New battery works even when folded or cut in half

A new lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery prototype that can work even when folded or cut in half has just been unveiled by the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UEST) .

Although widely used in electric cars, mobile phones, etc., lithium-ion batteries have a short lifespan, are easily damaged, and have low safety.

This type of battery still works even after being cut in half.

To overcome this, UEST has been working on improving the stability and life of the battery at high temperatures by using a carbonate-based electrolyte. A layer is inserted between the electrolyte and the cathode to prevent sulfur from dissolving, which reduces battery capacity.

Polyacrylic acid (PAA) was identified as the ideal material for this replenishment layer. Using a PAA-coated iron sulfide cathode, 72% of the initial capacity was retained even after 300 charge-discharge cycles.

UEST's first product was a pouch-shaped battery that could retain its electrical pathways despite physical damage. This was amazing because it still worked even after being cut in half.

The UEST discovery opens the door to applications of Li-S batteries, as well as lithium-molybdenum and lithium-vanadium batteries , where long-term stability and high energy density are essential criteria.

If this type of battery is successful, energy storage will be enhanced and is considered to revolutionize the battery field in the future.