Researchers from the Monash Energy Institute have created a longer-lasting, lighter, and more sustainable rival to the lithium-ion batteries by simply adding sugar to lithium-sulfur batteries.
Lithium-sulfur batteries actually store more energy than lithium-ion batteries, but they tend to deteriorate and break down more easily over time. By using a sugar-based additive to the battery, the Monash team stabilized the sulfur. This extended the battery’s life while still holding far more capacity than equivalent lithium-ion batteries.
In less than a decade, this technology could lead vehicles, including electric buses and trucks, to travel farther without recharging. It could also enable innovation in delivery and agricultural drones, where lightweight is very important. And manufacturing the batteries doesn’t require exotic, toxic, and expensive materials.
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