University of Alberta creates a new generation of silicon-based lithium batteries with 10 times the charging capacity

According to foreign media reports, chemists at the University of Alberta aim to create a new generation of silicon-based lithium batteries, which have a charging capacity 10 times higher than current battery cell products. According to current research, if silicon is made into nano-sized particles, threads or tubes, it can help prevent it from chipping.

For large-capacity batteries, silicon has a great application potential because the material has abundant reserves. Compared with graphite, the silicon material in the battery absorbs lithium ions. The amount is greater. However, after many times of charging and discharging, silicon is prone to fragmentation or fracture, because the material itself expands and contracts after absorbing and releasing lithium ions, and it is prone to cracks.

According to current research, if silicon is made into nano-scale particles, threads or tubes, it will help prevent it from chipping. Buriak and his team wanted to understand the extent to which the volume of this type of structure needs to be in order to optimize the properties of silicon materials and minimize its adverse effects. The researchers divided silicon nanoparticles into four different sizes and evenly dispersed them in highly conductive graphene aerosols with nano-scale pores. This structure can make up for the lack of silicon conductivity. They found that there are 3 billion nano-scale particles within a diameter of 1 meter, which can provide long-term stability after multiple charges and discharges.

This research shows that a new generation of silicon-based lithium battery technology can be used in various applications that rely on battery energy storage devices. Imagine if the user’s electric car’s on-board battery is the same size as Tesla’s battery, but its cruising range may be increased by 10 times, its charging time may be shortened to 1/10 of the previous, and the weight of the on-board battery is only 1/10 of the previous.