The dream that lithium batteries could one day power Electric Vehicles(EV) to
travel more than 2,000 km on a single charge is set to become reality, thanks to
scientist team of Brighsun New Energy.
And that is just the beginning. Brighsun technology now entering industrial
trials promises lithium batteries with a lifetime of over 2 million km, cell
phones charged in 10 minutes lasting for over a week. A revolution is
underway.
Lithium Sulfur (Li-S) Battery Technology
Breakthrough
Through nearly 8 years of research, the scientists
at Brighsun New Energy have successfully developed new lithium-sulfur (Li-S)
batteries with an energy density 5-8 times higher than conventional secondary
batteries. According to test results from an internationally accredited testing
agency (SGS), Brighsun’s new technology allows a Li-S battery to keep 91% of its
initial capacity after 1,700 cycles under a rate of 2C (being fully
charged/discharged in 30 mins). That means the capacity decay per cycle is as
low as 0.01%. Even at a more aggressive rate of 5C (being fully
charged/discharged in 12.5 mins), Brighsun’s Li-S battery retains 74% of its
initial capacity after 1,000 cycles (capacity decay per cycle of 0.026%). The
cathode energy density for the 1th cycle after activation at charge rate of 1C
is 2103.8Wh/kg.
Driven by the growing world market for EVs, the battery industry has explored a
range of chemical combinations: lithium iron phosphate, lithium cobalt oxide
and, currently, nickel manganese cobalt. However, current battery systems still
suffer from the major disadvantages of relatively low energy density, high raw
material costs and secondary pollution during recycling.
A Game Changer
Brighsun New Energy’s advanced Li-S chemistry,
offering high energy density and resultant low raw material costs, will be a
game-changer in the EV industry. Li-S batteries also have the potential to
become the most promising energy storage system for future railways, ships and
airlines. Industries such as electric supply grid storage, mobile phones, drones
and AI will also benefit from dramatically higher energy density storage
provided by Brighsun’s new battery system.
Companies in the US, Germany, Korea and China have
all been developing Li-S batteries and have achieved promising breakthroughs.
However, these systems still face a number of challenges, including volume
expansion of cathode materials during cycling, the shuttling effect of
polysulfides, and the dendritic growth of lithium on the anode. This results in
shorter cycling life and poor fast-charging capability, both major obstacles to
their application in the world automotive industry.
Brighsun’s Revolutionary
Approach
Brighsun New Energy has patented Li-S battery
technology that prevents the generation of polysulfide on the sulfur cathode and
effectively suppresses dendritic growth of Li on the anode Li-S, paving the way
for Li-S battery use in EVs.
Brighsun has already developed processes for the
production of cathode materials, electrolytes, separators and lithium sheet
anodes, of which the core materials, anodes, electrolytes, and separators can be
produced in batches. Trial production of high-power cells, with an expected
energy density in excess of 1,000 Wh/kg, is about to begin.
The company is also developing its own solid-state
electrolyte, compatible with its Li-S system, aiming at further improvements in
the cycling life, energy density and safety of its Li-S batteries.
Plentiful and Low Cost Battery Materials
The main raw materials for Brighsun’s Li-S batteries are widely available in
Australia, with a supply sufficient for hundreds of years. Indeed, at under
AUD100 for 1kWh, the expected production cost of Brighsun-branded 2U Li-S
batteries is lower than conventional lithium ion batteries—providing a major
boost to the development of electric vehicle and related industries in Australia
and around the world.
Going Forward
Brighsun is currently in discussion with potential
investors in the large-scale trial production of Li-S batteries. The development
process for large-scale production is expected to be finished by end-2020,
followed by the mass production of Li-S batteries.
Brighsun’s new, energy-dense Li-S battery is
expected to accelerate EV take-up around the world, spurred by dramatically
improved single-charge travel performance, low cost and long life. Combined with
the relative simplicity of EV design compared to internal combustion
engine/hybrid vehicles, consumers and industry alike are set to benefit from
lower cost, emission-free transport. At the same time, Brighsun’s 2U Li-S
batteries offer huge benefits to the mobile phone and solar-electric storage
industries, generating dramatic performance improvements in both.
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