A research group from the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering at the Technion, which developed the first silicon-air batteries, reports success in developing rechargeable silicon batteries
The growing need to use renewable energy sources poses many engineering challenges, including the storage challenge. Since these sources are not stable on the timeline - solar radiation does not reach the earth all hours of the day and wind energy is not constant in strength - efficient storage solutions are required.
Beyond the environmental and climate issue, there are many technological challenges, for example in driving electric vehicles. Strong and long-lasting batteries are a wish that has not yet come true, and today these batteries are mostly based on lithium-ion batteries characterized by a high price and negative environmental consequences. Against this background, many studies have been conducted in recent decades designed to develop batteries based on cheaper and more readily available components such as magnesium, calcium, aluminum and zinc.
This is the background for the research conducted in the laboratory of Prof. Yair Ein-Eli from the Technion on silicon-based batteries. Prof. Ein Eli is a faculty member in the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering and a member of GTEP, The Grand Energy Program at the Technion.
Silicon is the most common element in the earth's crust besides oxygen and is therefore readily available and cheap. Moreover, it is characterized by stability and high energy density - characteristics that make it a suitable material for batteries.
The research on this subject at the Ein Eli laboratory began as early as 2009 and has already resulted in the development of silicon-air batteries. Now the research group headed by Prof. Ein Eli publishes a new breakthrough: rechargeable batteries based on silicon, without lithium. the study published inAdvanced Energy Materials It was led by PhD student Alon Epstein from the experimental side and Dr. Igor Baskin from the theoretical side and Prof. Mati Sass from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering participated.
The research team showed how the silicon dissolves when the battery is discharged and sinks back during charging in a way that allows for alternating discharge and charging. In experiments conducted in the laboratory, the researchers were able to demonstrate several rounds of discharge-charging, and they estimate that improving the design will lead to an increase in the number of rounds and energy efficiency. According to Prof. Ein Eli, "This proof of feasibility may pave the way towards improved rechargeable batteries, thus speeding up the development of efficient batteries for energy storage."
The research was supported by the Council for Higher Education and the National Science Foundation, the National Program for Fuel Substitutes, the Ministry of Absorption and Aliya, Maged Malach (INREP) and the Grand Energy Program at the Technion.
for the article in Advanced Energy Materials click here
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