A research team led by Professor Pang Quanquan from Peking University’s School of Materials Science and Engineering has developed a new glass-phase sulfide solid-state electrolyte material, which has been used to create an all-solid-state lithium-sulfur battery with exceptional fast-charging capabilities and an ultra-long cycle life.
Source: Guangming Daily
A research team led by Professor Pang Quanquan from Peking University’s School of Materials Science and Engineering has developed a new glass-phase sulfide solid-state electrolyte material, which has been used to create an all-solid-state lithium-sulfur battery with exceptional fast-charging capabilities and an ultra-long cycle life. This advancement provides a promising new approach for the development of high-energy, high-safety, and low-cost batteries for next-generation power storage. The research was published on January 16 in the internationally renowned journal Nature.
All-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries offer several advantages, including high energy density, fewer side reactions in the electrolyte, and improved safety because they do not release oxygen during charging—a common issue in traditional batteries. These qualities make them a strong candidate to meet the growing demands of future power storage markets. However, challenges remain, particularly in achieving fast and stable sulfur conversion reactions, as well as improving the rate performance and cycle life of these batteries.
“Fast-charging capability and cycle life are two key factors in evaluating all-solid-state batteries,” explained Professor Pang. “The breakthrough in this study is that we’ve designed a new electrolyte material with additional functionalities beyond simple ion conduction. By incorporating iodine—an element with redox properties—we’ve activated interfacial reactions that are typically difficult to achieve in traditional batteries. This allows for faster and more efficient solid-phase sulfur reactions at the fundamental level.”
Pang likened the development to innovations in autonomous driving technology: “Just as smart, self-driving cars can eliminate the fatigue of long drives while still providing basic transportation, our electrolyte design turns undesirable side reactions into beneficial redox-mediated processes. This advancement not only enhances performance but also ensures greater efficiency in charging.”
The new all-solid-state lithium-sulfur battery has the potential to achieve a significant leap in fast-charging capabilities. In comparison to conventional lithium-ion batteries, which take hours to charge and last for about a thousand cycles, this new battery could charge in minutes and endure up to 10,000 charge cycles. This innovation is poised to have a profound impact on a wide range of industries, including next-generation electric vehicle batteries, low-altitude flight propulsion, and high-end electronic devices.