Nissan Motor Co. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Nissan Analysis and Research Center, recently announced further research results on battery performance, achieved through observations of the electronic activity of lithium-ion battery cathode materials during charging and discharging. This new battery technology will lead to significant improvements in both capacity and lifespan.
Current battery technology aims to store as much lithium as possible in the battery's reaction materials. This allows for the generation of more electrons, resulting in higher battery capacity and longer lifespan. However, to maximize the performance of this material, precise monitoring of internal electronic activity is crucial during the research and development phase. Observing the release of electrons from specific elements in the lithium-ion battery cathode material during charging and discharging helps scientists understand the electron sources during these processes. This research expands the scope for future battery technology development.
The new observation and analysis method is the result of a collaborative research effort between Nissan's Analysis and Research Center, the University of Tokyo, Osaka Prefecture University, and Kyoto University. These institutions shared their technological resources; for example, they used X-ray absorption spectroscopy (a method for analyzing the internal structure and electronic states of atoms) to analyze the electronic activity inside batteries. Since traditional techniques cannot observe the electrons actually involved in the electrolysis reaction, they integrated their technologies at this stage. By using X-ray absorption spectroscopy with the L absorption limit, electrons directly involved in the electrolysis reaction can be observed. Combined with the computational processing of an Earth simulator (a supercomputer jointly developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, and the National Center for Marine Science and Technology, developed to predict and analyze the Earth's atmospheric circulation, crustal movements, etc.), the number of electron movements can be accurately analyzed.
The battery developed using new analytical techniques has achieved a 150% improvement in energy density compared to traditional batteries. This means that Nissan has taken another big step forward in the field of lithium battery technology, and the driving range of electric vehicles will naturally be greatly improved.
Editor's Summary:
Battery technology is crucial for the development of electric vehicles. Nissan, in collaboration with universities and institutions, is monitoring and researching the electronic activity within lithium-ion batteries to better understand their internal characteristics. This analytical technique has resulted in lithium-ion batteries with a 150% increase in capacity compared to existing products. For example, if the new battery technology is implemented in the future, the Nissan Leaf's range could potentially approach 300 kilometers (the 2014 Leaf had a range of approximately 200 kilometers). This new battery analysis technology will not only further advance Nissan's development in the electric vehicle field but will also stimulate the entire electric vehicle industry.
