Scientists achieve breakthrough that could solve major battery problem – here’s why electric vehicle makers are taking note

A team of researchers from the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) has made a breakthrough that could have a huge impact on the future of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The team, led by Dr. Joong Tark Han, developed a method to produce carbon nanotube (CNT) powder that can be uniformly dispersed, a world first, according to the Korean National Science and Technology Research Council, shared via Tech Xplore..

CNTs are long cylindrical structures made up of hexagonal carbon chains. They are 100 times stronger than steel and have electrical conductivity capabilities comparable to copper, according to the report. The problem is that CNTs tend to clump together, making them difficult to mix with other materials used in batteries.

The agglutination-resistant CNT powder will help pave the way for dry battery manufacturing processes that do not rely on toxic liquid solvents that can be volatile.

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“The dry process is environmentally friendly because it does not use toxic solvents, eliminates the need for solvent recovery, simplifies the process and reduces production costs,” said Dr Han, adding: “ This technology will go a long way in ensuring significant technological progress. leader in secondary battery technology.

CNT powder can also increase the energy density of batteries (the energy stored relative to the mass of the batteries), so it’s no wonder that electric vehicle companies around the world have taken note. This new technology could play a role in the development of solid-state batteries, which require a dry process, and are widely considered the next step in the evolution of electric vehicle batteries.

Improving battery performance could convince potential car buyers to make their next vehicle an electric vehicle, reducing the pollution that contributes to global warming and contributes to extreme weather, threatening lives and the economy. global food supply.

CNT powder is being tested with various applications, including thick-film anodes and cathodes, which enable higher capacity and improved performance.

The KERI team spent years working to achieve this goal and applied for a national patent. Dr. Han expects CNT powder to attract a lot of attention and plans to identify companies that can put this technology to use.

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