電池新突破：岩鹽聚陰離子陰極

新的研究在提高電池的實際能量密度方面取得了進展。

Demand for batteries is on the rise worldwide, thanks to their increasing use in the automotive industry, the growing popularity of portable consumer electronics, and stringent environmental regulations. As a result, the global battery market is projected to reach $800 billion by 2036, up from about $120 billion in 2023.

由於電池在汽車工業中的使用不斷增加、便攜式消費性電子產品的日益普及以及嚴格的環境法規，全球對電池的需求正在上升。因此，預計到 2036 年，全球電池市場將從 2023 年的約 1,200 億美元增加到 8,000 億美元。

In light of this expected growth, researchers are continuously developing and testing new materials and chemicals to improve critical parts of batteries, which affect properties such as energy output, energy storage, power capacity, and cycling capacity.

鑑於這種預期增長，研究人員正在不斷開發和測試新材料和化學品，以改進電池的關鍵部件，這些部件會影響能量輸出、能量儲存、功率容量和循環容量等性能。

These components include a cathode (positive electrode), an anode (negative electrode), an electrolyte (for ion transportation between electrodes), and a separator.  

這些組件包括陰極（正極）、陽極（負極）、電解質（用於電極之間的離子傳輸）和隔膜。

Most battery-powered devices today, such as EVs, smartphones, and energy storage systems, rely on lithium-ion battery technology. Lithium-ion batteries can store a huge amount of energy in compact sizes, charge fast, and last long.

現今大多數電池供電的設備，例如電動車、智慧型手機和儲能係統，都依賴鋰離子電池技術。鋰離子電池可以以緊湊的尺寸儲存大量的能量，充電速度快且使用壽命長。

However, with the growing demand for batteries with greater capabilities, new technologies are being researched and developed to improve efficiency, reduce cost, enhance safety, and promote sustainability.

然而，隨著對容量更大的電池的需求不斷增長，人們正在研究和開發新技術，以提高效率、降低成本、增強安全性並促進永續性。

Over the years, continuous research has led to advancements that offer promising alternatives to lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries. 

多年來，不斷的研究取得了進步，為鋰離子和鉛酸電池提供了有前途的替代品。

Sodium-ion batteries offer a more affordable and safer option that performs better at lower temperatures. These batteries are similar to lithium-ion batteries but utilize saltwater as an electrolyte, making them more suitable for energy storage, though they are yet to be optimized. Researchers are even using electrolyte gel to make nanowires more resilient and fit for battery use. 

鈉離子電池提供了更實惠、更安全的選擇，在較低溫度下表現更好。這些電池與鋰離子電池類似，但利用鹽水作為電解質，使它們更適合能量存儲，儘管它們仍有待優化。研究人員甚至使用電解質凝膠來使奈米線更具彈性並適合電池使用。

Solid-state batteries, on the other hand, use a solid electrolyte such as glass, ceramic, or polymer instead of gel or liquid electrolyte. These batteries are far more efficient, weigh less, charge faster, and are already being used in smartphones and pacemakers. Toyota and BMW are currently working on launching solid-state battery-powered cars, though it will still take a few years.

另一方面，固態電池使用玻璃、陶瓷或聚合物等固態電解質，而不是凝膠或液體電解質。這些電池效率更高、重量更輕、充電速度更快，並且已經用於智慧型手機和心臟起搏器。豐田和寶馬目前正在致力於推出固態電池驅動的汽車，儘管還需要幾年的時間。

New battery technologies further include lithium-sulfur batteries, which are cost-efficient but have a durability limitation, and cobalt-free lithium-ion batteries, which can help address human rights concerns in cobalt mining. However, alternatives like TAQ are still new and need more testing.

新的電池技術還包括鋰硫電池和無鈷鋰離子電池，鋰硫電池具有成本效益，但具有耐用性限制，無鈷鋰離子電池有助於解決鈷礦開採中的人權問題。然而，像 TAQ 這樣的替代品仍然是新的，需要更多的測試。

Zinc-based batteries are also being explored, with technologies including zinc-manganese dioxide, zinc-air, zinc-bromine, and zinc-ion batteries. However, they are inefficient, sometimes involve unexpected chemical conversion reactions, and are expensive to manufacture, requiring more research.

