Ars
Technica: Lithium-ion batteries use a liquid electrolyte
that can leak, burn, and destroy the internal structure of the
battery. Another drawback is that during the recharge cycle,
deposits of lithium metal form inside the battery, creating the
potential for short circuits. One possible solution is to use a
solid electrolyte. Unfortunately, ions don't travel well
through solids, and current solid electrolytes don't function
at all until they are heated to at least 80 °C. Now Renaud
Bouchet of Aix-Marseille University in France and his
colleagues have developed a new solid electrolyte that is
effective at 60 °C. It has an ion transfer rate that is
five times faster and a structure that is significantly
stronger than current solid electrolytes. Test batteries using
the new electrolyte remained stable through dozens of
charge–recharge cycles. The temperature needed is still
higher than is acceptable for many smaller gadgets, but it is
within acceptable ranges for use in aircraft. Although the
battery's performance is lower than that of traditional
lithium-ion, its increased tensile strength and lower risk of
catching fire may make up for that.
