New design overcomes major obstacle to safer, more efficient electric vehicle batteries

Researchers at McGill University have made significant progress in the development of all-solid-state lithium batteries, which represent the next step in electric vehicle (EV) battery technology.

By tackling a long-standing problem with battery performance, this innovation could pave the way for safer and more durable electric vehicles. The results are published in the journal Cellular Reports Physical Sciences.

The challenge lies in the resistance that occurs where the ceramic electrolyte meets the electrodes. This makes the battery less efficient and reduces the amount of power it can provide. The research team found that creating a porous ceramic membrane, instead of the traditional dense plate, and filling it with a small amount of polymer can solve this problem.

“By using a porous polymer-filled membrane, we can allow lithium ions to move freely and eliminate interfacial resistance between the solid electrolyte and the electrodes,” said George Demopoulos, professor in the Department of Materials Engineering, who directed the research.

“This not only improves battery performance, but also creates a stable interface for high-voltage operation, one of the industry’s key goals.”

Current lithium-ion batteries rely on liquid electrolytes, which pose safety risks due to their flammability. All-solid-state batteries aim to replace liquid components with solid ones to improve safety and efficiency. This new design offers a new way to overcome one of the main obstacles to making all-solid-state batteries a reality for the electric vehicle industry.

“This discovery brings us closer to building the next generation of safer and more efficient batteries for electric vehicles,” said the study’s first author and doctoral student. degree from Senhao Wang Department of Materials Engineering.