New lithium battery safer

Using new materials, researchers at Stanford University have developed lithium batteries that are more secure than previous lithium-ion batteries.

Their secret is to replace the poles of the battery with a new material. They use lithium-sulfur (Li2S) compounds at the nanoscale level as anode, and cathode-rayed silicon nanotubes.

By reducing the rate of metal (lithium), scientists have reduced the risk of flash floods that often occur in rechargeable batteries.

Using less lithium increases the safety of a new rechargeable battery.

New materials increase safety but reduce battery performance: only 80% of charging capacity compared to old batteries. In addition, the new battery only uses about 40-50 charge-discharge (compared to the old battery 300-500 times).

In theory, research by Professor Stanford University's Yi Cui can make batteries safer, with 10 times the power density of current lithium-ion batteries. Therefore, new batteries can be used for vehicles and equipment that consume more electricity, such as electric cars.