The Chinese battery manufacturer CATL has successfully developed a lithium-metal battery that combines two crucial properties: high energy density and a significantly longer lifespan than its predecessors.
The latest prototypes have an energy density of over 500 watt-hours per kilogram and can endure 483 charge-discharge cycles while retaining 77% of their original capacity. This is still less than lithium-ion batteries but significantly more than older versions of lithium-metal batteries. CATL describes this as a 'major breakthrough'.
The difference lies in the structure: lithium-metal batteries use pure lithium metal on one side, enabling higher energy storage in the same weight. However, they previously degraded quickly. CATL's research team identified the issue in the electrolyte's salt composition and adjusted it to improve performance.
