Researchers discovered that charging lithium-ion batteries at high currents just before they leave the factory is 30 times faster and increases battery lifespans by 50%
https://www6.slac.stanford.edu/news/2024-08-29-researchers-discover-surprising-way-jump-start-battery-performance
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>In a study published today in Joule, researchers at the SLAC-Stanford Battery Center report that giving batteries this first charge at unusually high currents increased their average lifespan by 50% while decreasing the initial charging time from 10 hours to just 20 minutes.
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>Just as important, the researchers were able to use scientific machine learning to pinpoint specific changes in the battery electrodes that account for this increase in lifespan and performance – invaluable insights for battery manufacturers looking to streamline their processes and improve their products.
>Experiments confirmed that charging at high currents has a huge impact, increasing the lifespan of the average test battery by 50%. It also deactivated a much higher percentage of lithium up front – about 30%, compared to 9% with previous methods – but that turned out to have a positive effect.
>Manufacturers generally give new batteries their first charge with low currents, on the theory that this will create the most robust SEI layer. But there’s a downside: Charging at low currents is time-consuming and costly and doesn’t necessarily yield optimal results. So, when recent studies suggested that faster charging with higher currents does not degrade battery performance, it was exciting news.
Paper: [Data-driven analysis of battery formation reveals the role of electrode utilization in extending cycle life: Joule](https://www.cell.com/joule/abstract/S2542-4351(24)00353-2)
Very very doubtful this will translate into real world production. There are likely other considerations the researches don’t know about. The industry has undoubtedly tested a spectrum of charge currents and pick the one with the least trade offs.
Interesting. I would like to know how they checked the lifespan. If they are not careful they could do something like cycles until capacity is 80% of first cycle, which sounds good, but then you dont account for the loss before that first cycle.
They do mention that they get higher initial loss of capacity, and that is something that needs to be factored in here.
Looks like we’re one step closer to phones that don’t die on us mid-day and electric cars that go the extra mile. Can’t wait to see how this reshapes our energy future!
Seems like it might reduce battery sales. Pass.
So in other words they can…but they won’t. Why reduce further profits by producing high quality, long lasting products?
The last two batteries I bought came 90% charged.
I like it.