iscover
A research team at Monash University has developed new battery technology that could have major applications for electric aircraft.
The engineers have developed what they say is an “ultra-fast-charging” lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery that can power long-haul electric vehicles (EVs), commercial drones, and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, among other applications.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
Companies such as Dovetail Electric Aviation, Stralis and AMSL Aero have been looking to introduce electric aircraft into the Australian market, with hydrogen fuel cell technology thus far being the preferred choice due to the limitations of current lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.
According to the researchers, the new Li-S batteries could be cheaper and store more energy than Li-ion technology, while solving the slow charge and discharge rate (C-rate) that has kept Li-S from being commercially viable.
“This represents a major breakthrough toward making Li-S a feasible option not just for long-haul EVs but particularly in industries like aviation and maritime that require rapid, reliable power that is crucially light-weighted,” said Dr Petar Jovanović, co-lead author of the paper.
The team says it has used a new catalyst inspired by the chemistry of household antiseptic Betadine to accelerate the C-rate of the batteries, which up until now have been too chemically complex to charge and discharge quickly.
Professor Mainak Majumder, co-lead researcher and director of the ARC Research Hub for Advanced Manufacturing with 2D Materials, said Li-S batteries have typically struggled to balance high performance with long life.
“We’ve leveraged sulfur’s unique chemistry to make a battery that’s both safer and more efficient. With our new catalyst, we’ve overcome one of the last remaining barriers to commercialisation – charging speed,” he said.
“Our catalyst has significantly enhanced the C-rate performance of Li-S batteries, demonstrated in early proof-of-concept prototype cells. With commercial scaling and larger cell production, this technology could deliver energy densities up to 400 Wh/kg.
“This makes it well-suited for applications requiring dynamic performance, such as aviation, where batteries must handle high C-rates during take-off and efficiently switch to low C-rates during cruising.
“Li-S batteries are also a greener alternative to the materials used in traditional Li-ion batteries, which rely on limited and often environmentally harmful resources like cobalt.”
A new start-up, Ghove Energy, is seeking pre-seed funding to commercialise the technology.
Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Australian Aviation a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Australian Aviation as a preferred news source.
