The study published on Friday in the journal Science Advances described the ultra-high capacity Li-S battery that has better performance and less environmental impact than current lithium-ion products.
Using the same materials in standard lithium-ion batteries, researchers reconfigured the design of sulphur cathodes so they could accommodate higher stress loads without a drop in overall capacity or performance.
The researchers are inspired by the unique bridging architecture first recorded in processing detergent powders in the 1970s. They engineered a method that created bonds between particles to accommodate stress and deliver a level of stability not seen in any battery to date.
"This approach not only favours high performance metrics and long cycle life, but is also simple and extremely low-cost to manufacture, using water-based processes, and can lead to significant reductions in environmentally hazardous waste," said Matthew Hill, associate professor at Monash University.