Summary Reader Response Draft 3
The web page “How an accidental discovery made this year could change the world” from BIGTHINK (Lockett, 2022) explores how lithium-ion batteries are inferior to lithium-sulfur batteries. Lithium-ion is used to store charge and power most electrical devices. However, it was reported that lithium-ion harmful to the vast ecosystems, have lifecycle problems from recurrent charging, battery degradation, are not suitable for lightweight applications and volatile inspired Drexel scientists to look into lithium-sulfur batteries (Lockett, 2022). The lithium-sulfur battery eliminates the above issues, but the trade-off is half the charging cycle of lithium-ion batteries. BIGTHINK reports in comparison to ion batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries will last twice as long, have three times more energy, charges equally fast, reduce battery expansion, better safety margins, and are cheaper (Lockett, 2022). Lithium-sulfur batteries potentially allow a huge range of activities to go full electric like short-haul flights, cargo vessels, and passenger ferries. This results in weight-saving, longevity, and competitive prices to achieve low-carbon goals (Lockett, 2022).
The
advantages of lithium-sulfur batteries over lithium-ion batteries in terms of
better efficiency, cheaper cost, and improved safety make them more reliable for
use in the transportation sector.
Firstly,
lithium-sulfur batteries demonstrate a significant advantage over the traditional
lithium-ion batteries in terms of energy storage capability. The specific
energy capacity of lithium-sulfur batteries is 1,220 mAh/g, compared to
lithium-ion batteries with only 140 mAh/g (Singapore Scientists Simplify, 2019). A potential
application that can demonstrate the superiority of lithium-sulfur batteries
against lithium-ion batteries will be on electric vehicles. As of 2021, the
range of electric-powered vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries covers
approximately 243 miles while the use of lithium-sulfur enables the electric
vehicle to travel up to 1000 miles (Robin,2022). This will be an improvement in
efficiency generally across all modes of transportation. For example, cars and
other modes of transportation will be able to travel a longer distance without
having to stop for a recharge. This will provide passengers, operators, and
drivers with the peace of mind of not having to worry about frequent stops for
recharging.
Secondly,
the high demand and use of rare raw materials like cobalt in lithium-ion
batteries makes them more expensive than lithium-sulfur batteries (“Lithium-ion
Battery”, 2022). The use of these materials is one of the main reasons that
drive an increase in the price of lithium-ion batteries ((“Lithium-ion Battery”,
2022). The reason why electric vehicles are generating a lower adoption rate
than gas-burning vehicles is because lithium-ion batteries are more expensive
(Baker,2022). According to U.S News, the average price of an electric vehicle
was about $18,000 more than the average price of a gas vehicle in July 2022
(Threewitt,2022). A Reuters article has also shared that electric vehicles
equipped with lithium-sulfur batteries can be up to two-thirds cheaper than the
current lithium-ion battery. This results in cost savings for the
consumers when it comes to the cost of electric vehicles, thus encouraging a
shift from gas vehicles to electric vehicles.
Thirdly,
lithium-sulfur batteries offer a safer alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
Lithium-sulfur does not require a conversion reaction that forms charge and
discharge and therefore, this can reduce the risk of catastrophic failure.
Lithium-sulfur batteries can also lower the risk of thermal runaway compared to
lithium-ion. Adding on, a protective solid-state layer at the anode reduces the
occurrence of short circuits (Gould, 2020). As of today, the lithium-sulfur
battery has passed the following safety tests: altitude, thermal, vibrations,
shocks, external short circuits, crush, and forced discharge (“NexTech
Batteries Earn,” 2022). This can assure the safety of transportation
vehicles for commercial use and help prevent catastrophic accidents caused by
vehicle malfunction.
Some
opponents of leveraging lithium-sulfur batteries over lithium-ion batteries
might argue that the con of utilising lithium-sulfur battery is that it is very
poor in handling a large amount of charging cycles as compared to a lithium-ion
battery. This is due to the charging process of lithium-sulfur batteries that
results in an accumulation of chemical deposits known as dendrites which affect
the ability to operate at peak efficiency (Osmanbasic, 2023). However,
according to an article by Modern Sciences (Gamma Sulfur, 2022), researchers at
Drexel University found a rare form of sulfur known as gamma sulfur which can
remain stable over four thousand charge and discharge cycles. Therefore, this
slows down the battery degradation and this development will lead to the more
sustainable and affordable battery technology. However, researchers will
require more time to better understand this finding.
In
conclusion, the use of lithium-sulfur batteries offers numerous benefits
compared to lithium-ion batteries such as lower cost, improved efficiency, and
safety. While there are a few challenges to still overcome, such as the
battery’s ability to handle a large number of charging cycles, which is
something that the researchers are still looking into. The future of using the
lithium-sulfur battery is potentially promising for the use of different transportation
modes.
References:
Fearon, R. (2022, May 17). How lithium
batteries will improve EV range and rapid charging. Discovery.
https://www.discovery.com/motor/lithium-battery
"Gamma sulfur" may hold the key
to future lithium-sulfur batteries - modern sciences. Modern Science (2022, March 24).
Retrieved February 12, 2023, from
https://modernsciences.org/gamma-sulfur-may-hold-the-key-to-future-lithium-sulfur-batteries/
Lithium-ion battery pack prices rise for
first time to an average of $151/kwh.
BloombergNEF. (2022, December 6). Retrieved February 12, 2023, from
https://about.bnef.com/blog/lithium-ion-battery-pack-prices-rise-for-first-time-to-an-average-of-151-kwh/
Lithium-sulfur
batteries: Advantages. The Faraday Institution. (2020, July 22).
Retrieved February 12, 2023, from https://www.faraday.ac.uk/lis-advantages/
Lockett, W. (2022, April 17). How an
accidental discovery made this year could change the world. BIGTHINK.
https://bigthink.com/the-future/lithium-sulfur-batteries/?utm_medium=Social.
NexTech Batteries Earns Milestone Un/Dot
Safety Certification, Advancing Patented Lithium-Sulfur Technology Towards
Commercialization. (2022,
September 1). Prnewswire. Retrieved February 12, 2023, from
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nextech-batteries-earns-milestone-undot-safety-certification-advancing-patented-lithium-sulfur-technology-towards-commercialization-301630369.html.
Singapore scientists simplify lithium-sulfur
battery production to meet Future Energy Storage Needs. A*STAR HQ Corporate Website. (2022, May
17). Retrieved February 12, 2023, from
https://www.a-star.edu.sg/News/a-star-news/news/press-releases/singapore-scientists-simplify-lithium-sulfur-battery-production-to-meet-future-energy-storage-needs
Threewitt, C. (2022, November). Why Are
Electric Cars So Expensive? U.SNEWS.
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/advice/why-are-electric-cars-so-expensive.
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