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					</table><p>A new lithium-ion battery, which includes a cathode based on organic materials instead of metals such as cobalt or nickel, has been designed by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (<a href="https://www.mit.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MIT</a>).</p>
<p>Electric vehicles (EVs) are powered by lithium-ion batteries, which commonly contain cobalt and nickel; the former has been associated with high financial, environmental, and social costs.</p>
<p>In a new study in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/journal/acscii" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ACS Central Science</a>, the researchers have proven that this new material, which can be produced at a much lower cost than batteries containing cobalt, can conduct electricity at rates similar to those of these batteries. The new battery can be charged up faster with comparable storage capacity than cobalt batteries.</p>
<p>“It is already competitive with incumbent technologies, and it can save a lot of the cost and pain and environmental issues related to mining the metals that currently go into batteries,” said Mircea Dincă, the W.M. Keck Professor of Energy at MIT. She added that this material could potentially have a big impact.</p>
<p>Most EVs are powered by lithium-ion batteries, which have a cathode made of cobalt, a metal known for its high stability and energy density. But as a scarce metal, cobalt extraction has been associated with hazardous working conditions and the generation of toxic waste that contaminates the surrounding land, air, and water.</p>
<p>As a result, a lot of research is being done to scope out alternatives for cobalt. Researchers at the University of California, Irvine (<a href="https://uci.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UCI</a>) also developed a method that offers a long-lasting alternative made of nickel. Japan-based <a href="https://www.global.toshiba/ww/top.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Toshiba Corporation</a> also developed a lithium-ion battery that was cobalt-free and cathode material, which significantly suppressed the gases produced from operations.</p>
<p>The researchers at MIT mention that the primary materials needed to manufacture this type of cathode are a quinone precursor and an amine precursor, both of which are already commercially available and produced in large quantities as commodity chemicals.</p>
<p>They further estimate that the material cost of assembling these organic batteries could be about one-third to one-half the cost of cobalt batteries.</p>
<p>These developments if they come to fruition might hamper Indonesia’s plans to capitalize on the metal, as its global output share is <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/indonesia-cobalt-demand-for-evs-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">estimated</a> to touch 19% by 2030.</p>
<p>In India, Reliance New Energy Limited also recently <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/birla-carbon-acquires-battery-materials-nanocyl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acquired</a> all assets of Lithium Werks, a  cobalt-free lithium-ion phosphate battery manufacturer, at $61 million in 2022.</p>


MIT Scientists Develop Long-Lasting, Cobalt-Free Batteries for EVs


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					</table><p>In a new study, scientists at the <a href="https://www.titech.ac.jp/english" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tokyo Institute of Technology </a>used two lithium-based solid electrolyte chemical compositions to ensure stable ionic movement in millimeter-thick battery electrodes.</p>
<p>Solid electrolytes are much stabler compared to liquid electrolytes. Argyrodite-type (Li6PS5CI) and Tetragonal Li 10 GeP 2 S 12, abbreviated as LGPS, are the two compositions used by Ryoji Kanno of the institute to increase the complexity of the superionic crystals.</p>
<p>The study published in <a href="https://www.science.org/journal/science" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Science</a> highlights that compared to liquid electrolytes conventionally used in commercial batteries, solid electrolytes are less prone to overheating, fire, and loss of charge, ultimately degrading the battery&#8217;s performance over time.</p>
<p>However, the scientists found that the tough structure of solid electrolytes leads to wetting of the cathode in the battery, limiting the supply of lithium ions to the cathode.</p>
<p>The researchers used a multi-substitution method and modified the LGPS type while synthesizing a series of crystals with a composition of a lithium-ion conductor with a garnet-like structure that is being studied for its potential use in all-solid-state batteries.</p>
<p>The area-specific capacities were 1.8 and 5.3 times larger for the values obtained compared to the discharge capacities attained in all solid-state lithium batteries in previous experiments.</p>
<p>Kanno said, &#8220;In effect, the proposed design rule lays a solid groundwork for exploring new superionic conductors with superior charge–discharge performance, even at room temperature. Many studies have shown that inorganic ionic conductors tend to show better ion conductivity after multi-element substitution probably because of the flattened potential barrier of Li-ion migration, which is essential for better ion conductivity.&#8221;</p>
<p>Another <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/disordered-multi-metals-boost-battery-performance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study </a>by the United States’ Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory reported that solid-state batteries with the disordered arrangement of metals in electrolytes improve the battery&#8217;s performance by increasing the flow of ions, which creates an electrical charge.</p>
<p>In a similar experiment, researchers from Purdue University <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/solid-electrolytes-lend-thermal-stability" target="_blank" rel="noopener">engineered</a> a new composite solid-electrolyte by introducing a new material that they claimed provides thermal stability to solid-state lithium-ion batteries, which achieves higher energy density.</p>


