A collaborative research group headed by Hailong Chen at the Georgia Institute of Technology has created a groundbreaking, cost-effective cathode material that has the potential to greatly improve both the performance and cost-effectiveness of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This breakthrough, centered around iron chloride (FeCl3), has the potential to revolutionize both the electric vehicle (EV) market and large-scale energy storage systems.
For years, researchers have sought a sustainable and economically viable alternative to the expensive cathode materials currently dominating the market. Chen, an adjunct professor with joint appointments in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and the School of Materials Science and Engineering, is confident that the team has discovered a viable solution. He noted that people have long sought a lower-cost, sustainable alternative to existing cathode materials, and now they have created it.
The FeCl3 cathode is not only cost-effective—valued at a mere 1-2% of conventional cathode materials—but it also offers comparable energy storage capabilities. The type of cathode materials significantly influences a battery's capacity, energy output, efficiency, and overall functionality. “Our cathode can be a game-changer,” Chen asserted, pointing out its potential to revolutionize the lithium-ion battery industry due to its significant impact.
Since their introduction by Sony in the early 1990s, LIBs have transformed consumer electronics and paved the way for EV technology. However, the cost of LIBs currently accounts for approximately 50% of an electric vehicle's total price, making them less competitive compared to traditional internal combustion vehicles. The new FeCl3 cathode could change that dynamic.
Traditional LIBs utilize liquid electrolytes, which can lead to limitations in energy storage and safety issues, including leaks and fire hazards. In contrast, all-solid-state batteries incorporate solid electrolytes, resulting in increased efficiency, reliability, and safety. The research team’s approach combines the FeCl3 cathode with a solid electrolyte and a lithium metal anode, reducing the overall cost of their battery system to 30-40% of current LIB technologies.
According to Chen, this could not only lower the price of EVs in relation to internal combustion cars, but it also introduces a new and promising approach to large-scale energy storage, strengthening the resilience of the electrical grid. The cathode’s composition of abundant iron and chlorine—elements found in steel and table salt—further contributes to its sustainability and cost-effectiveness, eliminating the need for toxic and expensive metals like nickel and cobalt.
The research, published in Nature Sustainability, indicates that the FeCl3 cathode may achieve commercial viability for electric vehicles within five years. Chen and his team plan to continue refining the materials and exploring their underlying mechanisms to maximize performance and scalability.
Researchers involved in this project include Ting Zhu from Georgia Tech’s Woodruff School and Yuanzhi Tang from the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, alongside partners Jue Liu from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Shuo Chen from the University of Houston.
As the race to develop practical all-solid-state battery technology heats up globally, the Georgia Tech team’s innovative FeCl3 cathode represents a significant advancement in battery technology, with the potential to redefine the landscape of electric transportation and renewable energy storage.
