Skin Cream Ingredient Improves Stability of Aqueous Li-Ion Batteries

Researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong have used a skin cream as a stabilizing agent for aqueous Li-ion batteries to create a stable voltage for common usage recently. While improving battery stability, it also keeps costs and toxicity low.

Although aqueous Li-ion batteries have been widely used in mobile devices and electric vehicles, conventional liquid electrolytes are still susceptible to fire or expansion in high-temperature environments, such as the 2016 Samsung Galaxy Note 7 debacle.

To improve the safety of aqueous Li-ion batteries, researchers have put a lot of effort, including the design of built-in flame retardant, another that makes the electrolyte resistant to impact damage, and one that automatically shuts down the battery before it overheats.

Another idea is to use a water-based electrolyte that will not catch fire to avoid low voltage and energy density due to water stability issues.

Recently, a research team led by Professor Yi-Chun LU of the engineering faculty at the Chinese University of Hong Kong has promoted the development of such batteries by using inexpensive, safe, and environmentally friendly water-soluble polymers.

Interestingly, this ingredient can be found in skin cream, toothpaste, medicines, and even food and beverages, it is polyethylene glycol. Polyethylene glycol is used as a stabilization agent in the new water-based electrolyte and is reported to expand the stability window to 3.2 volts.

In contrast, although other aqueous battery designs can increase the voltage, often use high concentrations of expensive and toxic salts to stabilize water molecules.

The combination of water, polyethylene glycol, and low-concentration lithium salt used in the new design means that the manufacturing cost and toxicity of lithium-ion batteries are kept relatively low. Even better, the new battery can remain stable after 300 charge and discharge cycles.

The research team said: "This research finding provides a new platform for designing aqueous electrolyte in aqueous Li-ion batteries with large voltage window and high stability for safe, low-cost, and eco-friendly energy storage in our daily use as the skin cream."

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