An innovative research endeavor undertaken by McGill University and L’Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), is utilizing the services of the Canadian Light Source (CLS) to create a superior, high-functioning battery.
Under the guidance of Jeremy Dawkins, the former PhD student at McGill University, a profound attempt was made to construct a battery that merges significant capacity and rapid recharging capabilities in a single entity.
Typically, achieving both high capacity and rapid recharging has been an elusive dream in the field of battery technology. Batteries have, more often than not, possessed a stark imbalance between these traits. A battery would either store a high amount of energy or recharge rapidly, seldom both. This conundrum demands a pressing technological solution.
The unique angle that this research brought into play was the applied use of CLS to delve into the intricacies of an operational battery. Different battery configurations were put to the test to unravel the mysteries of lithium ion behaviour.
Remarkably, the researchers drew a conclusion advocating a layered, sandwich-like configuration that seemingly outperforms the conventional battery models.
The CLS enabled the quantification of lithium during the operation of the battery cell. With this intensive analysis, it was confirmed that this newly developed system outstripped the performance of traditional batteries.
Battery technology often falls short in cold weather conditions by losing performance levels. The slowdown in lithium transfer to the graphite at the negative electrode lies at the crux of this issue. However, Dawkins suggested that this layered battery configuration could minimize the power loss triggered by extremely cold temperatures.
For electric vehicle (EV) users, the advent of more fast-charging stations is making recharging on the go increasingly practical. With EVs soaring in popularity, technological advances that combine increased energy storage and faster recharging capabilities are always welcomed.
Tyler Krause, President of the Tesla Owners Club of Saskatchewan, expressed elation and interest about this development. He anticipates the potential application of this battery configuration in EVs and its potential to offer better performance over the long term.
Having recently graduated and entered the auto industry, Dawkins remains optimistic about this novel finding. The research has paved the way towards significant future opportunities to unearth new breakthroughs in battery technology.
