A research team led by Georgia Tech’s Hailong Chen has developed a new, low-cost cathode material, iron chloride (FeCl3), that has the potential to significantly improve lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and transform the electric vehicle (EV) market and large-scale energy storage systems. The material costs only 1-2% of typical cathode materials but can store the same amount of electricity, making it a game-changer in the battery industry. Cathode materials play a crucial role in a battery’s performance, lifespan, and affordability, and FeCl3 has the potential to greatly improve the EV market and the overall LIB market.
LIBs, which were first commercialized by Sony in the early 1990s, revolutionized personal electronics and eventually powered electric vehicles. However, the high cost of LIBs, which make up approximately 50% of an EV’s total cost, has hindered the widespread adoption of EVs. FeCl3 has the potential to change this by significantly reducing the cost of batteries, making EVs more affordable compared to internal combustion vehicles. This could have far-reaching implications for the sustainability and supply chain stability of the EV market and also enhance the resilience of the electrical grid with large-scale energy storage systems.
Conventional LIBs use liquid electrolytes to transport lithium ions, limiting their efficiency, reliability, and safety. All-solid-state LIBs, which use solid electrolytes, have the potential to overcome these limitations and hold more energy. FeCl3 can be used in conjunction with a solid electrolyte and lithium metal anode to create an affordable and sustainable all-solid-state LIB. This advancement in battery technology could lead to more efficient and reliable batteries that are safer and capable of holding more energy, marking a significant breakthrough in the field of battery technology.
The researchers’ interest in FeCl3 as a cathode material stemmed from their work on solid-state battery research, where they found that FeCl3 could provide a better pairing with chloride electrolyte materials compared to traditional oxide-based cathodes. FeCl3 contains only iron and chlorine – abundant and affordable elements found in steel and table salt – making it a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option compared to cathodes that contain costly and potentially toxic heavy metals like nickel and cobalt. FeCl3 has been found to perform as well as or better than other, more expensive cathodes in initial tests, showcasing its potential as a cost-effective alternative for LIBs.
The technology using FeCl3 as a cathode material in all-solid-state LIBs may be less than five years away from commercial viability in EVs. The research team plans to continue investigating FeCl3 and related materials to optimize their performance and understand their underlying functioning mechanisms. The team’s collaborative efforts with researchers from various institutions, including Georgia Tech, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the University of Houston, highlight the interdisciplinary nature of battery research and the potential for groundbreaking advancements in the field. The ultimate goal is to scale up the technology and push it towards commercial applications, making affordable, sustainable, and high-performance LIBs a reality for the electric vehicle and energy storage markets.
