Dendrite-proof batteries made possible by Zylon nanofibers
Tuesday, May 17, 2016 - 08:50
in Physics & Chemistry
(Phys.org)—One of the biggest problems plaguing high-energy, lithium-metal batteries is dendrites, which form when some of the lithium from the electrode begins to branch outside the electrode and into the electrolyte, causing short circuits. In order to control dendrite growth, researchers use membrane separators to try to contain the lithium, but so far no separator material has proved ideal: ceramic separators are brittle and form cracks, polymer separators are mechanically weak, and effective nanofiber separators have so far been very difficult to fabricate.