A research team at Georgia Tech has developed a new, low-cost cathode (a critical element of lithium-ion batteries) that could transform the EV and large-scale energy storage system markets.
Important context: Cathode materials such as oxides used today are made up of liquid electrolytes that limit battery capacity and efficiency—they can even leak and catch fire. The new solid material (iron chloride) can store the same amount of electricity and only costs 1–2% of typical cathode materials.
How does it work? Today’s lithium-ion batteries are expensive because they require semi-precious materials such as cobalt and nickel.
- The Georgia Tech team’s cathode instead requires chloride and iron, both of which are abundant and affordable.
- Iron chloride has a higher voltage than older cathode materials, which could contribute to more storage once deployed in batteries.
Zoom out: Creating a battery with more readily available materials could mitigate supply chain shortages and help solve critical labor issues. Plus, scientists think the new tech could do more than make EVs cheaper—it could enhance resilience across the electrical grid with a new approach to large-scale energy storage.
Looking ahead: The technology is about five years away from commercial production in EVs. Then, the new cathode material could make entire battery systems that cost only 30–40% of current lithium-ion batteries.
