Houston Daily

Low-battery anxiety may soon be less stressful due to a discovery by researchers at the University of Houston. Scientists have long struggled to understand the real-time processes inside solid-state batteries, hindering efforts to extend their lifespan. A team from UH, in collaboration with Brown University researchers, used operando scanning electron microscopy to gain insights into why these batteries degrade and how to slow this process.

"This research solves a long-standing mystery about why solid-state batteries sometimes fail," said Yan Yao, a distinguished professor at UH and corresponding author of the study published in Nature Communications. "This discovery allows solid-state batteries to operate under lower pressure, which can reduce the need for bulky external casing and improve overall safety."

Previously, scientists knew that adding metals like magnesium to lithium electrodes improved battery performance but did not understand why. Yao's team discovered that voids form within the battery over time, merging into large gaps that cause failure. They found that adding small amounts of alloying elements like magnesium can close these voids and help maintain function.

"We captured real-time, high-resolution videos of what actually happens inside a battery while it’s working under a scanning electron microscope," said Lihong Zhao, first author of the work and now an assistant professor at UH. "With just a small tweak to the battery’s chemistry, we can dramatically improve its performance, especially under practical conditions like low pressure."

This advancement is significant for electric vehicles (EVs). Solid-state batteries are more fire-resistant and have potential for high energy density but require high external stack pressure during operation. "But by carefully adjusting the battery’s chemistry, we can significantly lower the pressure needed to keep it stable," Zhao said. "This breakthrough brings solid-state batteries much closer to being ready for real-world EV applications."

The research could also prevent overheating or fires in cell phone batteries and other electronics while extending charge duration. Yue Qi from Brown University provided theoretical analysis as co-corresponding author of this research.

Contributors include Min Feng from Brown; Chaoshan Wu, Liqun Guo, Zhaoyang Chen, Samprash Risal, Zheng Fan from UH; and Qing Ai, Jun Lou from Rice University. The work was supported by the US Department of Energy’s Battery 500 Consortium under the Vehicle Technologies Program.

"The team plans to build on this alloy concept by exploring other metals that could improve battery performance," Zhao said.