Asphalt Could Speed Lithium Metal Battery Charging by 20 Times

[Megalith]

A touch of asphalt may be the secret to high-capacity lithium metal batteries that charge 10 to 20 times faster than commercial lithium-ion batteries, according to Rice University scientists: chemist James Tour developed anodes comprising porous carbon made from asphalt that showed exceptional stability after more than 500 charge-discharge cycles. A high-current density of 20 milliamps per square centimeter demonstrated the material’s promise for use in rapid charge and discharge devices that require high-power density.

“The capacity of these batteries is enormous, but what is equally remarkable is that we can bring them from zero charge to full charge in five minutes, rather than the typical two hours or more needed with other batteries,” Tour said. The Tour lab previously used a derivative of asphalt — specifically, untreated gilsonite, the same type used for the battery — to capture greenhouse gases from natural gas. This time, the researchers mixed asphalt with conductive graphene nanoribbons and coated the composite with lithium metal through electrochemical deposition.

 

[nutzo]

So another breakthrough we might see in 10-15 years.

Even if this does work, it won't help home charging since there isn't enough power coming into the typical home to charge an electric car battery that fast.

 

[Mugato]

But how easy is it to manufacture.

 

[zalazin]

Like the user will ever see real battery improvement. We alway hear about some great battery advancement then it never happens........

 

[DPI]

But how easy is it to manufacture.

If it's just asphalt then presumably as easy as laying asphalt. A crew will usually get it done in a day.

 

[tunatime]

Someone will buy the tech and sit on it for 20 years

 

[Mugato]

If it's just asphalt then presumably as easy as laying asphalt. A crew will usually get it done in a day.

Hahahhaa

 

[otherweeb]

So another breakthrough we might see in 10-15 years.

Even if this does work, it won't help home charging since there isn't enough power coming into the typical home to charge an electric car battery that fast.

YA, I'm pretty sure they were talking much smaller batteries, but since your jumping to the biggest battery you can think of let's do some math.

Tesla batteries come in 2 sizes, 60 kWh and 85kWh. Your home breaker panel is 240v @ about 200 amps for 48kWh. If you had a dedicated outlet that could handle every volt delivered to your house you could charge those batteries in 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

So yes, the power lines currently connected to your house are the limiting factor. I bet that's where dedicated charging stations come into play eh?

 

[CombatChrisNC]

The more good news like this the better.

Tech takes a long time to move from the lab to the user market, but it's got to start somewhere, doesn't it?

 

[eneq]

If it's just asphalt then presumably as easy as laying asphalt. A crew will usually get it done in a day.

This time, the researchers mixed asphalt with conductive graphene nanoribbons and coated the composite with lithium metal through electrochemical deposition.

So slightly more than just asphalt, as soon as anyone mentions nanoribbons and then in this case also tweaks it further you can basically just forget about getting it to the broader market. Yet Another Cool Battery Technology That Will Never See The Light Of Day...

 

[nutzo]

YA, I'm pretty sure they were talking much smaller batteries, but since your jumping to the biggest battery you can think of let's do some math.

Tesla batteries come in 2 sizes, 60 kWh and 85kWh. Your home breaker panel is 240v @ about 200 amps for 48kWh. If you had a dedicated outlet that could handle every volt delivered to your house you could charge those batteries in 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

So yes, the power lines currently connected to your house are the limiting factor. I bet that's where dedicated charging stations come into play eh?

You must have a larger home than I do. My panel is only 150 amps, the older home I grew up in is only 100 amps. Both these are typical in homes build in the 60's and 70's
You are also assuming shutting off everything else in the house, doubt that would happen.

The highest current usually allowed on a single residential circuit is 50 amps, which is around 12kW which would take 7 hours to charge your 85kWh Tesla.
Most current home charges are usually limited to 30 amps which is 7.2kW, which means all night charging.

So yes, this would not help home charging, only if you went to a special charging station.

 

[nutzo]

Like the user will ever see real battery improvement. We alway hear about some great battery advancement then it never happens........

That's because it doesn't scale to a usable capacity, or the costs are too high.

You can charge your car in 5 minutes, but the 200 mile battery pack costs $1.2 million to build.

 

[Soggy]

I think the key to this being used for high capacity batteries such as cars is to have two. One battery is obviously in the car. The second battery is stationary and charges at the slower rate limited by you power source. When you get home and plug in the stationary battery dumps into the car battery at an accelerated rate and your good to go. In adit ion the stationary battery can double as a home backup and grid storage. It's a win win.

 

[travisty]

So much worry about charging fast at home...

How often do you drive 200 miles twice in the same day in real life?

Never.

Drive 200 miles home, plug in, sleep for the night, wake up and your car's fully charged. That's how this actually works now with 240volt/32amp.

OR

Long road trip? Stop for half an hour to an hour at a fast charging station along the highway.

 

[mord]

My house isnt brand new, huge, or expensive. Quite modest.

It has a 260amp panel. I could add more If I wanted.

Only reason most homes have nothing bigger than a 50amp circuit is that's the standard max draw of an electric range which is historicly the largest draw you in a common house.

*corrected terminology*

 

[viper1152012]

I'm waiting for non volatile gel that can be quickly cycled like demolition man vehicles

 

[Miikun]

But how easy is it to manufacture.

Anytime I read nano something, it's just another solution that requires materials costing tens of thousands per gram. Any patents they come up with might expire by the time they get nanomaterial manufacturing up to snuff. They might as well have just said they built a nanoscale capacitor and it can charge in 2 seconds! Sure they can physically build a 3d stacked 40TB 2.5" SSD today with microscopic yields but does anyone care to pay for one..