Nissan Motor and its affiliate Nissan Arc have developed an analysis method to observe the electron activity in the cathode material of lithium ion batteries directly during charging and discharging, move which can lead to better battery durability.
Using this method, Nissan will develop high-capacity and high-durability batteries in the future to extend driving distance of zero emission electric vehicles and improve durability.
Nissan Arc has partnered with Tokyo University, Kyoto University and Osaka Prefecture University to develop this new technique in a joint R&D project.
The new method integrates x-ray absorption spectroscopy, which uses L-absorption edges, with the first principle calculation from Japan's Earth Simulator supercomputer.
Nissan senior vice president and Nissan Arc president Takao Asami said that creating this analysis technique was a major step toward the further development of high-capacity, next-generation lithium ion batteries.
"It will play an important part in our future R&D aimed at extending the driving range of future zero emission vehicles," Asami added.
This technique will also enable scientists to observe the exact phenomenon inside a battery cell including the behavior of active materials of electrodes.
Image: Nissan head office. Photo: Courtesy of Wiiii.
