![\"\"](\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2018\/01\/batter-advances_sidebar-image_300x200-250x300.jpg\")
Qu, the Johnson Controls Endowed Professor in Energy Storage Research at 51ÁÔÆæ, and his researchers have come up with the right \u201crecipe\u201d for a part of the battery \u2013 the electrolyte. This liquid induces a chemical reaction to move lithium ions around, necessary for generating a current.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt isn\u2019t the conductivity or the melting or freezing point of the electrolyte that has the largest effect on battery performance,\u201d said researcher Joshua Harris. \u201cIt really all depends on the electrolyte\u2019s components.\u201d<\/p>\n
From the electrolyte\u2019s reactions with the anode, a layer of oxidation builds up. Called the SEI layer, it governs the performance of the battery.<\/p>\n
If it grows too thick, it restricts movement of ions in the electrolyte, hindering the power. But if it\u2019s too thin, it allows the electrolyte to continuously react with the electrodes, and that reduces battery life.<\/p>\n
The research team tested 46 combinations of electrolyte components to find the ideal mix, said Harris.<\/p>\n
Temperature plays a role in how the electrolyte affects the SEI layer, he says. \u201cThe best conditions are actually cold temperatures, but not cold enough to decrease the battery\u2019s cycle life.\u201d<\/p>\n
The research was done in collaboration with industry so whether it will morph into a commercial product is still uncertain.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is one instance where we have developed the technology to solve the problem,\u201d says Qu.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cNow it\u2019s up to companies to decide whether they want to invest to commercialize it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Electric cars are wonders of whiz-bang technology, but they have an Achilles heel – their lithium-ion batteries are less efficient in cold weather. Researchers at 51ÁÔÆæ have come up with a solution. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":836,"featured_media":55071,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","uwm_wg_additional_authors":[]},"categories":[174,175],"tags":[],"section":[141,139],"display_categories":[115,116],"related-coverage":[],"uwmnews-feed":[167,151,149,153],"class_list":["post-55055","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-research","section-engineering","section-science-technology","display_categories-top-story-secondary","display_categories-top-story-section","uwmnews-feed-alumni-association","uwmnews-feed-applied-science","uwmnews-feed-engineering-applied-science","uwmnews-feed-graduate"],"yoast_head":"\n