe and durable ASSBs such as these can be widely used in airplanes, ships, trains, personal computers, smartphones, households and other electronic items,” highlights Dr. Sakuda.

The team soon hopes to be able to demonstrate the operational safety of ASSBs in electric vehicles. In doing so, they expect that ASSBs will become the prime candidate for next-generation batteries.

This study is definitely an affirmative nod to a sustainable, smart, energy-efficient future society—that runs on all-solid-state batteries!

Paper Information

Title of the paper: A reversible oxygen redox reaction in bulk-type all-solid-state batteries
>Science Advances Website

Funding information

This study was funded by JSPS KAKENHI Grants number 18H05255

Media Contact

Department of Applied Chemistry of the Graduate School of Engineering at Osaka Prefecture University
Dr. Atsushi Sakuda
E-mail saku[at]chem.osakafu-u.ac.jp *Please change [at] to @.