How Avoiding Full Discharge Extends Lithium-Ion Battery Life
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📰 The quick summary: A newly discovered battery degradation mechanism points to a simple fix – avoiding full discharge extends high-nickel lithium-ion battery life by over 19 times.
📈 One key stat: Batteries that avoided deep discharge maintained 73.4% capacity after 300 cycles, compared to just 3.8% capacity for fully discharged batteries after 250 cycles.
💬 One key quote: “The impact of discharge—the actual process of using a battery—has been largely overlooked until now“
1️⃣ The big picture: Scientists at POSTECH have identified a critical new understanding of how lithium-ion batteries degrade during normal use. The research team discovered that when batteries are deeply discharged, a problematic chemical reaction called ‘quasi-conversion’ occurs on the cathode surface. This reaction causes oxygen to escape and form lithium oxide, which then reacts with the electrolyte to generate gases that accelerate battery degradation. The finding explains why batteries with higher nickel content, while cheaper to produce, tend to have shorter lifespans.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: The simple solution of avoiding complete battery discharge can dramatically extend battery life, particularly for high-nickel batteries used in electric vehicles. This discovery means manufacturers can continue using cost-effective high-nickel cathodes while maintaining long battery life through optimized usage patterns. The findings open new paths for developing more durable and affordable batteries for electric vehicles and other applications. Longer-lasting batteries reduce waste and the environmental impact of battery production.
3️⃣ What’s next: Battery manufacturers can implement charging control systems that prevent deep discharge. Further research will likely focus on determining optimal discharge cutoff voltages for different battery chemistries. Scientists may also explore ways to modify cathode materials to resist the quasi-conversion reaction even during deep discharge.
Read the full story here: SciTechDaily – Scientists Uncover Game-Changing Fix That Could Extend Battery Life by Over 19 Times
