Georgia Tech researchers developed a new iron chloride cathode that could slash lithium-ion battery costs and revolutionize electric vehicles and energy storage.
A research team from multiple institutions, led by Hailong Chen of Georgia Tech, has developed a new, cost-effective cathode with the potential to significantly enhance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), potentially revolutionizing the electric vehicle (EV) market and large-scale energy storage systems.
“For a long time, people have been looking for a lower-cost, more sustainable alternative to existing cathode materials. I think we’ve got one,” said Chen, an associate professor with appointments in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and the School of Materials Science and Engineering.
The revolutionary material, iron chloride (FeCl3), costs a mere 1-2% of typical cathode materials and can store the same amount of electricity. Cathode materials affect capacity, energy, and efficiency, playing a major role in a battery’s performance, lifespan, and affordability.
“Our cathode can be a game-changer,” said Chen, whose team describes its work in Nature Sustainability. “It would greatly improve the EV market — and the whole lithium-ion battery market.”
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