Japan Develops High-Energy, Sustainable Manganese-Based EV Battery

Japanese researchers at Yokohama National University (YNU) developed a breakthrough manganese-based battery for electric vehicles (EVs), achieving an energy density of 820 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg). This surpasses the performance of current nickel and cobalt (NiCo) batteries, which reach 750 Wh/kg, while lithium-based batteries deliver only 500 Wh/kg.

The team’s work offers a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative to NiCo batteries, whose scarcity and high cost pose challenges as EV adoption grows globally.

The researchers focused on using manganese in the battery anode, specifically employing LiMnO2 (lithium manganese dioxide) as the material. Traditional challenges with manganese, such as poor electrode performance and voltage decay, were mitigated by utilizing a monoclinic system, a specific crystalline structure.

This system facilitates a phase transition to a spinel-like phase, significantly improving battery performance. By synthesizing nanostructured LiMnO2 with a high surface area, the team achieved large reversible capacity and excellent charge rate capability, making it suitable for EV applications.

One major advancement is the absence of voltage decay in this manganese-based battery, a problem that previously affected performance in earlier manganese applications. While the possibility of manganese dissolution remains, the researchers aim to address this with a highly concentrated electrolyte solution and lithium phosphate coating.

This innovation provides a competitive and environmentally friendly alternative to existing EV battery technologies. The simplicity and low cost of the synthesis method further enhance its potential for commercialization. The findings, published in ACS Central Science, highlight the team’s contribution to advancing sustainable EV battery technology with promising implications for the future of electric mobility.

Filed in Transportation. Read more about Battery, Electric Cars and Japan.