Chinese scientists invent magical lithium batteries: they can be used in extremely cold regions and even in outer space

Chinese scientists have developed Lithium Batteries that can be used at minus 70 degrees Celsius, and are expected to be used in extremely cold regions of the world and even in outer space.

According to a study published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Energy, Joule, the new battery developed by the team of Xia Yongyao of Fudan University in China uses ethyl acetate, which has a low freezing point and can conduct electricity under extremely low temperatures, as the electrolyte, and uses two batteries. The organic compounds are used as electrodes, which are the PTPAN cathode and the PNTCDA anode, respectively.

Electrolyte is a chemical medium in which ions move between two electrodes, but at low temperature conditions, the electrochemical reaction at the interface between the electrolyte and the electrode is difficult to sustain.

The researchers said that unlike the electrodes used in traditional lithium batteries, the organic compounds used in such electrodes do not rely on the “embedded process,” ie, they do not need to embed lithium ions in the molecular matrix of the electrode, avoiding slower embedding at low temperatures. .

Xia Yong Yao said: "The ethyl acetate electrolyte and organic polymer electrodes allow rechargeable batteries to operate at very low temperatures of minus 70 degrees Celsius."

The traditional Lithium Battery performance is only 50% of its optimal level at minus 20 degrees Celsius, and only 12% of the optimal level at minus 40 degrees Celsius. Temperatures in extreme cold regions like Russia and Canada are below minus 50 degrees Celsius; in space, temperatures are even as low as minus 157 degrees Celsius.

Xia Yong Yao said that compared to the traditional lithium battery electrode material, the new battery material is adequate, cheap and environmentally friendly, he expects the price of this material is only about one-third of the former.

However, the researchers acknowledged that the main challenge in achieving productization is that the unit's mass-to-energy ratio is not as good as commercial lithium batteries, and the production process needs to be optimized. Despite this, Xia Yongyao believes that it has significant potential for application.