鋅基電池也在探索中，技術包括鋅二氧化錳、鋅空氣、鋅溴和鋅離子電池。然而，它們效率低下，有時涉及意想不到的化學轉化反應，製造成本昂貴，需要更多的研究。

As the world increasingly relies on batteries, scientists globally are focused on achieving breakthroughs in storage times, power output, production costs, and instant readiness.

隨著世界越來越依賴電池，全球科學家都致力於在儲存時間、功率輸出、生產成本和即時就緒性方面取得突破。

Latest Battery Breakthrough: Rock Salt-polyanion Cathodes 

最新電池突破：岩鹽聚陰離子陰極

New research has made an advancement in increasing the practical energy density of the battery. Published in Nature Energy late last month, the study titled “Integrated rocksalt–polyanion cathodes with excess lithium and stabilized cycling,” was conducted by the MIT Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering.

新的研究在提高電池的實際能量密度方面取得了進展。這項麻省理工學院核科學與工程系進行的研究於上月底發表在《自然能源》雜誌上，題為「整合岩鹽-聚陰離子陰極，具有過量的鋰和穩定的循環」。

The study focuses on a new cathode material found in disordered rock salt, which has been studied as an advanced cathode material for use in lithium-ion batteries for over a decade. 

該研究重點關注在無序岩鹽中發現的新型陰極材料，十多年來，人們一直將其作為鋰離子電池的先進陰極材料進行研究。

MIT researchers made sure that the material can create high-energy, low-cost storage for EVs, mobile phones, and renewable energy storage.

麻省理工學院的研究人員確保該材料可以為電動車、手機和再生能源儲存創造高能量、低成本的儲存。

Led by Ju Li, the Tokyo Electric Power Company Professor in Nuclear Engineering, the team discovered DRXPS, or disordered rock salt-polyanionic spinel, as the new material.

由東京電力公司核子工程教授 Ju Li 領導的研究團隊發現了 DRXPS（無序岩鹽聚陰離子尖晶石）作為新材料。

This new category of partially disordered rock salt cathode, integrated with polyanions, is found to deliver high energy density at high voltages with enhanced cycling stability. This is a great achievement, given that there is typically a trade-off between energy density and cycling stability in cathode materials.

這種新型部分無序岩鹽陰極與聚陰離子集成，可在高電壓下提供高能量密度，並增強循環穩定性。鑑於正極材料的能量密度和循環穩定性之間通常存在權衡，這是一項偉大的成就。

“With this work, we aim to push the envelope by designing new cathode chemistries.”

“通過這項工作，我們的目標是通過設計新的陰極化學物質來突破極限。”

– Yimeng Huang, the paper’s first author, a postdoc at the NSE

– 論文第一作者、NSE 博士後 Yimeng Huang

Now, how is the new material family able to achieve both high energy density and good cycling stability? The answer lies in the integration of two key cathode materials — rock salt and polyanionic olivine. By combining them, it was able to get both of their benefits.

那麼，新材料家族如何同時實現高能量密度和良好的循環穩定性呢？答案在於兩種關鍵正極材料──岩鹽和聚陰離子橄欖石的整合。透過將它們結合起來，它能夠獲得它們的優點。

Another thing at play here is manganese (Mn), a hard, silvery metal found in abundance on Earth and much cheaper than other elements currently used in today’s cathodes. 

另一個起作用的因素是錳 (Mn)，這是一種堅硬的銀色金屬，在地球上含量豐富，而且比目前陰極中使用的其他元素便宜得多。

For example, Manganese is about thirty times less expensive than Cobalt (Co) and five times less expensive than Nickel (Ni), both of which are commonly used in batteries. Additionally, Manganese plays a crucial role in achieving higher energy densities. 

例如，錳的價格比鈷 (Co) 便宜約三十倍，比鎳 (Ni) 便宜約五倍，這兩種材料都常用於電池。此外，錳在實現更高能量密度方面發揮著至關重要的作用。

“(Having such a) material be much more earth-abundant is a tremendous advantage.”

“（擁有這樣一種）地球上豐富得多的材料是一個巨大的優勢。”

– Li, a professor of materials science and engineering

– 李，材料科學與工程教授

This advantage, according to the researchers, is of great value to a zero-carbon future which requires renewable energy infrastructure. 

研究人員表示，這項優勢對於需要再生能源基礎設施的零碳未來具有巨大價值。

Batteries can play an important

電池可以發揮重要作用