Scientists Use New Lithium Electrolyte Compositions to Boost Battery Stability


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					</table><p>Scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology (<a href="https://www.iitb.ac.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IIT Bombay</a>) have claimed a breakthrough in developing sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries by addressing the challenges of air/water instability and structural-cum-electrochemical instability in cathode materials.</p>
<p>The breakthrough has led to the creation of new air/water-stable cathode materials that exhibit exceptional electrochemical cyclic stability and resilience when exposed to air and water.</p>
<p>These advancements are expected to drive the development of cost-effective and sustainable energy storage systems for various applications, including consumer electronics, grid energy storage, renewable energy storage, and electric vehicles.</p>
<p>As the global demand for battery-driven electric vehicles continues to rise, there is a pressing need to develop a cost-effective, resource-friendly, safe, and sustainable battery system beyond the conventional lithium-ion (Li-ion) technology.</p>
<p>Given the abundance of sodium resources, the upcoming Na-ion battery system holds significant importance in India.</p>
<p><strong>Stability Challenges </strong></p>
<p>Like other alkali metal-ion battery cells, a Na-ion cell consists of cathode and anode active materials supported on metallic current collector foils.</p>
<p>These materials enable the reversible insertion and removal of the charge carrier, Na-ion, during the cell&#8217;s charge and discharge processes.</p>
<p>The performance of Na-ion batteries depends on the structural/electrochemical stability of the electrodes, Na-transport kinetics, and various dynamic resistances.</p>
<p>Despite the many advantages of Na-ion batteries, the electrochemical behavior and stability of the &#8216;layered&#8217; Na-transition-metal-oxide-based cathode materials, especially in moist environments, require significant improvements for widespread adoption.</p>
<p>The lack of stability poses challenges in handling and storing these materials and adversely affects their electrochemical performance.</p>
<p>Furthermore, the water instability necessitates the use of toxic, hazardous, and expensive chemicals like N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone for electrode preparation instead of more environmentally friendly water-based slurries.</p>
<p><strong>Universal Design Criterion </strong></p>
<p>To address these challenges, Amartya Mukhopadhyay&#8217;s research group at the institute leveraged materials science and electrochemical principles.</p>
<p>They identified dominant factors and controlling parameters that contribute to the development of high-performance Na-ion batteries.</p>
<p>The researchers have proposed a universal design criterion that offers a path toward the successful design and widespread adoption of environmentally stable and high-performance cathodes for Na-ion batteries and beyond.</p>
<p>Their findings have been published in the journal <em>Chemical Communications</em>.</p>
<p>The conventional &#8216;layered&#8217; Na-transition-metal-oxide structure comprises alternating slabs of NaO2 and transition metal oxide.</p>
<p>Within this structure, the oxygen ions, carrying a net negative charge, are shared by the transition metal ions (TM-ions) and the sodium ions (Na-ions) in their respective layers.</p>
<p>While the TM-O bond is iono-covalent in nature, the Na-O bond is predominantly ionic.</p>
<p>The team discovered that adjusting the degree of covalency (the number of electrons that an atom gains, loses, or even shares during a chemical reaction) in the TM-O bond of the layered Na-transition-metal-oxide structure can have a significant impact on the performance and stability of Na-ion batteries.</p>
<p>Increasing the covalency strengthens the Na-O bond, leading to improved air/water stability and suppressing structural/phase transitions.</p>
<p>This enables the development of high-performance, water-stable cathodes using eco-friendly processing methods. On the other hand, reducing the covalency enhances Na-transport kinetics, increasing the power density of Na-ion batteries.</p>
<p>In October 2022, researchers of IIT Mandi <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/iit-mandi-researchers-claim-eco-friendly-method-to-recycle-wind-turbines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed</a> to have successfully used microwaves to recycle polymer composites from old wind turbine blades, using a rapid, sustainable, and comparatively eco-friendly method.</p>
<p>In December 2022, researchers at IIT Roorkee <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/iit-roorkee-claim-17-efficiency-perovskite-solar-cells" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> they had successfully developed a prototype of a low-cost, high-quality perovskite solar cell that achieved a stable power conversion efficiency of 17.05%.</p>


