… rather than later.
https://bigthink.com/the-future/lithium-sulfur-batteries/
Scientists have discovered a chemical phase of sulfur that stops battery degradation. They were so shocked by the discovery that they checked 100 times to ensure the result was real. As with most accidental discoveries, the scientists haven’t yet figured out what is actually happening. So further research is needed. If successful, lithium-sulfur batteries could give electric vehicles a range of thousands of miles.
This is why scientists at Drexel were looking into a brand new type of battery, known as lithium-sulfur.
On the surface, lithium-sulfur seems to solve all of lithium-ion’s problems. It uses far less ecologically harmful materials, can be cheaper to produce, can be up to three times more energy-dense (meaning a lighter battery) and is far less likely to catch fire. All without compromising charge speeds.
28 Likes
Scientists have discovered a chemical phase of sulfur that stops battery degradation.
If successful, lithium-sulfur batteries could give electric vehicles a range of thousands of miles.
These two statements, combined, don’t pass the sniff test.
But reading the article explains that they are separate properties, so this paragraph is just not worded well.
Also the “stops” battery degradation sort of implies the batteries are going to last ~forever.
The article claims “twice” as long.
So this does look promising – must be some catch since this article was published back in April and it hasn’t been written about more.
Mike
3 Likes
It makes sense to me that there hasn’t been news about it in 3 months. The effect was unexpected and unexplained. There is probably a lot of work being done to figure out what happened and why it happened. The lawyers have probably clamped a lid on things too to protect Drexel U’s. IP rights.
1 Like
This is pretty exciting. 3X the energy density and 2X the life? That makes for 6X the number of total vehicle miles per battery life time! And manufacturers can trade weight savings for extra range as needed.
…and of course the improvements will not stop with this Sulphur trick, but we can expect an enormous flow of new materials and methods as the R&D budgets that drive it all are still being increased from the low level of pre-Tesla days.
Energy Tech, Human Cultural/Political Insanities, and GCC are all accelerating. No one wrote a scí-fi capturing the multi-dimensional accelerating crazy now coming down.
david fb
1 Like
Energy Tech, Human Cultural/Political Insanities, and GCC are all accelerating. No one wrote a scí-fi capturing the multi-dimensional accelerating crazy now coming down.
“Soylent Green”? GCC, known then as “greenhouse effect”. A few rich “JCs” and everyone else living in poverty. Food riots over Soylent Corp wafers.
Did you notice? “Soylent Green” is set in 2022.
Trailer at this link.
https://www.imdb.com/video/vi2020082969/?playlistId=tt007072…
Steve
6 Likes
Steve
Your right, the book Soylent Green hit all my notes. Fancy a little red salsa on your greens?
david fb