Microscopic yet mighty, the particles within lithium-ion batteries that contain critical minerals determine how much energy batteries can store, how fast they charge, and for how many years they can power your device. Over time, chemical reactions crack the surface of these particles. Those cracks interfere with current flow, leaving us with a dead battery and critical minerals buried alive.
To build a domestic, circular supply chain for batteries, Reeja Jayan has developed a low-cost, activated nano polymer layer that extends battery life cycle by 10x, reduces charging time, and improves operating safety.
“Instead of mining entire ecosystems out of existence to collect very limited minerals, we need to focus on innovations that lead to cost-effective, scalable solutions that prolong battery life and reduce waste,” said Jayan, a professor of mechanical engineering.
For the last 10 years, Jayan’s team has fine-tuned a method to maximize battery capacity without reducing the battery life. Using chemical vapor deposition, a materials processing technique widely used in semiconductor manufacturing, the team can encapsulate the battery’s critical mineral particles with a conducting polymer material that “seals” cracks and maintains current flow. The material must be applied while the battery is being manufactured.
