Nanotube Film Prevents Dendrite Growth

Nov-05-18 An innovative battery design relies on a carbon nanotube film to ‘drown’ dangerous dendrites before they can cause a short circuit.

One of the most pervasive challenges in lithium-ion battery technology is the lithium fibers that form on the anode during charging, becoming tentacles called dendrites that can puncture the battery’s separator.

Joining the ranks of dendrite tamers, the team from Rice University coated the battery’s lithium metal anode with a film of carbon nanotubes. The film helps deter the dendrite growth by absorbing the lithium ions during charging and then distributing them in a smooth layer, without altering the battery’s charging rates.

Image (Credit: Tour Group/Rice): Microscope images of lithium metal anodes after 500 charge/discharge cycles show the growth of dendrites is quenched in the anode at left, protected by a film of carbon nanotubes. The unprotected lithium metal anode at right shows evidence of dendrite growth.

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[NEWATLAS.COM]
[NEWS.RICE.EDU]

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