I think, over time, industrial designs will appear. The main thing is that it charges quickly and does not explode. While the capacity is not very large.
The results of the study, supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation, were published in the journal Batteries & Supercaps.
The new development is safer both in terms of the likelihood of fire and the consequences of its disposal for the environment.
Today, lithium-ion batteries have a number of serious drawbacks, among which, incl. possible fire, loss of capacity in the cold, as well as a significant threat to the environment when disposing of exhausted batteries. The low efficiency of lithium-ion batteries is one of the obstacles to increasing the driving range of cars and increasing the autonomy of mobile technology.
The problem is trying to solve all over the world.
In December 2020, audacious researchers at the University of California, San Diego have already announced a new type of battery that is also 10 times more powerful than traditional batteries:
printed it on a 3D printer;
used the well-known technology for creating zinc batteries based on silver oxide;
selected inks for 3D printing;
printing was carried out in a vacuum, so there was no oxidation of materials;
new battery specifications:
the battery is flexible;
capacity of 50 milliamps per square centimeter (mA/cm2), which is up to 20 times higher than that of a conventional lithium-ion battery;
after 80 charging cycles, the battery has not lost its capacity.
And scientists from St. Petersburg State University aptly noted that redox-active nitroxy-containing polymers can also be tried as the basis for new batteries.
Redox-active nitroxy-containing polymers
For the curious, we recall that redox-active nitroxy-containing polymers belong to the class of redoxites (there are redox polymers, redox ion exchangers, adsorption redoxites).
Redox polymers contain active groups in a strictly fixed position.
Hydroquinone, pyrogallol, pyrocatechol, anthraquinone, etc. can act as active groups.
Benefits of Redox:
high energy density (amount of energy per unit volume);
the rate of charging and discharging as a result of redox reactions.
The ability to undergo oxidation and reduction reactions in general opens up prospects for the use of redoxites in various industries for carrying out redox processes.
Flaws:
insufficient electrical conductivity, which interferes with the accumulation of charge even when using additives with high conductivity, such as carbon.
To eliminate the shortcomings, scientists from St Petersburg University synthesized a polymer based on the nickel-salen complex (NiSalen).
NiSalen
belongs to the group of materials with inclusions of transition metal atoms, which, due to being in different charge states, exhibit high reactivity;
monomer, metal-center polymer (Ni) surrounded (ligand -Salen);
has a comparative ease of manufacture, stability of the phase composition and heat resistance;
a branched system of w - conjugations and the overlap of the electron shells of the metal atom and the ligand provides the monomer with increased photo- and electrical activity;
the structure of the monomeric molecule and the properties of polymer samples based on it in the electrolyte are sufficiently studied;
the synthesis of polymer films based on NiSalen was carried out by the method of electrochemical polymerization, which makes it possible to control the growth process and the required thickness of the resulting samples;
can exist in an oxidized and reduced form, reversibly pass from one state to another with the preservation of the electronic structure of the supramolecule, which determines its basic physical properties.
The polymer molecules synthesized by St. Petersburg scientists act as a molecular wire to which energy-intensive nitroxide fragments are attached.
Such a molecular architecture of the material makes it possible to achieve simultaneously high power, capacitance and low-temperature characteristics.
The development of the polymer was carried out for more than 3 years.
First, the chemists tested the concept of a new material: they mixed individual components that simulate a conductive chain and redox-active nitroxy-containing polymers.
Then the stage of substance synthesis began.
This step has become especially difficult due to the sensitivity of the components involved, which can easily be destroyed by the slightest mistake by the scientist.
Of the several polymers obtained, only one proved to be stable and workable.
The main chain of the new material is formed by complexes of nickel with ligands, which are called "salen".
A stable free radical is attached to it through covalent bonds, which has the ability to rapidly oxidize and reduce (charge and discharge).
The new development will charge about 10 times faster than lithium-ion.
But so far, development lags behind them by 30-40% in terms of capacity.
Scientists are working on this problem.
Today, a cathode has been created for a new battery - the positive electrode of a chemical current source.
He needs a pair of a negative electrode - an anode, which does not have to be created from scratch - it can be selected from existing ones.
Together they form a system that in some areas may soon replace lithium-ion batteries.
The new battery can be used in cases where a quick charge is needed, as well as when working in low temperature conditions.
The new development also contains dozens of times less metals that can cause environmental harm.
Now scientists are filing a patent for their invention.
St. Petersburg State University will become the copyright holder.
Let's wait 10 years and we will have non-exploding smartphones))
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