Nanowire Li-ion battery. Is there a sense?

In summary, there is a new type of battery being developed with a silicon anode that can absorb 8 times more Li-ions than a typical graphite anode. However, the main limitation of Li-ion batteries is their cathode, which has a lower specific capacity compared to the anode. Therefore, increasing the capacity of the anode may not be beneficial unless there is also a significant improvement in the cathode. Even if the anode is made 8 times smaller, the overall mass of the battery may not decrease significantly. There may be potential for this technology in space applications, but it may not be worth the expense. Additionally, there are some electron exchange processes, such as pseudocapacitors and triboelectric effect
  • #1
Stanley514
411
2
Recently, there is a new type of battery is developing that has silicon anode which is able to absorb 8 times more Li-ions than graphite anode.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanowire_battery" [Broken]
But if I no make mistake the main limitation of Li-ion battery is its cathode, not anode.
Usual graphite anode has specific capacity 372 mA·h/g while typical cathode 100-180mA·h/g. So there seem to be no sense to increase capacity of anode unless we have much more capacitive cathode.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium-ion_battery" [Broken]
 
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  • #2
If you can make 8 times lighter anode final mass of the battery will be still lower, even if the cathode has been not changed.
 
  • #3
If you can make 8 times lighter anode final mass of the battery will be still lower, even if the cathode has been not changed.

Even if yes,maybe just a few persents.Could you provide some approximate calculations?
For exampe, if in usual Li-ion battery anode takes 1/4 of space,cathode 2/4 and electrolyte 1/4,then making anode 8 times smaller saves us only 1/5 of total space.
Probably,it will not be worth of new expensve technologies to produce it.
Maybe, for some space applications only.

Also I whish to know if there is some electron exchange processes which are not associated
with actual chemical changes.I know there exist some pseudocapacitors but there is still some chemical processes occur what limits the cycle life.What about triboelectric effect when electrons transfer from one material to another?Could it be used as energy storage?
 

1. What is a Nanowire Li-ion battery?

A Nanowire Li-ion battery is a type of battery that utilizes nanowires as the anode material instead of traditional graphite. Nanowires are extremely thin wires with a diameter of less than 100 nanometers, making them ideal for increasing the surface area and improving the battery's performance.

2. How does a Nanowire Li-ion battery work?

A Nanowire Li-ion battery works by storing and releasing energy through the movement of lithium ions between the anode (made of nanowires) and the cathode. When the battery is being charged, the lithium ions move from the cathode to the anode, and during discharge, they move back to the cathode.

3. What are the advantages of using Nanowire Li-ion batteries?

Nanowire Li-ion batteries have several advantages over traditional Li-ion batteries. They have a higher energy density, meaning they can store more energy in a smaller size. They also have a longer lifespan and faster charging capabilities. Additionally, they are more environmentally friendly as they use less toxic materials in their construction.

4. Are there any drawbacks to using Nanowire Li-ion batteries?

One potential drawback of Nanowire Li-ion batteries is their high cost of production. The technology is still in its early stages, and the manufacturing process is complex and expensive. Additionally, there are concerns about the stability of nanowires and their potential to break or degrade over time, affecting the battery's performance.

5. Is there any real-world application for Nanowire Li-ion batteries?

Yes, there are several real-world applications for Nanowire Li-ion batteries. They are currently being used in electronic devices such as smartphones and laptops to improve battery life and charging speed. They also have potential uses in electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and medical devices. However, further research and development are needed to make them more cost-effective and reliable for these applications.

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