Revolution in energy storage

Lithium-ion batteries were born during the oil crisis of the 1970s. British chemist M. Stanley Whittingham (Binghamton University) worked to develop methods that could lead to energy technologies without do not use fossil fuels. He has discovered an energy-rich material that can be used to create the cathode in Lithium batteries. This is the premise to develop the first working Lithium battery. In his experimental study, Whittingham used Titanium disulfide and Lithium metal (Li) as electrodes. Lithium is one of the lightest elements on the periodic table, containing a huge electrochemical potential. When Lithium metal electrodes are used, they produce a higher energy density (energy storage per unit volume) than traditional batteries, allowing generations of small, compact batteries to be created but has a high power capacity.

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in electronic devices from affordable to luxury; From smartphones, home appliances, wearables to cars, airplanes or sophisticated equipment of spaceships and space stations.​

However, this Lithium rechargeable battery has no practical application because it must be synthesized under a complete vacuum condition, which is expensive and has an unpleasant odor when exposed to air (due to the reaction of titanium disulfide). form hydrogen sulfide compounds). In addition, batteries with metallic Lithium electrodes can cause fires under normal atmospheric conditions because of the presence of water and oxygen in the air. Therefore, the research has shifted to developing batteries that do not use Lithium metal, but use Lithium chemical compounds with the ability to receive and release Lithium ions.

In 1980, American physicist John B Goodenough (University of Texas) predicted that the cathode would have even greater potential if it were made using metal oxides instead of metal sulfides. John B Goodenough invented a new type of Lithium battery (Lithium-ion battery), in which Lithium can move through the battery from one electrode to another in the form of Li+ ions. In this new type of battery, Lithium is combined with a transition metal such as cobalt, nickel, manganese or iron - and oxygen to form the cathode. He demonstrated that cobalt oxide with alternating Lithium (LiCoO2) ions can produce up to 4 volts of power. This was an important breakthrough, leading to a much more powerful battery. Using LiCoO2 opens up a new prospect for battery technology and especially rechargeable batteries (thanks to its properties as a stable positive charge conductor). His invention doubled the performance potential of Lithium batteries, creating the right conditions for a more powerful and useful battery.

Akira Yoshino (Japanese scientist, working at Meijo University) used a cathode developed by Goodenough with an anode in a battery (Lithium ions and electrons are placed in a carbon material called petroleum coke). to create the first commercial Lithium-ion battery in 1985. As a result, Akira Yoshino created a safe, rigid, lightweight battery that can be charged hundreds of times before its performance degrades. The advantage of Lithium-ion batteries is that they are based not on chemical reactions that break the electrodes but on Lithium ions flowing back and forth between the anode and cathode [1].

Lithium-ion batteries were first widely commercialized by Sony Energitech in 1991. Depending on the transition metal used in Lithium-ion batteries, batteries will have different capacities and safety ratings (*). Compared with older batteries, Lithium-ion has the advantage by using an electrolyte filled with Lithium salts, which can store a lot of energy in a very small area. This is very suitable for new technologies and devices (usually requiring compact, high-capacity, safer batteries that can be charged and recharged many times).

The whole world is "powered" by batteries

Lithium-ion batteries have revolutionized people's lives since they first entered the market in 1991. This generation of batteries has laid the foundation for development. of a fossil fuel-free society and a world of wireless technology with its myriad benefits. They have become an important part of countless electronic devices from the low-end to the luxury; From smartphones, home appliances, wearables to cars, airplanes or sophisticated equipment of spaceships and space stations. In the world of internet of things (IoT), almost everything is powered by Lithium-ion batteries.

