UCLA researchers have made a major breakthrough in the development of safer and more efficient lithium-metal batteries. These batteries have the potential to hold double the energy of lithium-ion batteries but are known for their fire and explosion risks. The researchers discovered a technique that prevents the corrosion that occurs when depositing lithium metal onto a surface. Without corrosion, the lithium atoms assemble into a unique rhombic dodecahedron shape, which could reduce the risk of explosions. The research opens up possibilities for improving the safety and performance of batteries, and could lead to the development of new energy technologies.
https://phys.org/news/2023-08-true-lithium-revealed.html