Researchers have found a new way to improve lithium-ion batteries by changing the material of the negative plate. By heating a cobalt-containing compound to high temperatures, they were able to produce small, bumpy carbon dodecahedra that grab onto lithium ions better than the flat graphite negative plate.
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When they tested their battery, they found that it worked extremely well in frigid temperatures, as low as minus 31°F. Even after over 200 cycles of discharging, charging, and recharging, this battery kept up its performance. Despite this, the material may have limited practical application, as it requires a complicated synthesis route.
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This is the catch. As with many materials, trying to actually create more of these tiny carbon orbs is a challenge. Not helping matters is that the cobalt compound is rather expensive. On the other hand, this research may be helpful for very specific applications.
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