New Battery Tech Helps Solve Lithium-Ion’s Biggest Problem: Degradation

But, thanks to a team of researchers from Japan, that seemingly quick loss of capacity may be a thing of the past.

According to EurekaAlert via PCMag, a team of scientists from Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) have discovered a new material that helps a battery hold its capacity for five years and possibly longer, claims head researcher Professor Noriyoshi Matsumi.

The material, bis-imino-acenaphthenequinone-paraphenylene (BP) copolymer, is a binder used on a lithium-ion battery’s negative terminal.

Current batteries use poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) as a binder, but it degrades after 500 charging cycles, losing 35 percent of its charging capacity in this short amount of time.

The newly discovered BP copolymer can maintain up to 95 percent of its original capacity after 1,700 charging cycles. For consumers, this technology would extend the lifespan of their electronics by years and prevent costly battery replacement programs.

“The realization of durable batteries will help in the development of more reliable products for long-term use. This will encourage consumers to purchase more expensive battery-based assets like electric vehicles, which will be used for many years,” said Matsumi.

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