Disorder crystal magnesium chromium oxides are expected to be used in future battery technology

Researchers at the University of Illinois and the University of Illinois have found that tiny, disorderly magnesium chromium particles may be the key to new magnesium battery energy storage technology. Compared with traditional lithium -ion batteries, this technology may have higher capacity.

A new, scalable method is reported to create a material. This material can store magnesium ions in high pressure, which is the decisive characteristics of the cathode.

Although it is still in the early stage, researchers said that this is a major progress in moving towards magnesium -based batteries. So far, few inchmatic materials have shown reversible magnesium to remove and insert, which is the key to the effect of magnesium batteries.

“Lithium ion technology is reaching the limit of its ability, so finding other chemicals is very important, which will enable us to create batteries with greater storage capacity and thinner design,” said Dr. En Johnson, the common author (London London (London London College) Chemistry).

“Magnesium battery technology has always been considered a possible solution to provide more durable mobile phones and electric vehicle batteries, but it is a challenge to obtain a practical material for cathode.”

One factor restricting lithium ion battery is anode. For safety reasons, lithium -ion batteries must use low -capacity carbon anode because the use of pure lithium metal anode can lead to dangerous short circuit and fire.

In contrast, magnesium metal anode is safer, so combining magnesium metal and functional cathode materials can make the battery smaller and store more energy.

Research prediction of calculating models before, magnesium chromium oxides (MGCR2O4) may be promising candidates with cathode of magnesium batteries.

Inspired by this work, UCL researchers produced a ~ 5 nm disorderly magnesium chromium oxide material in a very fast and relatively low temperature response.

The collaborators of the University of Illinois, Chicago, then compared their magnesium activity with conventional sequential magnesium chromium oxide materials about 7 nm wide.

They use a series of different technologies, including X -ray diffraction, X -ray absorption spectrum and cutting -edge electrochemical methods to observe the structure and chemical changes of the two materials in the battery during the battery.

The behaviors of these two crystals are very different. The disorderly particles show reversible magnesium extraction and insertion, while the larger orderly crystals do not have this activity.

“This indicates that the future of the battery may be disorder and unconventional structure. This is an exciting prospect. We have not explored before, because disorderly disorder can cause problems with battery materials. The importance of existence may provide more opportunities for reversible battery chemistry. “Professor Jawwad Darr (Department of Chemistry, University of London) explained.

“We see that the increase in the surface area and the disorder of the crystal structure are provided with new ways to occur compared with the orderly crystal area.

Disorder crystal magnesium chromium oxides are expected to be used in future battery technology

Usually, it is necessary to provide a clear spread of diffusion so that the cells can easily charge and discharge — but what we see shows that the disorderly structure introduces a new and obtainable diffusion path, which needs to be further studied. “Jordi Cabana The professor said (the University of Illinois).

These results are the products of exciting new cooperation between British and American researchers. UCL and the University of Illinois are intended to extend their research to other disorderly high -surface area materials to further improve the storage capacity of magnesium and develop practical magnesium batteries.