New type of battery will provide all-weather operation for electric vehicles
Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining momentum, but concerns about their performance in extreme weather conditions remain a major obstacle. Frost and heat can drastically reduce the range and slow down charging time, which scares off potential buyers. However, a new study offers a promising solution: improved electrolytes for batteries.
A team led by Professor Xulin Fan from Zhejiang University in China has published a study in the journal Nature that details a new electrolyte formula that eliminates these limitations. Their innovation touches on three critical factors:
High ionic conductivity, which ensures an efficient flow of charged particles inside the battery. This allows for faster charging and discharging.
Low solvation energy. This minimizes the energy required to separate the lithium ions from the solvent molecules, which further improves the conductivity.
The low melting point allows the battery to operate efficiently even at low temperatures, preventing performance degradation.
The researchers achieved this by using a new solvent called fluoroacetonitrile (FAN). The results show that FAN-based electrolytes enable batteries to achieve the trifecta of high energy density, fast charging, and a wider operating temperature range.
