Hsinchu university develops lithium battery with 167% more capacity

新竹大學研發出容量提升167%的鋰電池

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A team from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University has developed a new lithium battery that offers 167% more capacity than traditional lithium batteries, while also improving safety and lifespan, CNA reported.

Su Yu-sheng (蘇育陞), associate professor at the university’s International College of Semiconductor Technology, said the team improved lithium-ion battery design to develop the new battery. He added that the research could benefit the EV and energy sectors. The findings were published in the international journal Small Structures.

Lithium titanate oxide, a safe anode material that undergoes almost no expansion during charging, is suitable for EVs and energy storage equipment, Su noted. However, its low energy density limits storage capacity, preventing it from significantly extending EV driving range.

To address this, the team demonstrated that the battery anode material can operate with a sodium-ion electrolyte, offering a new approach for lithium battery research. Their findings also challenge the long-held assumption that lithium batteries must contain lithium ions in the electrolyte to function.

In the new battery design, lithium ions still store energy, Su said. Sodium ions help expand the battery’s internal structure, allowing more lithium ions to move in and out, thereby increasing capacity while maintaining stability.

He added that the higher-capacity battery can be safely fast-charged. Compared with lithium ions, sodium ions are cheaper, helping reduce manufacturing costs and strengthen the battery supply chain.

Patriot Green Energy, a local lithium battery maker, developed a new solid-state lithium battery in January that does not use flammable electrolytes, significantly improving safety. The company said the battery has a shorter lifespan of about 100 charge cycles but is well-suited for use in drones.

Last year, ProLogium Technology, another local lithium battery maker, unveiled its lithium-ceramic solid-state battery, which stores more than twice as much energy as conventional lithium batteries. The battery uses an inorganic electrolyte, which improves ion conductivity and reduces the risk of gas buildup during charging and discharging.