New Lithium Battery Could Double Range of Electric Cars

A high-energy battery electrode developed by a team of South Korean researchers may double the charge capacity of a lithium battery, a development that would essentially double the range of electric vehicles, according to a report in MIT’s Technology Review. The team at Hanyang University has developed a silicon electrode dotted with tiny holes, or nanopores, that enable the battery to better absorb lithium during repeated charges without shattering, meaning longer battery life. While silicon’s affinity for lithium ions makes it a good material for the anode, its tendency to absorb too much can result in the material being pulverized after just a few cycles. Chemist Jaephil Cho, who led the Hanyang team, developed a nanoporous silicon consisting of solid silicon crystals punctured with Swiss cheese-like holes that enables the material to handle more strain. Cho said he hopes to sell the technology to Korean battery maker LG Chem, which is a leading contender to make the lithium batteries for General Motor’s much-anticipated electric car, the Volt.