Solid electrolyte boosts liquid metal battery

A new liquid metal electrode (LME) battery made with a solid electrolyte and molten electrodes has been developed by researchers working on rechargeable batteries.

Rather than a graphite electrode with lithium metal ions moving in and out, as in lithium-ion batteries, LMEs comprise liquid metal, and can boost the energy density of a cell by around 50%. They are comparatively inexpensive and have a long lifespan.

But most LME batteries use molten salts as the electrolyte between the two electrodes, requiring a high operating temperature of 450°C. This presents stability challenges. Now, a team led by Yi Cui at Stanford University in the US have developed a solid electrolyte with a garnet-like structure, comprising a framework of lanthanum oxide and zirconium oxide that allows lithium ions to quickly zip through.