THE FUTURE OF RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES

Companies and research labs are trying to create a battery that is more powerful, safer, charges faster, and lasts longer than the lithium ion battery. One company is even 3D printing batteries to change our perception of what a battery can look like. To understand how a battery works, we need a positive end (cathode), a negative end (anode), and an electrolyte to connect them. The electrolyte can be something like a potato.

The chemical reaction occurs between the potato and each end, where the anode releases electrons that flow through the wire back to the cathode, converting the chemical reaction into electricity. Unfortunately, the attempt did not yield any results. However, incorporating more potatoes should activate the light. These connections are challenging, but now let's proceed to illuminate the lights. This process forms the foundation of a chemical battery. The lithium-ion battery is a notable example of this, but there is still room for improvement.

Entrepreneurs are focusing on two critical design elements: the electrolyte and the anode. Most batteries available today, including lithium-ion batteries, use a liquid electrolyte containing lithium ions that facilitate the movement of charge. While liquid electrolytes are efficient conductors, they pose a significant fire risk, particularly when damaged or exposed to high temperatures. Incidents of this nature have received substantial media attention. Solid-state batteries, using stable and non-flammable solid materials, are a potential solution.

Startups are experimenting with electrolytes made from ceramics, glasses, and polymers, while others are looking for more powerful materials to use for the anode. Lithium metal has a higher capacity than other anodes like silicon or graphite, but it's hard to work with and tends to form dendrites that can short the battery. Using a solid material, however, could improve this issue. Sakuu, a California-based company, is designing solid-state batteries with lithium metal anodes and plans to 3D print them.

The company hopes that this manufacturing process will enable them to produce higher energy densities than other competitors using roll-to-roll manufacturing. Sakuu has printed solid-state batteries in their lab, but they have not yet fully printed a battery using their prototype. The company is doing tests and trying to figure out how to make the best battery using this manufacturing process.

How rechargeable batteries work

This is how it works: with the circuit turned off, both electrons and material A atoms are stuck in their high-energy, high-stress state, out of reach. On the other side of the electron barrier are material B atoms, which offer an easy, cushy, low-energy level position. When the circuit is turned on, electrons are given a path to happiness and begin flowing for the circuit to material B since they can't go any other way. Back at material A, the atoms are losing electrons because that's where the electrons are coming from, and they begin turning into positively charged ions. Ions always want to be neutral, so these guys need to find a negative charge, which they find in material B where all the electrons are going. Unfortunately, the electrons are way happier where they are now, so the ions have no choice but to mingle with the atoms of material B. This creates a mishmash with B atoms mingled with A ions as the battery discharges. Electrons and ions are making their way from A to B. When you can't fit any more material A ions into material B, the battery is fully discharged. To recharge the battery, you just do things in reverse. Instead of a circuit, you're putting energy that forces the electrons back into material A ions. Then, ions leave material B and rejoin their lost electrons, and the battery is ready to discharge again.