The main reason why Lithium-ion batteries are so popular is because of their high energy density. Furthermore, Lithium-ion batteries have shorter charging times and more discharge cycles before they fail (battery bottles). These characteristics result in a longer-lasting, larger-capacity battery. Therefore, the commercialization of this battery became quickly and widely in the market. Lithium-ion batteries have been, are and will continue to be the technology that can shape the future of the world economy. Batteries are now more important than oil. In the future, the country that owns the supply chain of this product will prevail in holding the world's No. 1 position in many fields. More than two-thirds of the world's population is using at least one mobile device, and nearly all of them operate on rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries. Today's Lithium-ion battery industry has grown very strongly with a value of 37.8 billion USD in 2018 and is expected to reach more than 94 billion USD by 2024 [2], attracting tens of thousands of people to participate in research.

With superiority that no other battery can match, Lithium-ion batteries can efficiently store renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy. This opens up a bright future where one day, people will not use fossil fuels, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, countries are aiming for great applications of this generation of batteries. For example, the US has built the world's largest Lithium-ion battery storage facility with 400,000 Lithium-ion battery panels capable of storing enough electricity for about 2,000 households to use for 4 hours. Or as large aviation corporations are paying attention to developing electric aircraft instead of using liquid fuel as today. According to Quartz (an American electronic business news publication), the next generation of electric aircraft will have less impact on the environment than current liquid fueled aircraft. Electric aircraft with a range of 1,000 km per charge could be used for half of today's commercial flights, reducing global carbon emissions by about 15%.

The future generation of batteries

The more sophisticated technologies and devices (multi-function, high resolution, small weight …), the more demanding the battery volume and volume are, but the storage capacity must be large. . However, like all batteries, Lithium-ion batteries also have disadvantages and limitations. It is an undeniable fact that Lithium-ion batteries have reached a safe limit of energy density in a particular area. In the IoT world, devices are growing at an unprecedented rate (more features, smarter and more compact), but limited by the supply of energy. In fact, battery technology hasn't made any progress in decades, it doesn't perform well in high-temperature environments, wears out quickly, and catches fire.

To overcome the above limitations, multinational corporations, leading research centers in the world are investing a lot of money and human resources to search for new battery technology. Initial studies have yielded many positive results. Scientists from Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have developed a new type of battery, the next generation of Lithium-ion batteries [3]. Accordingly, this ultra-fast rechargeable battery can recharge to 70% in just 2 minutes. The new generation battery also has a longer life span of 20 years (10 times longer than current Lithium-ion batteries). This breakthrough will have a wide-ranging impact on all industries that use Lithium-ion batteries. In mobile phones, tablets and in electric vehicles, current Lithium-ion batteries typically last around 500 charge cycles, which equates to two to three years of use. Besides that, Scientists have developed a new type of fuel "cell" that allows a single charge to be used for a week. This technology combines stainless steel with a thin film, limiting the amount of heat generated to a minimum, helping the battery to last longer and last longer.

SolidEnergy Systems - a manufacturing company of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US has developed a new generation of solid-state Lithium batteries that have twice the energy density of current Lithium-ion batteries. This also means devices can last twice as long. For example, today's advanced drones have sensors, cameras and processors with power stored in a heavy battery pack that's only enough to keep the drone running for 20 minutes, but with a battery New to SolidEnergy, these drones can fly for 40 minutes [4].

SolidEnergy Systems batteries (left, white) have only half the volume and weight, but have a larger capacity than current conventional Lithium batteries (right, black).

Researchers from the University of Louvain (Belgium) have recently discovered a new type of material that can make safe and high-performance batteries (LTPS), capable of increasing charging and discharging speeds to unprecedented levels. previously seen [5]. In fact, if the first tests are confirmed, this new material could be used in batteries of the future with better energy storage, faster and safer charging and discharging aimed at multiple purposes. intended uses, from smartphones, to bicycles and electric cars. The leader in the production of a new battery format for electric vehicles is Tesla. The company's Gigafactory is considered the world's largest battery factory with the largest production capacity.

Undoubtedly, Lithium-ion battery is known as a miracle battery, its advantages far outweigh its shortcomings and that is why they are still called the future of the world.

According to vjst.vn