The Chinese company General New Energy (GNE) presented a prototype of a promising lithium-sulfur battery with a record energy storage density of 700 Wh/kg. This is more than three times the capabilities of the average lithium-ion battery. Also, lithium-sulfur batteries are safe to use and contain fewer scarce raw materials. All that remains is to wait for mass production of the miracle batteries, but this is still unknown.
Image source: General New Energy
General New Energy was founded in 2022 on the basis of an international group of scientists led by a researcher from China. The company has its own production facilities and intends to produce promising batteries itself. The lithium-sulfur battery prototype’s claimed record energy density of 700 Wh/kg pales in comparison to its prospects of achieving an energy density of 2,600 Wh/kg, which is especially important for the development of electric aviation.
Lithium-sulfur batteries are being developed by many renowned companies and startups. These are tough nuts to crack for researchers. Sulfur compounds have low conductivity and this reduces the power potential of lithium-sulfur batteries. Also, sulfur and lithium compounds increase the viscosity of electrolytes, which reduces electrical conductivity and even leads to shrinkage of batteries, which threatens their physical destruction. Scientists have had to work hard to create sulfur-compensating additives for electrolytes and coatings for cathodes that use sulfur, while lithium-sulfur battery anodes are still made from lithium metal.
Fortunately, there is progress. Lithium-sulfur batteries have emerged in prototype form and are being explored by automakers in many countries. Like any new technology, it is still expensive, but the new type of batteries has prospects and they are in demand.