Lithium-sulfur batteries can pack a lot of energy for their weight. But a Science X Dialog post on Tech Xplore says they usually need more space than todays lithium-ion batteries, about 1.5 to 2 times as much. That extra bulk makes it harder to use them in gadgets where space is tight.
The new design could help make thinner lithium sulfur batteries by changing the binder. The binder is basically the glue that holds the battery’s electrode together.
The team whipped that glue into a foam using a protein-based material. When the foam dries, it leaves behind lots of tiny tube-like gaps inside the cathode. Think of it like a sponge with little tunnels.
Next, the cathode went through a common factory step called calendering. That’s when you roll and press the material to make it thinner and more tightly packed. The authors says the tiny tunnels didn’t collapse, even after heavy pressing, and the cathode ended up close to three times thinner.
The trick is keeping tiny gaps
Those tiny gaps matter because they give the battery an easier way to move stuff through the cathode while it’s working. If you squash everything too much, movement slows down and performance can drop.
The post argues that’s been a major problem for lithium-sulfur designs. Pressing the cathode often ruins the space inside that helps the battery run well. In this case, the foam-made structure is supposed to act like built-in support, so you can press the cathode thinner without blocking the routes inside.
Why it could help charging
Making something thinner only helps if it still works when you push it. The post says this cathode kept high capacity even when charged in about 15 minutes, which is a fast-charge stress test where weak designs tend to stumble.
But the post doesn’t include several key details that would make the claim easier to compare with other battery tests, like how long it lasted over repeated charging, or other build specifics. Promising, but not the final word.
What to watch next
The post says this method can double performance when measured by space, which is the big reason lithium-sulfur hasn’t been as practical as it sounds. If that holds up, it could make the chemistry more realistic for compact devices.
The team says it’s pushing for even faster performance, and it points to plans connected to a spin-out company. There’s no timeline or target product listed yet, so the next thing to watch is whether it shows up in repeatable results and real manufacturing demos.