An Electrifying Passion for Battery Chemistry

All traditional electrochemical batteries are made of the same three basic components. Anodes, the negative electrode which releases electrons to the external circuit; cathodes, the positive electrode which accepts electrons from the external circuit; and electrolytes, the chemical medium through which ions flow between the anodes and cathodes.
 

When it comes to the electrodes Simon noted, “You have the cathode, and then you have the anode,” going on to add, “the cathode is the more expensive part.” This is partly because anodes are typically relatively simple – conductive and porous graphite or silica that accept and store ions from the electrolyte. Simon noted that cathodes are more diverse depending on the “different kind of battery chemistry.” Simon went into details for the two most commonly used lithium-ion chemistries – Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC), and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) – and noted that even within these chemistries you can “do a lot of tweaks like reduce cobalt content and increase nickel content.” He noted that a change like this can, “increase energy density and reduce cost and sourcing challenges.
 

The place where Simon thinks much experimentation and expansion can happen is with electrolytes. Regarding this portion of the battery, responsible for transferring charge between the two electrodes, Simon noted, “You can play around as a chemist, have all kinds of fun combinations.” He explained that in lithium-ion batteries, it is lithium ions transferring charge through the electrolyte, which is typically lithium salts solvated using carbonates, esters or ethers. He noted that, “Lithium is quite attractive because it is very light and very small.” He went on to add, “you can store a lot of them, but there’s other ions like sodium, magnesium, and potassium.” In considering these non- lithium options Simon said, “You can look at what are all kinds of combinations, based on voltage differences.” Trying to improve electrolytes has been the focus of most of Simon’s research, “It’s just the tip of the iceberg, looking at a really nitty gritty component in the battery,” he asserted.