Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries currently play an important role in the transition to electric vehicles and decarbonisation strategies in general.
They have a number of drawbacks, however, including the use of cobalt in the battery cathodes.
Cobalt extraction largely takes place in developing nations, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, and is linked to the use of child labour, poor conditions for miners and environmental damage.
The scarcity of cobalt also puts the technology that depends on it at risk of price fluctuations, especially in relation to geopolitical events.
Alternatives to Li-ion batteries and cobalt cathodes are being sought, but none have yet matched the efficiency and scalability of existing technology.
Regarding cobalt-containing cathodes, in particular, organic alternatives have been unable to match the conductivity, storage capacity and lifetime of existing batteries.
Organic materials tend to have low conductivity, requiring them to be mixed with binders such as polymers – these binders account for a large portion of the overall material and reduce the battery storage capacity.
Now, however, a team of researchers from MIT have detailed a new organic material that is relatively abundant and, they say, could replace cobalt and other scarce and toxic metals without sacrificing performance.
Lamborghini-funded project discovered highly conductive organic material
The material, developed through a project funded by Lamborghini, consists of multiple layers of an organic small molecule known as TAQ (bis-tetraaminobenzoquinone).
The molecule itself consists of three fused hexagonal rings, and layers of TAQ are able to extend in every direction, producing a structure similar to graphite.
The molecules also contain chemical groups called quinones, which act as the necessary electron reservoirs, and amines, which help to form strong hydrogen bonds.
These hydrogen bonds are important as they keep the material stable and insoluble, extending life by preventing it from dissolving into the battery’s electrolyte – another common issue with other organic alternatives.
Tests of the material demonstrated storage capacity and conductivity that was comparable to standard Li-ion batteries with cobalt cathodes.
They also found that TAQ batteries could charge and discharge faster than existing cobalt batteries, potentially increasing the speed of charging on electric vehicles.
The researchers estimated that the material costs of assembling these batteries could be between a third and a half of existing cobalt batteries.
Lamborghini has already licensed the patent on the technology, which the researchers are looking to refine further.
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