Beijing (ANTARA) - Chinese researchers have developed a new approach\nto significantly improve the performance of lithium-sulphur batteries, a\nbreakthrough that could one day enable drones to fly much further on a\nsingle charge.<\/p>\n
The research, recently published in the journal Nature, paves the way\nfor more durable and powerful batteries for low-altitude flight and\nother fields.<\/p>\n
Most conventional drones currently rely on lithium-ion batteries,\nwhich are approaching the limits of their energy density capacity. This\nenergy density, the amount of energy stored per unit of weight, is\ngenerally below 300 watt-hours per kilogram, leading to \u201crange anxiety\u201d\nthat limits flight duration.<\/p>\n
Lithium-sulphur batteries are considered a promising alternative due\nto their high theoretical energy density, as well as the abundance and\nlow cost of sulphur.<\/p>\n
However, in practice, these batteries face major challenges. During\nthe charging and discharging process, sulphur undergoes complex chemical\nreactions that produce many soluble intermediate compounds. These\nintermediates tend to dissolve, slowing reactions and wasting\nenergy.<\/p>\n
A team led by Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School\n(Tsinghua SIGS) proposed a new solution by introducing the concept of a\n\u201cpremediator\u201d for sulphur electrochemistry.<\/p>\n
\u201cThink of it as a special additive compound that lies dormant in the\nbattery until needed. When the sulphur reaction begins, the additive\nawakens right at the reaction site and starts working,\u201d explained Zhou\nGuangmin, a researcher at Tsinghua SIGS.<\/p>\n
Once activated, these molecules bind to the soluble intermediates and\nprevent them from dissolving. The molecules also help create fast\npathways for electrical reactions, making the overall process much\nsmoother and more efficient, said Zhou.<\/p>\n
The team also redesigned the reaction network at the molecular level.\nThe newly developed molecules can reduce the battery\u2019s internal\nresistance by 75 per cent compared to conventional designs. In tests,\nthe new battery operated stably for 800 charge-discharge cycles,\nretaining nearly 82 per cent of its capacity.<\/p>\n
Even more impressively, the team created a practical pouch cell\nprototype with an energy density of 549 watt-hours per kilogram, almost\ntwice that of most standard drone batteries currently in use.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor drones, this is crucial. Higher energy density means longer\nflight times, greater payload capacity, and wider operational range.\nDelivery drones can fly further to transport packages. Power grid\ninspection drones can reach more towers in a single trip. Search and\nrescue drones can stay airborne longer when every minute counts,\u201d said\nZhou.<\/p>\n
The team believes their molecular design strategy can also be applied\nto other fields, including flow batteries, lithium-metal batteries, and\neven direct battery recycling processes, according to Xinhua.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/chinese-researchers-develop-lithium-sulphur-battery-for-drones-1778561567", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }