Toshiba Develops Cobalt-Free Lithium-Ion Battery
Toshiba Develops Cobalt-Free Lithium-Ion Battery: Charges to 80% in 5 Minutes
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Toshiba Develops Cobalt-Free Lithium-Ion Battery: Charges to 80% in 5 Minutes
November 28, Japan – Toshiba Corporation has announced the successful development of a cobalt-free lithium-ion battery, capable of significantly suppressing the gas produced by battery side reactions, thus enhancing overall battery performance.
In testing, the new battery can charge up to 80% in just 5 minutes, with Toshiba aiming for commercialization by 2028.
The company states that this innovative battery has a wide range of applications, from regular power tools to electric vehicles.
Cobalt and nickel are commonly used as components of the positive electrode material in lithium-ion batteries. However, cobalt, being a rare metal, poses potential issues in terms of cost stability and supply chain reliability. Toshiba’s new lithium-ion battery, free of cobalt and with less nickel, offers a superior solution in terms of cost-effectiveness and resource conservation.
The use of high-voltage positive electrode materials in lithium-ion batteries can improve battery voltage and power performance. However, this approach has some drawbacks, including the catalysis of solvent decomposition in the electrolyte and the production of gases that reduce battery performance. Toshiba claims that its new lithium-ion battery significantly addresses these issues.
Toshiba highlights that the key features of this new battery include support for ultra-fast charging, reaching 80% in 5 minutes, and a long lifespan. Even after 100 cycles of charge and discharge at 60 degrees Celsius, the capacity retention rate remains as high as 99.2%.
As one of the major markets for lithium-ion batteries, the automotive industry is actively exploring high-voltage fast-charging technologies to alleviate user concerns about “charging anxiety” and “range anxiety.” Additionally, high-voltage batteries will reduce the number of battery stacks required, thereby lowering costs.
Toshiba’s research reveals that the electrolyte decomposes on the surface of the high-voltage positive electrode material, producing gas and causing metal components to dissolve and deposit on the negative electrode surface. Leveraging these findings, the company has developed a technology that effectively suppresses the reaction between the positive electrode material and the electrolyte.
The company has also developed a technique to limit the transfer of deactivated lithium ions on the negative electrode surface, improving battery performance and lifespan. By combining these technologies, gas generation has been successfully suppressed even when using traditional highly conductive electrolytes.
Yasuhiro Harada, Senior Researcher at Toshiba’s Nano-Materials Frontier Research Laboratory, stated, “To deploy this technology for automotive applications, we need to increase capacity to achieve this goal. To make the battery larger, we also need extensive verification. We believe we should start from areas with lower technical barriers and then target automotive applications with higher technical barriers. Regarding the commercialization of on-board batteries, we will consider technological progress and negotiate with the battery division to verify whether the goals are correct. If any manufacturers, including automotive manufacturers, are interested, we will move forward together.”
