Your next laptop could have incredible battery life

The next generation of long-lasting laptop batteries may have a surprising new addition—sulfur, the reactive element that, when combined with hydrogen, gives rotten eggs a unique, eerie stench.

Release time:

2022-09-09

Author:

The next generation of long-lasting laptop batteries may have a surprising new addition—sulfur, the reactive element that, when combined with hydrogen, gives rotten eggs a unique, eerie stench.

A team from Monash University, Australia, led by Professor Matthew Hill, Dr Mahdokht Shaibani and Professor Mainak Majumber, has developed a new interlayer for lithium-sulfur batteries that enables fast lithium transfer while improving the performance and lifespan of new batteries.

That means portable batteries may be cheaper, cleaner and faster to run.

Improved battery life

"The lithium battery interlayer sits in the middle of the cell, keeping the electrodes apart, and it helps lithium get from one side of the cell to the other faster. The new interlayer overcomes the slower charge and discharge rates of previous-generation lithium-sulfur batteries," Professor Hill said in a statement.

Compared to your standard lithium-ion battery, the new sulfur-based battery has up to five times the energy density. In other words, they could increase the range of a Tesla S to around 2,000 miles, which might be enough for a road trip on the U.S. West Coast from Mexico all the way to Canada.

The main achievement of the Monash team was their recognition of the utility of the interlayer in blocking polysulfides, a by-product formed inside the battery that can significantly shorten the life of the battery. Lithium-sulfur batteries are expected to perform up to 2,000 charge-discharge cycles.

Another significant advantage of this battery technology over the current generation is that it does not use rare metals and minerals, which are not only very expensive but often cause environmental problems.

Sulfur is a by-product of the Australian metallurgical and petroleum industries, producing around 900,000 tonnes of sulphur in 2013 alone.

That team at Monash University has an enviable reputation for lithium battery technology. In 2020, it helped pioneer a new filtration technology that reduces lithium extraction time, and in September 2021 it was discovered that with just a spoonful of sugar, your lithium-sulfur battery will last longer.

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