Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more popular, but one big problem remains: charging. Many EV drivers worry about running out of power before reaching a charging station.
In fact, a recent survey found that nearly half of U.S. EV owners have thought about switching back to gasoline cars because of this issue.
Now, researchers at Florida International University (FIU) may have found a solution.
They have developed a new type of battery that could help EVs travel much farther on a single charge.
Their work, recently published in Energy & Environmental Materials, focuses on lithium-sulfur batteries—an exciting new technology that could replace today’s lithium-ion batteries.
Why lithium-sulfur batteries?
Lithium-sulfur batteries have major advantages over traditional lithium-ion batteries. They are:
✅ Lighter in weight
✅ Less expensive
✅ Capable of storing much more energy
This means they could power electric cars for longer trips and keep devices like smartphones and laptops running twice as long.
But there’s been a big drawback—these batteries don’t last. After about 50 charges, they stop working properly.
After years of research, FIU scientists found a simple way to make lithium-sulfur batteries last much longer. The secret? A tiny amount of platinum.
“We had to become battery whisperers to fix this issue,” joked Bilal El-Zahab, an associate professor at FIU’s College of Engineering & Computing. His team discovered that adding platinum nanoparticles—just 0.02% of the battery’s total material—could stabilize its performance and dramatically extend its lifespan.
In testing, the new battery retained 92% of its capacity even after 500 charging cycles. This means it could last nearly as long as today’s lithium-ion batteries while offering much better performance.
Batteries work by moving charged particles (ions) back and forth between two sides—one made of lithium and the other of sulfur. But in lithium-sulfur batteries, a chemical reaction between lithium and sulfur creates unwanted sulfur compounds, called polysulfides, which can damage the battery over time.
This reaction causes a messy buildup on the lithium side, making the battery lose energy and eventually stop working.
To prevent this, researchers added platinum nanoparticles to the sulfur side. These tiny particles act like traffic controllers, guiding the lithium and stopping unwanted reactions.
“Adding platinum is like adding a pinch of salt to food—a small amount makes a huge difference,” El-Zahab explained.
The FIU team’s lithium-sulfur battery is now undergoing third-party testing, a key step before it can be licensed and commercialized. If successful, this technology could revolutionize electric vehicles, making long road trips easier and reducing concerns about charging.
With this breakthrough, the future of electric cars looks brighter than ever!
