Electricaircraft batteriescan now last up to four times longer, according to a recent biosciencestudy. Scientists discovered an innovative solution involving electrolytes that could extend the cycle life of these batteries, bringing us one step closer to carbon-free air travel.
Longer-Lasting Electric Aircraft Batteries
Researchers at the Molecular Foundry, a facility at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) in CA, got to work trying to figure out why electric aircraft batteries start to lose their power over time.
They cleverly turned to a biological method used to study living organisms called “omics”. This technique, which has helped decode the human genome, might just be able to make carbon-free air travel a reality.
Traditional vs. Electric Aircraft Batteries
Electric aircraft batteries need to provide high power for takeoff and landing and high energy for long flights. Traditional batteries can’t yet live up to the demands of aircraft, mainly due to issues with the cathode.
The researchers first identified reactions at the cathode that cause power fade. They found that specific electrolytes could actually prevent this corrosion. They then developed a new electrolyte and put this to the test.
The Omics Method
Reporting their findings in the study published in the journal Joule, Berkeley Lab’s researchers found that using an electrolyte solution through the omics method allowed certain salts in the electrolyte to form a protective layer on the cathode, preventing corrosion and helping the battery last longer.
The research team designed a new battery using this discovery and was impressed with the results which showed four times more maintaining power compared to traditional batteries. The team is now busy making enough batteries to power a test flight with an electric aircraft in 2025.
Longer Lasting Electric Aircraft Batteries Study—Conclusion
The study’s lead author, Berkeley Lab postdoctoral researcher, Youngmin Ko, highlighted the importance of the study by explaining that while electric vehicles focus on long-term energy capacity, aircraft batteries need to maintain high power for takeoff and landing.
The study’s corresponding author, Brett Helms, a senior staff scientist at Berkeley Lab, stated that this new research is pushing the limits of battery technology, bringing us one step closer to better decarbonization, especially in heavy transport sectors that have not yet been extensively electrified.
Image Credit: Shutterstock/Sergey Tinyakov
