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Study Finds Possible New Cause of Battery Aging
Lithium-ion batteries used in hybrids and electric cars slowly lose their charge capacity.
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Lithium-ion batteries used in hybrids and electric cars slowly lose their charge capacity. But why?
Battery makers already know one reason: Lithium ions that move between the anode and cathode during charge/discharge cycles gradually build up on the anode. But that may not be the only cause, according to researchers at Ohio State University.
The OSU scientists say lithium that accumulates on the anode may migrate onto the "current collector," a thin layer of copper that facilitates electron transfer between a battery's electrodes and the vehicle's electrical system.
Prof. Bharat Bhushan, who is heading the research, says the team isn't sure how the migration occurs. The group detected a mere 0.08% lithium contamination in the current collector. But it says even that small amount may be enough to degrade battery performance.
The OSU results were reported recently in Scripta Materialia,
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