Looking to prolong the lifespan of your laptop or smartphone battery? A novel ‘pulse current’ charging technique might just do the trick, potentially doubling the longevity of lithium-ion batteries commonly found in these devices.
Developed by scientists, this innovative charging protocol offers a promising solution to the perennial issue of battery degradation. By delivering power in intermittent bursts, rather than a steady flow, lithium-ion batteries exhibit enhanced resilience over numerous charging cycles, potentially extending their lifespan twofold.
Published in the journal Advanced Material Sciences on March 14, the study details how this charging method can significantly prolong battery lifespan. Unlike traditional constant current charging, which gradually wears down battery capacity over time, pulse current charging holds the promise of maintaining battery health for many years.
Lithium-ion batteries, omnipresent in various applications from smartphones to electric vehicles, typically suffer from diminishing capacity with prolonged use. The electrolyte interface at the anode thickens in constant current charging, limiting charge capacity and causing electrode cracks. In contrast, pulse current charging allows for rest periods between current bursts, mitigating these issues and enabling batteries to undergo more than double the usual number of charging cycles.
These findings echo previous research, underscoring the potential of pulse current charging to revolutionize battery longevity. In a 2023 study by Josefin Strandberg of the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, a similar charging protocol demonstrated improved battery health and performance.
In essence, this breakthrough offers valuable insights for optimizing lithium-ion battery charging protocols, paving the way for enhanced battery technology in the future.
