To date, lithium iron phosphate has been used as the positive electrode in large lithium batteries. However, during charging, the positive electrode shrinks significantly, causing cracks and making the battery prone to aging.
According to reports, the research team used quantum mechanics-based calculations to find the most suitable elemental composition for use in the cathode. The results showed that replacing some of the iron in lithium iron phosphate with zirconium and some of the phosphorus with silicon significantly reduced the volume change during charging, thus extending battery life.
It is reported that after the actual synthesis of the lithium-ion battery cathode material, the results showed that it had the same functionality as the calculated results. Experiments show that, taking charging once a day as an example, the predicted lifespan of lithium-ion batteries will be extended from the current 10 years to about 70 years. Tanaka Isao stated, "The calculation method used to develop this new material can also be widely applied to other areas besides lithium-ion batteries."
