Researchers Find Surprising Way To Boost Battery Performance
A study from SLAC-Stanford Battery Center has discovered that giving lithium-ion batteries their first charge at high currents can extend their lifespan by 50% while reducing the initial charging time from 10 hours to just 20 minutes. This breakthrough, published in *Joule*, offers valuable insights into optimizing battery manufacturing.
The researchers used machine learning to identify the most critical factors in improving battery performance, focusing on temperature and charging current. This process also involves deactivating a significant portion of lithium during the first charge, which surprisingly improves battery efficiency over time. These findings could streamline the production of batteries for electric vehicles and other technologies.