Rubber material holds key to long-lasting, safer EV batteries

"Georgia Tech engineers have solved common problems (slow lithium-ion transport and poor mechanical properties) using the rubber electrolytes. The key breakthrough was allowing the material to form a three-dimensional (3D) interconnected plastic crystal phase within the robust rubber matrix. This unique structure has resulted in high ionic conductivity, superior mechanical properties and electrochemical stability.

This rubber electrolyte can be made using a simple polymerization process at low temperature conditions, generating robust and smooth interfaces on the surface of electrodes. These unique characteristics of the rubber electrolytes prevent lithium dendrite growth and allow for faster moving ions, enabling reliable operation of solid-state batteries even at room temperature.

"Rubber has been used everywhere because of its high mechanical properties, and it will allow us to make cheap, more reliable and safer batteries," said Lee." Rubber material holds key to long-lasting, safer EV batteries -- ScienceDaily

 

Yeah... Not to mention the proprietary nature of ingredients in tires, which is a nightmare for us enviros when it comes to managing hazardous waste, especially 6PPD.

But these batteries are next level rubber, we're talking nano-wire rubber matrix level stuff here. You need a highly refined rubber that's barely even been invented yet and you have to print it into tiny tunnels inside each cell while filling it with Lithium at same time.

 

The point of this advancement is that it allows batteries to operate at a lower temperature thus asbestos is not needed because the heat is no longer hot enough to require it. And low heat operation solves all kinds of other problems/design challenges too.