Self-heating Battery charges fast at low temperatures
Many batteries struggle to charge at low temperatures, often using supercapacitors to provide the initial charge to start working. Lithium-ion batteries degrade when rapidly charged under 10ºC (50ºF) because, rather than the lithium ions smoothly integrating with the carbon anodes, the lithium deposits in spikes on the anode surface. This lithium plating reduces cell capacity, but also can cause electrical spikes and unsafe battery conditions. Currently, long, slow charging is the only way to avoid this problem.
“Electric vehicles are popular on the west coast because the weather is conducive,” said Xiao-Guang Yang, assistant research professor in mechanical engineering, Penn State. “Once you move them to the east coast or Canada, then there is a tremendous issue. We demonstrated that the batteries can be rapidly charged independently of outside temperature.”
Previously, the researchers developed a battery that could self-heat to avoid below-freezing power drain. Now, the same principle is being applied to batteries to allow 15 minute rapid charging at all temperatures, even as low as -42ºC (-45ºF)
The self-heating battery uses a thin nickel foil with one end attached to the negative terminal and the other extending outside the cell to create a third terminal. A temperature sensor attached to a switch causes electrons to flow through the nickel foil to complete the circuit when the temperature is below room temperature. This rapidly heats up the nickel foil through resistance heating and warms the inside of the battery. Once the internal temperature is above room temperature, the switch turns opens and the electric current flows into the battery to rapidly charge it.
“One unique feature of our cell is that it will do the heating and then switch to charging automatically,” said Chao-Yang Wang, professor of chemical engineering and professor of materials science and engineering and director of the Electrochemical Engine Center. “Also, the stations already out there do not have to be changed. Control off heating and charging is within the battery, not the chargers.”
The researchers report the results of their prototype testing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. They found that their self-heating battery could withstand 4,500 cycles of 15-minute charging at 32ºF with only a 20 percent capacity loss. This provides approximately 280,000 miles of driving and a lifetime of 12.5 years. A conventional battery tested under the same conditions lost 20 percent capacity in 50 charging cycles.
“This ubiquitous fast-charging method will also allow manufacturers to use smaller batteries that are lighter and also safer in a vehicle,” said Wang.
Related stories:
- BMW SIGNS UP LOW TEMPERATURE BATTERY TECH
- LITHIUM BATTERY WITH ORGANIC ELECTRODES OPERATES DOWN TO -70ºC
- MAGNESIUM SALTS IMPROVE LITHIUM ION CELL SAFETY
- BATTERY CHARGES IN SECONDS
If you enjoyed this article, you will like the following ones: don't miss them by subscribing to :
