September 09, 2024
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Recently, a study published in the journal Nature Chemical Engineering details the first successful production of defect-free graphene foils on a commercial scale. The scheme, developed by Swansea University in partnership with researchers from Wuhan University of Technology and Shenzhen University, is a pioneering technology for producing large-scale graphene collectors, a breakthrough expected to significantly improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries (lib). Security and performance, addressing key challenges in energy storage technology.
"This is an important step forward for battery technology," said co-lead author Dr Rui Tan from Swansea University. "Our method allows for the production of graphene current collectors at a scale and quality that can be easily integrated into commercial battery manufacturing. This not only improves battery safety by efficiently managing heat, but also increases energy density and life."
When developing high-energy lithium batteries, especially those used in electric vehicles, one of the most pressing issues is thermal runaway, a dangerous condition in which overheating causes the battery to fail, often resulting in a fire or explosion. These graphene current collectors are designed to mitigate this risk by efficiently dissipating heat and preventing exothermic reactions that lead to thermal runaway.
Co-lead author Dr Yang Jinlong from Shenzhen University explained: "Our dense, aligned graphene structure provides a strong barrier against the formation of flammable gases and prevents oxygen from penetrating into the battery, which is critical to avoid catastrophic failure important."
The newly developed process is not only a laboratory success, but also a scalable solution capable of producing graphene foils with lengths ranging from meters to kilometers. In an important demonstration of its potential, the researchers created a graphene foil that was 200 meters long and 17 microns thick. The aluminum foil remains highly conductive even after being bent more than 100,000 times, making it ideal for flexible electronics and other advanced applications.
The new method also allows the production of graphene foils with customizable thicknesses, which could lead to more efficient and safer batteries.
This innovation could have a profound impact on future energy storage, especially in electric vehicles and renewable energy systems where safety and efficiency are critical. An international collaborative research team led by Professors Mai Liqiang and He Daping from Wuhan University of Technology, Dr. Yang Jinlong from Shenzhen University, and Dr. Tan Rui from Swansea University are continuing to improve their processes and continuously strive to reduce the thickness of graphene foils, Further improving its mechanical properties while exploring this new material beyond lithium-ion batteries. Such as redox flow batteries and sodium-ion batteries, with the help of Professor Serena Margodonna's group at Swansea University.
