Scientists discover way to revive batteries by injecting fresh lithium

In brief: If you're someone who uses gadgets until every drop of life has been squeezed out of them, then this battery tech might be right up your alley. A Chinese research team has devised a clever way to effectively give depleted batteries a new lease of life by replenishing their lithium supply. The only catch is that, for now, it will likely only be practical for industrial-scale applications such as grid energy storage systems. First, some context on why batteries degrade. Lithium-ion battery aging is primarily influenced by the growth of the Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) layer on the anode, which consumes lithium ions and increases resistance. Over time, this, along with electrode degradation and electrolyte breakdown, reduces the battery's capacity. The usual solution is to replace the battery. However, researchers have investigated a clever alternative: injecting fresh lithium directly into the depleted cells to make up for what was lost over time. To achieve this feat, ... Read full article.