12 October 2020
The next generation of lithium battery technology is within our grasp.
“We all want electric cars that will allow us to drive longer distances with one charge. Next generation lithium batteries with higher energy will make this a reality in the near future”
Accelerating the transition to renewable energy is essential in addressing climate change. This also requires reliable energy storage devices and with that comes the next generation of lithium batteries. Experimental Scientist, Dr Marzi Barghamadi, is working on lithium metal battery technology to create longer lasting and higher power batteries, so we will be able to have more powerful electric cars that can drive further and reduce carbon emissions.
“Lithium batteries have a much lower environmental impact than fossil fuels. So, the aim is to replace more fossil fuels with these batteries especially in the transport sector. But first we must create batteries with higher energy and longer cycle life. And at the same time address potential safety issues for lithium metal batteries.”
Across the world, countries are working to reduce their carbon emissions in line with a global effort to address climate change and the Earth’s rising temperature. As Australia introduces tighter regulations on carbon emissions, the need to replace traditional carbon-based energy sources with renewable energy is becoming increasingly urgent. As such, one of the main targets for the transport industry is to replace internal combustion engine cars with electric vehicles.
Several critical challenges must be addressed in order for lithium metal battery technology to meet the required energy demand for the transport sector. One such challenge is lithium metal degradation during cyclingthat results in batteries with low cycle life and low safety. As a battery is discharged/recharged, the formation of microstructures on the surface of the lithium anode, known as dendrites, causes capacity loss and safety concerns. Marzi’s work seeks to expose the mechanism behind lithium metal degradation and dendrite formation, thereby solving one of the main challenges hindering commercialisation of lithium metal technology. Unravelling this mystery will improve our understanding of how to develop batteries with higher energy, increased cycle life, and improved safety.
“Issues associated with climate change and carbon emissions require our urgent attention. As part of this we must replace fossil fuels with renewable energies. We need batteries with higher energy as one of the most viable energy storage devices, particularly for transport.”