IIT Researchers Make Headway in Stabilizing Sodium-ion Batteries


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					</table><p>U.S.-based battery materials producer <a href="https://www.redwoodmaterials.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Redwood Materials</a> received a conditional commitment for a $2 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Energy (<a href="https://www.energy.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DOE</a>) to commence the production of anode foil, one of the most crucial components in a battery.</p>
<p>DOE released the commitment to Redwood as part of the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program.</p>
<p>Redwood will use the fund to produce 100 GWh of ultra-thin battery-grade copper foil and cathode-active materials annually, from both new and recycled feedstocks at gigafactory scale in the U.S. This will provide enough battery materials to produce over a million electric vehicles (EV) a year domestically.</p>
<p>The DOE financing to Redwood will help U.S. bolster domestic manufacturing without which battery cell manufacturers in America are estimated to offshore over $150 billion in economic value for anode and cathode components by the end of the decade.</p>
<p>Of the companies Redwood has partnered with, Panasonic will be the first to source the copper foil for cell production in the Nevada gigafactory and the company’s cathode material for battery cell production in its new Kansas plant, that is scheduled to go online in 2025.</p>
<p>Cathode and anode are the two most important components which amount to nearly 80% of the materials cost of a lithium-ion battery. However, Asia dominates in the production of these components.</p>
<p>The production of anode foil will pave the way for battery and automotive manufacturers to meet the new stringent critical mineral and battery component requirements for consumers to qualify for EV tax credits as established by the Inflation Reduction Act passed in August 2022.</p>
<p>Last May, DOE <a href="https://mercomindia.com/us-funding-boost-domestic-battery-manufacturing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> $3.16 billion in funding from President Biden’s ‘Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’ to expand domestic battery manufacturing and support domestic supply chains.</p>
<p>The DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory <a href="https://mercomindia.com/reusing-discarded-materials-circular-economy-energy-storage-sector/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">outlined</a> measures to limit and reuse the materials used in diverse designs of lithium-ion batteries, to establish a circular economy-based sustainable strategy. A circular economy replaces the end-of-life concept with restoration, shifts towards the use of renewable energy, and aims to eliminate waste through the superior design of materials, products, systems, and business models.</p>


US Loans $2 Billion to Redwood Materials for Battery Anode Foil Production

<p>Researchers from the Skoltech Center for Energy Science and Technology (<a href="https://crei.skoltech.ru/cest/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CEST</a>) have designed a new cathode material based on titanium fluoride phosphate, which is stated to be stable and has achieved superior performance at high discharge currents.</p>
<p>This latest development acquires all the more importance in the light of the rapid growth of electric mobility in the last few years and the growing importance of renewable energy, which requires commercially viable, and safe energy storage solutions based on metal-ion batteries.</p>
<p>The most commonly used batteries today are made from lithium-ion. Still, the high cost of lithium-ion batteries is a significant hurdle, which has further been compounded by speculations that the world may soon run out lithium and cobalt. Lithium and cobalt are essential for the production of a cathode, which determines the functional capabilities of the battery.</p>
<p>The search has been on for quite some time for an alternative source that is economically viable and cheaper than lithium-ion batteries. The use of potassium in place lithium seems to be a good option and cobalt can be replaced by more environment-friendly options like iron, manganese, and titanium</p>
<p>Speaking on this latest development, Artem Abakumov, director of CEST, says, &#8220;From the perspective of inorganic chemistry and solid-state chemistry, this is an excellent example showing once again that rather than blindly following the generally accepted dogmas, we should look at things with eyes wide open. If you choose the right chemical composition and synthesis method, the impossible becomes possible, and you can find new materials with unexpected properties and new opportunities for practical applications.&#8221;</p>
<p>Titanium could be an alternative to lithium as it is readily available, and the main titanium carrying reagents are easily available. Despite all these advantages, the low electrochemical potential limits the battery&#8217;s attainable specific energy, and this has been the main stumbling block in its wider acceptance.</p>
<p>This latest development provides a ray of hope for scientists all across the globe as the scientists at Skoltech succeeded in creating a cathode material based on titanium fluoride phosphate exhibiting high electrochemical potential and stability.</p>
<p>Recently, researchers at  <a href="https://www.psu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Penn State University </a>announced that they had <a href="https://mercomindia.com/lithium-ion-battery-may-last-one-million-miles/">developed</a> a lithium-ion battery that is safe and has power and can last up to one million miles. A team of researchers at the Penn State&#8217;s Battery and Energy Storage Technology (BEST) Center developed the battery.</p>
<p>In January this year, the researchers at <a href="https://www.research.ibm.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">IBM Research</a> <a href="https://mercomindia.com/ibm-claims-come-up-battery-replace-lithium-ion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">came up</a> with a new battery that does not use any heavy metals with sourcing concerns. Generally, heavy metals like nickel and cobalt are used in batteries, which pose a serious threat to our environment and are hazardous.</p>


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