Researchers have introduced an innovative method for creating large-scale graphene current collectors, a development that holds the potential to greatly improve both the safety and efficiency of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This achievement tackles a major obstacle in the field of energy storage technology.
A team of researchers from Swansea University, working alongside Wuhan University of Technology and Shenzhen University, has created a groundbreaking method for producing large-scale graphene current collectors.
This innovation is expected to significantly improve the safety and effectiveness of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), addressing a key issue in energy storage technology.
Published in Nature Chemical Engineering, the research outlines the first successful process for creating defect-free graphene foils at a commercial level. These foils provide exceptional thermal conductivity, achieving rates of up to 1,400.8 W m-1 K-1, which is nearly ten times greater than the conventional copper and aluminium current collectors currently used in LIBs.
“This represents a major advancement in battery technology,” stated Dr. Rui Tan, co-lead author from Swansea University. “Our technique enables the production of graphene current collectors at a quality and scale that can be seamlessly integrated into commercial battery production. This not only boosts battery safety by effectively regulating heat but also increases energy density and lifespan.”
A key concern in developing high-energy LIBs, particularly for electric vehicles, is the issue of thermal runaway—an alarming situation where excessive heat causes battery failure, often resulting in fires or explosions. The graphene current collectors are designed to reduce this risk by efficiently dispersing heat and preventing the chemical reactions that can trigger thermal runaway.
“Our tightly packed, organized graphene structure serves as a strong barrier against the creation of flammable gases and stops oxygen from entering the battery cells, which is essential for preventing disastrous failures,” noted Dr. Jinlong Yang, co-lead author from Shenzhen University.
The newly devised method is not merely a success in the lab but is also scalable, capable of producing graphene foils that are meters to kilometers long. As a notable demonstration of its capabilities, the researchers created a 200-meter-long graphene foil with a thickness of 17 micrometers. Remarkably, this foil maintained its high electrical conductivity even after being bent over 100,000 times, making it suitable for flexible electronics and other advanced uses.
This new technique also permits the production of graphene foils with adjustable thicknesses, potentially leading to even more effective and safer batteries.
This advancement could have wide-ranging effects on the future of energy storage, especially in electric vehicles and renewable energy systems, where safety and efficiency are crucial. The international research team, led by Prof. Liqiang Mai and Prof. Daping He from Wuhan University of Technology, Dr. Jinlong Yang from Shenzhen University, and Dr. Rui Tan from Swansea University, is working to perfect their method, with ongoing efforts to further reduce the thickness of the graphene foils and enhance their mechanical properties, while exploring the application of this new material in areas beyond Li-ion batteries, such as redox flow batteries and sodium-ion batteries, with support from Professor Serena Margodonna’s group at Swansea University.
