Batteries that supersede the performance and sustainability of incumbent Li-ion technologies will be required in our journey to Net Zero. For applications with a high degree of weight sensitivity, batteries with a high gravimetric energy density (energy stored per unit mass) will be essential.
The lithium-sulfur (LiS) battery offers one such option. Oxford University are leading The Faraday Institution’s LiSTAr programme to accelerate research, development and deployment of this technology, and in particular are leading research on cathode design and characterization, anode protection, and novel electrolytes. LiS batteries routinely achieve more than 400Wh/kg delivering substantial improvements on current Li-ion technology, with a roadmap for making high performance, lightweight batteries for weight-sensitive application, including the electrification of flight.
LiS batteries also represent an opportunity for low-cost, sustainable supply chains, without the need for costly and difficult to source transition metals, such as cobalt.
Collectively, the LiSTAr consortium are delivering the next generation of batteries for a sustainable, zero-carbon future.
