"We have tried it, but the irradiation of high-energy particles can easily cause damage to the SEI and electrode structure; although low-temperature cryo-electron microscopy can solve this problem, due to the limitations of usage conditions, room temperature electrolytes cannot be used in the experiment, and in-situ observations cannot be achieved. In addition, the equipment used in this process is too expensive and has no promotional value!" Tao Ran gave a direct positive response.
They had tried this experiment before, using various electron microscopy techniques to understand the evolution of lithium dendrite growth at the nanoscale. This has always been a crucial method to solve this problem, so they naturally would not miss the opportunity to try it!
Their new energy battery research and development is market-oriented, so expensive and wasteful methods are no longer suitable! They are looking for a battery that can effectively curb the growth of lithium dendrites, is relatively inexpensive per unit cost, and can also provide long-term power supply. Only then can it be used as a true new energy battery and promoted to the public.
In fact, many laboratory methods only exist in ideal data and have no promotional value.
"Cheng Xu and I experimented with this. Building on our previous in-depth research using in-situ electrochemical atomic force microscopy (EC-AFM) on the SEI film formation mechanism of various negative electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries, we took advantage of the fact that the SEI film formation potential is more positive than the deposition potential of metallic lithium and designed a two-step method for real-time in-situ observation of lithium dendrites!"
After more than a year of research, and with Wu Tong's occasional guidance, Tao Ran and Ruan Chengxu can say that they have made great progress in the field of new energy batteries, especially lithium batteries. This experimental design plan is their current feedback.
"We used EC-AFM to study the growth process of SEI films in ethylene carbonate (EC) and fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC)-based electrolytes in real time, and on this basis, we observed the growth of lithium dendrites in situ!
By analyzing the Young's modulus, CV spectra, and EIS impedance spectra of the SEI films formed by the two electrolytes, combined with XPS spectral analysis, we found that the SEI film formed by the FEC electrolyte contains a higher amount of LiF inorganic salt. Due to the good hardness and stability of LiF, the SEI film has higher strength and can effectively inhibit the growth of lithium dendrites within a certain range!
Ruan Chengxu added the introduction of the complete experiment. This is their progress. It can be said that they are currently at a relatively good level internationally. However, they still have not been able to completely solve the problem of the lithium dendrite shuttle effect!
New energy lithium batteries are a very popular and cutting-edge sector, and are extremely valuable!
Why do lithium batteries have such a magical power that makes people continue to be attracted to them? In fact, it is inseparable from a crucial concept: energy density.
The energy contained within a unit volume is called energy density. Translated to batteries, improving energy density is the most important indicator for measuring a battery's performance, and it is also a constant pursuit in scientific research and industry.
Even in China's 10th, 21st, and 3rd Five-Year Plans, there was a clear goal to bring power battery technology into line with international standards by 2020, with production capacity maintaining a global lead. A key priority was increasing the energy density of power batteries to 300-350Wh/kg.
This is the general direction of the plan. Wu Tong and the research team want to contribute their own efforts to this plan.
Of course, I don’t know how their team was tempted by this big piece of cake. There are countless people doing lithium battery research across the country and even around the world.
In the current laboratory, lithium-sulfur batteries have always been the mainstream, but after continuous experiments and elimination, and after consulting Mr. Wu for guidance, they finally set their sights on lithium negative electrodes, a field that once caused a stir and was abandoned by most.
This is not because they are trying to attract attention or going to the tiger den knowing there is a tiger there, but because the field of lithium negative electrode is really extremely valuable!
If they can successfully solve the problem of lithium dendrites, all those hotly-hyped concepts will have to go aside and make way for their lithium negative electrode batteries.
Not for anything else, but because the lithium metal negative electrode has the lowest electrochemical potential of -3.04V, not to mention the specific capacity of up to 3861mAh/g.
Using lithium materials as negative electrodes, the theoretical energy storage effect is ten times that of graphite batteries, which is really tempting. It can be said that it crushes the energy density of graphite negative electrode materials in all aspects!
And the most attractive thing is that once the problem of lithium dendrite growth is solved, there is no need to make major design changes to the existing batteries. The existing common graphite negative electrode materials can be directly replaced to achieve a leap in battery energy density!
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If they can make a breakthrough in this area, they may soon be able to use mobile phones and computers that can be on standby for one to two weeks, and electric cars that can easily surpass the current idle ones and can start at a range of 1,000 kilometers, thereby fully linking the situation of domestic oil imports. This is one of the important layouts for promoting new energy vehicles.
Mr. Wu and his colleagues all want to make a breakthrough in this field.
Not to mention the honor of success, just the royalties from this research and development patent alone can make them earn a lot of money. They are likely to achieve financial freedom and no longer have to worry about money. Their free funds will inevitably increase significantly, and in the future, they may be more hesitant to conduct experiments.
Although the equipment in Mr. Wu's laboratory and Mr. Wu's research institute is already advanced enough compared to many other laboratories, this does not affect their desire to make the laboratory better.
If ordinary people have great pursuits for cars, houses, gold and silver jewelry, then they dream of all kinds of advanced experimental equipment, which makes their hearts beat faster than money and beauty!
The atmosphere in the conference room gradually reached a climax with the analytical speeches of Ruan Chengxu and Tao Ran. It can be said that every member actively and enthusiastically expressed their ideas and feelings after studying and researching for such a long time.
Mr. Wu is doing it, so of course they have to actively perform. If they can get even a little guidance from Mr. Wu, their future research and development path will be smoother by who knows how many levels!
Biochemistry, environmental science and materials science, the four major fields, are able to take the initiative to step into these fields and are still making continuous progress. They are not simply studying for academic qualifications, but in the real learning, they have touched the mystery and fun of these studies. They really like their majors and are very interested in their majors. This is the source of motivation that supports them to where they are today.
No one wants to go one step further!
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