Economic Scenarios

Neutrons allow us to design more efficient and safer solid state batteries

A team of scientists led by Duke University has discovered how to make safer batteries that recharge more quickly and have a longer lifespan.

This discovery was achieved through a deeper understanding of the atomic-level movement of lithium within a promising solid-state battery material , lithium-phosphorus-sulfide chloride (Li6PS5Cl ). To this end, the researchers conducted neutron scattering research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) .

“Our research aimed to understand what happens inside these materials using the power of neutron scattering and large-scale computer simulations,” said Olivier Delaire, associate professor at Duke University and leader of the research team.

Lithium phosphorus sulfur chloride (Li6PS5Cl) is a type of solid-state battery material known as a superionic compound.

“Superionic materials represent an intermediate regime between crystalline and liquid states of matter,” the researchers explain in the study .

Combining experiment and calculation

The team used neutrons from ORNL's Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) to study the atomic structure of this material.

These experiments were combined with sophisticated computer simulations performed at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center. This combination of experimental and computational approaches provided detailed insight, at the atomic level, into the behavior of lithium ions within the solid.

They found that lithium ions move as easily in this solid material as they do in liquid electrolytes. This observation is crucial because the mobility of ions is fundamental to the functioning of batteries.

Solid state batteries

For charging and discharging to occur, ions must move freely between the battery terminals. The ease with which lithium moves in this solid material suggests the potential for faster, safer charging.

These findings could lead to the creation of next-generation solid-state electrolytes (SSEs), which combine the advantages of solid and liquid electrolytes.

“The two great challenges, but also opportunities, we face are understanding how these materials work and designing the next generation of batteries. Neutron scattering is necessary for the design of these materials,” noted Delaire.

The crucial role of neutrons

While ESSs offer advantages such as higher energy density, greater safety, and lower combustibility compared to liquid electrolytes, they have faced challenges due to lower ion mobility. Ions must move freely to charge and discharge, and liquid electrolytes are traditionally more efficient in this regard.

The team used neutrons to study the behavior of lithium, because neutrons are particularly sensitive to lighter elements like lithium , providing crucial information about superionic material in the solid state.

“Neutrons provide information about where things are happening that we otherwise wouldn't be able to see,” said Doug Abernathy, head of SNS's direct geometry spectroscopy group.

Using SNS neutron spectroscopy techniques, including Wide Angular-Range Chopper Spectrometer (ARCS) and Backscattering Spectrometer (BASIS), scientists measured and modeled the diffusion of lithium, revealing its surprising ease of movement inside the solid material.

Research impact and trends

“Our results are important because they pave the way for optimizing the conductivity of ions within the material and therefore increasing the performance of batteries,” concluded Naresh Osti, an expert neutron scattering scientist at ORNL.

The energy sector is currently abuzz with solid-state battery developments.
As they promise to revolutionize industries from electric vehicles to energy storage devices, researchers around the world are trying to advance these batteries.
Recently, a Japanese research team created a non-flammable quasi-solid lithium-ion battery (LIB).

Additionally, US startup QuantumScape has started low-volume production of its B-sample cells, which charge up to 80% in 15 minutes and offer an energy density of 800 Wh/L.


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The article Neutrons allow us to design more efficient and safer solid state batteries comes from Economic Scenarios .


This is a machine translation of a post published on Scenari Economici at the URL https://scenarieconomici.it/i-neutroni-permettono-di-progettare-batterie-allo-stato-solido-piu-efficienti-e-sicure/ on Tue, 04 Feb 2025 07:30:03 +0000.