A news release from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden announces that a group there has successfully built a working carbon-fibre battery (or structural battery). Structural batteries not only store energy, but they can be part of the structure of the product, thus making the design more efficient and reducing overall weight.
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1057377
Lead researcher Richa Chaudhary states: “We have succeeded in creating a battery made of carbon fibre composite that is as stiff as aluminium and energy-dense enough to be used commercially. Just like a human skeleton, the battery has several functions at the same time.”
From the news release:
The carbon fibre used in the electrode material is multifunctional. In the anode it acts as a reinforcement, as well as an electrical collector and active material. In the cathode it acts as a reinforcement, current collector, and as a scaffolding for the lithium to build on. Since the carbon fibre conducts the electron current, the need for current collectors made of copper or aluminium (for example), is reduced, which reduces the overall weight even further. Nor are any so-called conflict metals such as cobalt or manganese required in the chosen electrode design.
In the battery, the lithium ions are transported between the battery terminals through a semi-solid electrolyte, instead of a liquid one, which is challenging when it comes to getting high power and for this more research is needed. At the same time, the design contributes to increased safety in the battery cell, through reduced risk of fire.
The full research was published in paper titled “Unveiling the Multifunctional Carbon Fiber Structural Battery” in the journal Advanced Materials. The full text of the paper can be read here: