Scientists at Chalmers University of Technology have created a groundbreaking carbon-fiber composite battery that could significantly reduce the weight and energy consumption of electric vehicles and portable devices.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed a revolutionary carbon fiber composite battery that is not only as stiff as aluminum but also energy-dense enough for commercial use.
Published in Advanced Materials, this innovative breakthrough in structural battery technology holds the potential to halve the weight of electronic devices like laptops and make mobile phones as thin as a credit card. More importantly, it could extend the driving range of electric cars by up to 70% on a single charge.
“We have succeeded in creating a battery made of carbon fibre composite that is as stiff as aluminium and energy-dense enough to be used commercially. Just like a human skeleton, the battery has several functions at the same time,” first author Richa Chaudhary, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Industrial and Materials Science at Chalmers, said in a news release.
A Decade-Long Quest for Lightweight Efficiency
The research into structural batteries at Chalmers has been ongoing for several years.
In 2018, the team, in collaboration with KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, achieved significant recognition when they discovered that stiff, strong carbon fibers could chemically store electrical energy. This discovery was among the 10 biggest breakthroughs identified by Physics World that year.
Since then, the researchers have continuously refined their concept.
In 2021, they attained an energy density of 24 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg), roughly 20% of the capacity of conventional lithium-ion batteries.
The latest development boosts this to 30 Wh/kg. Despite being lower than current batteries, the structural integration greatly reduces overall weight, enhancing energy efficiency.
Impact on Future Technologies
The implications for the automotive and aerospace industries are profound.
An electric vehicle equipped with these structural batteries could see a 70% increase in its driving range. Given the growing emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainability, this innovation arrives at a pivotal moment.
“Investing in light and energy-efficient vehicles is a matter of course if we are to economise on energy and think about future generations,” Leif Asp, a professor in the Department of Industrial and Materials Science at Chalmers who led the study, said in the news release. “We have made calculations on electric cars that show that they could drive for up to 70 percent longer than today if they had competitive structural batteries.”
The Journey Ahead
While the research team’s advancements are promising, significant engineering challenges remain in scaling up production for widespread use.
However, the commercial potential is enormous.
“One can imagine that credit card-thin mobile phones or laptops that weigh half as much as today, are the closest in time. It could also be that components such as electronics in cars or planes are powered by structural batteries. It will require large investments to meet the transport industry’s challenging energy needs, but this is also where the technology could make the most difference,” added Asp.
A New Era of Multifunctional Materials
Structural batteries like this one integrate energy storage with mechanical function, reducing the weight and material usage in a wide array of applications.
This new battery employs a semi-solid electrolyte, addressing safety concerns posed by liquid electrolytes that are prone to fire. By utilizing carbon fiber for both the electrodes and the reinforcement, it minimizes the need for additional materials like copper and aluminum, thereby further reducing weight.
As technological advancements continue, this breakthrough moves us closer to a future where our vehicles and gadgets are lighter, more efficient and vastly improved in performance.