Summary Reader Response Draft 1

 William Lockett’s article titled "How an accidental discovery made this year could change the world" published on BigThink.com (2022), describes how a discovery made by scientists at Drexel potentially made the alternative to the ubiquitous lithium-ion batteries, lithium-sulphur batteries, commercially viable.

According to (Lockett, 2022), these lithium-ion batteries have many drawbacks. The materials used to produce these batteries are extremely damaging to the environment as it destroys ecosystems and releases toxic chemicals when mined. There are battery degradation and density issues. This refers to batteries losing the capability to store charge over time and being too bulky for their energy output. These cells can also spontaneously combust when damaged. These drawbacks limit the number of applications and adoption rate of battery power.

(Lockett, 2022) claims lithium-sulphur batteries solve all these issues. Lithium-sulphur is less damaging to the environment, can be 3 times more energy dense, is less likely to combust and is cheaper to produce without sacrificing charge speeds. 

However, (Lockett, 2022) also states, lithium sulphur has one major drawback: its life span. Lithium sulphur could only last half as long as Lithium-ion. The Drexel team were trying to solve this problem when they found a chemical phase of sulphur which essentially stopped battery degradation. Resulting in a battery which could longer and be more energy dense than lithium-ion batteries. Now the scientists are trying to understand this new phase of sulphur and ensure its permanency.

The advancements in lithium sulphur battery technology could lead to the rapid adoption and carbon neutrality of batteries and its applications. This could also lead to other, previously unfeasible sectors opening to battery power.

When ready, lithium sulphur batteries can be rapidly adopted due sulphur being far easier to mine and being more abundant on our planet as compared to cobalt. This could result in bringing operational costs down. And, according to (Rex Merrifield, 2020, para. 2), lithium sulphur batteries can also be manufactured in the same plants as lithium-ion batteries making the production process and adoption rather straightforward.

Lithium sulphur batteries are fast becoming the ideal alternative battery to lead us to a carbon neutral future. According to (James B Robinson et al., 2021, p.53) lithium sulphur batteries become an even more attractive proposition when considering the lack of environmentally polluting materials in its construction and it’s environmentally friendly production methods.

The realisation of a rapidly adoptable, eco-friendly battery added onto the promised performance gains of the lithium sulphur batteries will usher in a new era of electrification. Resulting in better products with longer lifespans, more affordable pricing and eventually, a net-zero future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Lockett, W. (2022, June 8). How an accidental discovery made this year could change the world. Big Think. https://bigthink.com/the-future/lithium-sulfur-batteries/?utm_medium=Social

https://bigthink.com/the-future/lithium-sulfur-batteries/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fs=e&s=cl&fbclid=IwAR1JQ-VrPK4Nt6YauDpwVZrmkeHE1jR0zfHdUdqe1wC5xr4XEabacCNVJLE#Echobox=1658939001-1

Cheaper, lighter and more energy-dense: The promise of lithium-sulphur batteries. (n.d.). Horizon Magazine. https://ec.europa.eu/research-and-innovation/en/horizon-magazine/cheaper-lighter-and-more-energy-dense-promise-lithium-sulphur-batteries

https://ec.europa.eu/research-and-innovation/en/horizon-magazine/cheaper-lighter-and-more-energy-dense-promise-lithium-sulphur-batteries

 

 

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2515-7655/abdb9a/pdf

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