Aust'n researchers discover simple process to improve battery life

Australian researchers have discovered that using a simple salt bath can extend the life of rechargeable lithium batteries.

Scientists from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) found that pre-treating a battery's electrodes with an electrolyte salt solution also improves the performance and safety of the battery.

The CSIRO's Dr Adam Best said that treating batteries in this way adds a protective film onto the electrode that stabilizes the battery.

"Our research has shown by pre-treating lithium metal electrodes, we can create batteries with charge efficiency that greatly exceeds standard lithium batteries," Best said in a media release on Tuesday.

"The pre-treatment reduces the breakdown of electrolytes during operation, which is what determines the battery's increased performance and lifetime."

The research, published in Nature Communications, could pave the way for the range of electric vehicles improving to the point of being competitive with vehicles running on petrol.

Researchers believe that the simple method will accelerate development of new energy storage solutions and help overcome anxiety associated with battery range in electric vehicles.

In the pre-treatment process the lithium metal electrodes are immersed in a mixture of ionic liquids and lithium salts in an electrolyte bath prior to the battery being assembled.

The non-flammable ionic liquids used in the process can prevent the risk of fire and explosion, a known issue with rechargeable batteries.

Associate Professor Anthony O'Mullane from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), who assisted with the research with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), said manufacturers could easily incorporate the method.

"The pre-treatment process is readily transferrable to existing manufacturing processes," O'Mullane said on Tuesday.

The research found that batteries which have been treated can spend up to one year on the shelf without losing any performance. Endit