The new battery prototype using a novel electrode that does not contain perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) boasts an energy density that is over 20% higher and is more environmentally friendly.
Ateios Systems, a US-based battery component manufacturer, announced the successful creation of a high-voltage lithium cobalt oxide (HV LCO) RaiCore electrode, as reported by Interesting Engineering on July 10th. This new electrode enables the production of a rechargeable lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) battery that is free of perfluoroalkoxy, a type of PFA or forever chemical, making it the first of its kind in the world.
Illustration of batteries, a common product in electronic devices. (Photo: iStock).
Comprising over 4,700 chemicals, PFA is a group of man-made chemicals widely used and accumulating in the human body and the environment over time, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA). They are referred to as forever chemicals due to their extreme durability. They can lead to health issues such as liver damage, thyroid disease, obesity, reproductive problems, and cancer.
The battery prototypes using the RaiCore electrode developed by Ateios Systems have an energy density that is 15-20% higher than standard LCO batteries. They also maintain over 80% capacity after 1,000 charge-discharge cycles at 1°C and 100% depth of discharge.
The company stated that the new electrode will be competitively priced compared to other cobalt-based electrodes. The manufacturing process for the electrode utilizes PFA-free polymers that can be cured using energy instead of traditional heat-cured polymers.
A significant portion of the current lithium-ion battery market caters to durable consumer products and other electronic devices such as smartphones, wearables, power tools, and drones. The new LCO battery could meet this segment, providing an environmentally friendly option in the battery market.
Ateios Systems has partnered with several device developers to evaluate the real-world performance and integration potential of RaiCore. One of Ateios Systems’ partners is the soft goods technology company Softmatter. Softmatter will integrate the new electrode into various device forms such as wearables, augmented reality (AR) devices, or virtual reality (VR) devices.
