Scientists show nylon can improve lithium battery performance

In two new studies published in ACS Energy Letters and Energy & Environmental Science, scientists in Saudi Arabia have made a breakthrough that could increase the power and lower the cost of lithium-metal batteries by incorporating nylon into the design.

Along with their lower carbon dioxide emissions, lithium batteries have a high energy density and are lighter than other batteries. This is why they are used in smartphones small enough to fit into your pocket and in the light, tiny electronics that have allowed us to travel to space.

Lithium batteries come in two types. Lithium-ion batteries are more common commercially and used in laptops, smartphones and other household products. Lithium-metal batteries, on the other hand, are more energy dense and have wider applications in robotics, transport and other industries. Preventing lithium-metal batteries from realizing their full potential is their safety and longevity. Their production and operation currently involve corrosive, hazardous materials and result in too many parasitic reactions, which are side reactions that result in poorer performance and safety.

Additives help stabilize battery interfaces, thereby enhancing performance. The studies by the KAUST researchers found that nylon, the same polymer used in clothes, can be dissolved in mild lithium solution to act as an additive for lithium-metal batteries. The result was lithium-metal batteries that were more efficient, had longer lifespans, and showed few parasitic reactions.

Thus, by examining the chemistry of nylon and lithium interactions, including key molecular bonds, the study shows that the commercial fabric can be dissolved in far milder solvents than previously thought for superior battery performance.

“Polymers have always been difficult to dissolve in common battery electrolytes. We did an intensive study of the chemical properties and modified the solvation structure and interactions,” explained Zhiming Zhao, a postdoctoral scientist at King Abdullah University of Science (KAUST) who authored the study.

“My research team is dedicated to building renewable energy and storage solutions such as higher energy density and safer batteries to accelerate decarbonization adoption in the Kingdom. This was a discovery that promises cheaper and safer additives and demonstrates the benefits of basic scientific research,” said KAUST Professor and Chair of the KAUST Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies (CREST) Husam Alshareef, who led the two studies.