Scientists Develop Cheaper, Safer Lithium-Ion Batteries Using Iron

May 27, 2024

A new type of iron-based cathode material has been made thanks to recent study led by Oregon State University. This discovery could lead to the creation of batteries that are safer, cheaper, and last longer, especially for electric cars (EVs).

Addressing Material Cost and Scarcity

Traditional lithium-ion batteries depend a lot on cobalt and nickel, which are both expensive and hard to find. Because batteries need expensive and hard-to-find metals, the cost of making them is very high. In fact, this is responsible for up to half of the costs of making lithium-ion cells. Too much use of these resources makes people worry about a future lack, which could make it hard to make batteries that need these metals.

Iron-Based Cathode Material

A group of researchers at Oregon State University, have made a cathode material out of iron, which is easy to find and cheap (less than a dollar per kilogram). Researchers made iron salts that can store and release energy by mixing certain chemicals with iron powder, lithium fluoride, and lithium phosphate. This change makes iron more reactive, which makes the cathode’s energy density higher than that of the most advanced materials used in EVs right now.

Cost-Effectiveness and Sustainability

It’s possible that this new iron-based cathode material is not as cost-effective as cathodes made of nickel and cobalt. The fact that iron is easy to get means that it can be used in a more environmentally friendly way, since it doesn’t run out as quickly as cobalt and nickel do. It’s also not necessary to change other parts of batteries, like anodes or production technology, in order to add this new material to current battery systems.

Implications for Electric Vehicle Manufacturing

With the launch of this iron-based cathode material, it might become a lot cheaper to make electric cars. This new development could speed up the use of electric cars, which would help cut down on carbon emissions and encourage the use of renewable energy sources. Using this kind of technology is a big step forward in the search for new battery ideas that balance cost, performance, and effect on the environment.

« Previous Post Next Post »