Nothing Rare in This Cathode

A lithium-ion cell with a cathode containing no rare metals has been developed by a researcher at the Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials at Japan's Tohoku University.

Researchers Yuki Hanyu and Itaru Honma report on their work in a research paper published by the U.K.'s Scientific Reports. The full report is available online HERE.

The button-size prototype battery pellet, which measures about 0.4 inches across, replaces the usual rare metals with an organic material (tetracyanoquinodimethane, or TCNQ) that costs one-fifth as much, according to the researchers.

The architecture consists of a carbon current collector, room-temperature ionic liquid and organic crystals. Hanyu and Honma compressed the materials in a die to form a battery pellet that encapsulates the cathode paste. The researchers say their novel cell design prevents the organic cathode compounds from dissolving.

The prototype achieved a peak energy density of 200 Wh/kg and retained an energy density of 120 Wh/kg after more than 100 cycles, according to the researchers. They say their results suggest that further advances in TCNQ-based all-solid cells is likely.