Do you know the real reason why lithium battery performance deteriorates?

Lithium-ion batteries are now widely used in mobile devices, but their lifespan is not long, and they lose about 1/5 of their capacity after 500 charging cycles. In order to study the reasons for the degradation of lithium-ion battery performance, scientists at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in the United States successfully observed the real-time charging and discharging status of lithium-ion batteries using a powerful microscope.

The researchers found that the battery generates stress during use and causes the electrodes to crack. In addition, each charge and discharge cycle leaves traces of lithium outside the electrode. These "dead" lithium can no longer play a role in future charges and will cause the battery capacity to decrease. The researchers also observed the formation of a solid electrolyte interphase layer on the electrode surface, which can "block" the battery and affect its charging ability.

One way to solve these problems with lithium batteries is to use other alternative elements. In the future, metal elements such as magnesium, aluminum or copper may become cheaper and more stable alternatives, but the performance of these batteries is not yet up to the level of lithium batteries.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.