Triggering Memory in Ions: A New Discovery with Implications for Battery Technology

Wednesday - May 15 2024, 03:17 UTC - 6 months ago

In a groundbreaking study, researchers have discovered that ions in solid-state batteries exhibit a 'fuzzy memory' where they briefly return to their previous positions when jolted by a laser. This has implications for improving battery technology and understanding ions in solid states. The study was led by a team from SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Oxford University, and Newcastle University.

The world is constantly searching for more efficient and safer ways to store and release energy, and solid-state batteries are one of the most promising options. These batteries use a solid electrolyte to nudge ions back and forth between two electrodes, allowing for the storage and release of charge. However, the actual movement of ions on an atomic scale is far from the smooth flow we see from a macroscopic perspective.

In a groundbreaking study, researchers from SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Oxford University, and Newcastle University have discovered a new phenomenon in solid-state batteries. By hitting the hopping ions with a pulse of laser light, they found that the ions briefly reversed direction and returned to their previous positions before continuing on their random path. This shows that the ions have a type of "fuzzy memory" that lasts for just a few billionths of a second.

This new discovery has significant implications for battery technology. By understanding and predicting how ions behave and travel within solid-state batteries, scientists can develop new materials that will improve battery performance and safety. The research team used thin, transparent crystals of a solid electrolyte from a family of materials called beta-aluminas, which are known for their high conductivity and safety. Using short pulses of laser light, they were able to precisely measure how the ions responded to the jolt from the laser.

According to postdoctoral researcher Andrey D. Poletayev, "You can think of the ions as behaving like a mixture of cornstarch and water. If we gently push this cornstarch mixture, it yields like a liquid; but if we punch it, it turns solid. Ions in a battery are like electronic cornstarch. They resist a hard shake from a jolt of laser light by moving backward." This analogy helps to visualize the phenomenon and highlights the similarities between the behavior of particles on a microscopic and macroscopic scale.

The study was led by Stanford and SLAC Professor Aaron Lindenberg and is the first of its kind. By varying the time between the laser pulse and the measurement of the ions' movement, the team was able to gather precise data on the ions' speed and preferred direction. This is crucial for predicting and understanding the behavior of ions in solid-state batteries and developing new materials for improved battery technology.

In addition to battery technology, understanding how ions behave in solid-state environments has implications for other areas of science and technology. “There are multiple weird and unusual things going on in the ion hopping process,” said Lindenberg. With this new discovery, scientists can continue to explore the complexities of ions in solid states and potentially unlock new possibilities for energy storage and beyond.