Can the protective layer technology of lithium batteries really improve the capacity and safety of the battery?

Today, according to relevant foreign media reports, a new study published in "Nature Energy" by scientists from Pennsylvania State University in the United States revealed a lithium battery protective layer technology that will bring higher battery capacity and safety sex.

Lithium metal batteries are a new generation of batteries after lithium-ion batteries. They can reduce the size of current lithium batteries by half and have higher energy density. However, there are problems such as the generation of lithium dendrites, low efficiency and low cycle life.

Replacing copper and graphite anodes with ones made from pure lithium not only creates batteries with up to 10 times the capacity, but also charges much faster. But the lithium dendrite problem is one of the main issues holding back the technology.

When solving the problem of lithium dendrites produced in lithium metal batteries, scientists at Pennsylvania State University found a feasible method to design a protective layer using nanotube films, acoustic wave technology, etc. to increase the life of lithium metal batteries.

This layer consists of electrochemically active molecules deposited on a thin film of copper. When the battery is charged, lithium comes into contact with this protective layer, which activates this process and protects the battery from the formation of lithium dendrites.

The researchers said the protective layer would provide a good solid electrolyte interface during charging and protect the lithium battery anode. It could be used in drones, cars, or some very small batteries for underwater applications at low temperatures.