Petrol Cars Threatened with Extinction Following Discovery by Korean Researchers

A groundbreaking battery innovation for electric vehicles has been developed by researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology in South Korea. The team has successfully created a silicon-based battery that could represent a turning point in the automotive industry by eliminating dependence on petrol and accelerating the transition to electric vehicles.

One of the key advantages of the newly discovered silicon battery is its exceptional range. A single charge is claimed to enable the vehicle to travel up to 1,000 km.

However, researchers at Pohang have had to overcome significant technical challenges. Silicon batteries expand to three times their original size when charged and shrink again when discharged, a problem that has plagued previous development efforts.

Most research has attempted to address this by creating batteries using nano-sized silicon particles, but this approach has proven expensive and complex in production. The Pohang team took a different approach, using silicon particles 1,000 times larger than nano-scale—at the micro scale—which is both easier and cheaper to produce whilst maintaining superior energy density.

To address the expansion and contraction of the silicon particles, the researchers used a polymer gel electrolyte that changes shape as the silicon does. The gel is chemically bonded through electron radiation, resulting in a stable bond despite the movement of the silicon particles.

The result is a silicon battery equivalent to standard lithium-ion technology but with energy density 40 percent higher. According to the researchers, their silicon battery design can be easily applied to existing manufacturing processes.

“We used micro-silicon anodes, resulting in a stable battery. This research brings us closer to high-energy-density lithium-ion battery systems,” said Park Soojin from Pohang University.