石墨烯與電池

電池技術正在迅速發展，數十種替代化學物質正在挑戰鋰離子電池的主導地位

Graphene is a promising material for use in batteries due to its high electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity. A recent discovery by researchers at Swansea University, in collaboration with Wuhan University of Technology and Shenzhen University, could pave the way for the use of graphene in lithium-ion batteries, helping to keep them as the dominant battery technology over alternative chemistries, including graphene-based batteries.

石墨烯由於其高導電性和導熱性而成為一種很有前景的電池材料。斯旺西大學研究人員與武漢理工大學和深圳大學合作的一項最新發現，可能為石墨烯在鋰離子電池中的使用鋪平道路，有助於保持鋰離子電池相對於包括石墨烯在內的替代化學物質的主導電池技術的地位。

The researchers' publication in Nature Chemical Engineering details the first successful protocol for fabricating defect-free graphene foils on a commercial scale. The method can be used to create graphene foils in lengths ranging from meters to kilometers. In a laboratory setting not designed for mass production, they managed to create a 200-meter-long graphene foil with a thickness of 17 micrometers. The foil is also highly resistant and was demonstrated to retain high electrical conductivity even after being bent over 100,000 times, making it suitable for use in flexible electronics, industrial manufacturing, and other applications where the graphene is used to deploy powerful currents.

研究人員在《自然化學工程》上發表的文章詳細介紹了第一個在商業規模上成功製造無缺陷石墨烯箔的方案。此方法可用於製造長度從米到公里的石墨烯箔。在不適合大規模生產的實驗室環境中，他們成功製造了 200 公尺長、厚度 17 微米的石墨烯箔。該箔片還具有高電阻，並且被證明即使在彎曲超過 100,000 次後仍能保持高導電性，使其適用於柔性電子、工業製造以及石墨烯用於部署強大電流的其他應用。

The application that the researchers focused on in their study is the use of the graphene foil as a current collector in lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are vulnerable to a key risk, called thermal runaway, which happens when excessive heat accumulates in a part of the battery, leading to battery failure with dangerous fires or explosions. This issue is one of the key reasons many researchers and battery companies are looking beyond lithium-ion with alternative chemistries like sodium-ion. Many alternative solutions are being explored, for example, gel electrolytes.

研究人員在研究中重點關注的應用是使用石墨烯箔作為鋰離子電池的集流體。鋰離子電池很容易遭受一種稱為熱失控的關鍵風險，當電池的一部分積聚過多熱量時就會發生這種情況，導致電池故障並引發危險的火災或爆炸。這個問題是許多研究人員和電池公司將目光投向鋰離子以外的替代化學物質（例如鈉離子）的關鍵原因之一。人們正在探索許多替代解決方案，例如凝膠電解質。

Thermal runaway mostly happens at the battery's current collectors, where the most power is concentrated. In current lithium-ion batteries, current collectors are usually made of aluminum or copper. The graphene current collectors developed by the research with their graphene foil can display a thermal conductivity as high as 1,400.8 W m−1 K−1. For reference, this is almost 10x higher than copper and aluminum-based current collectors.

熱失控主要發生在電池的集電器處，這裡集中了大部分功率。在目前的鋰離子電池中，集流體通常由鋁或銅製成。該研究開發的石墨烯集流體及其石墨烯箔可以表現出高達 1,400.8 W m−1 K−1 的導熱率。作為參考，這幾乎比銅基和鋁基集流體高 10 倍。

Because the graphene foil shows a very fast heat dissipation, it eliminates the risk of local heat concentration when the current is flowing. In turn, this removes the risks of aluminothermic and hydrogen-evolution reactions which are the critical steps leading to propagation of the battery failure and fire hazard.

由於石墨烯箔具有非常快速的散熱能力，因此消除了電流流動時局部熱量集中的風險。反過來，這消除了鋁熱反應和析氫反應的風險，這些反應是導致電池故障和火災危險蔓延的關鍵步驟。

“Our dense, aligned graphene structure provides a robust barrier against the formation of flammable gases and prevents oxygen from permeating the battery cells, which is crucial for avoiding catastrophic failures,”

“我們緻密、排列整齊的石墨烯結構提供了強大的屏障，防止可燃氣體的形成，並防止氧氣滲透電池，這對於避免災難性故障至關重要。”

Dr Jinlong Yang, co-lead author

楊金龍博士，共同主要作者

Maybe more importantly, the method is already proven to be deployable with mass manufacturing of the graphene foil. So it could be quickly integrated into existing battery manufacturing processes.

也許更重要的是，該方法已被證明可以用於石墨烯箔的大規模製造。因此它可以快速整合到現有的電池製造流程中。

“This is a significant step forward for battery technology. Our method allows for the production of graphene current collectors at a scale and quality that can be readily integrated into commercial battery manufacturing. This not only improves battery safety by efficiently managing heat but also enhances energy density and longevity.”

「這是電池技術向前邁出的重要一步。我們的方法允許以可輕鬆整合到商業電池製造中的規模和品質生產石墨烯集流體。這不僅可以透過有效管理熱量來提高電池安全性，還可以提高能量密度和壽命。

Dr Rui Tan, co-lead author

譚瑞博士，共同主要作者

The researchers are already looking at ways to reduce the thickness of the graphene foils and further enhance their mechanical properties. They are also looking at how the graphene foil could help design better flow batteries and sodium-ion batteries, in collaboration with another research team at Swansea University, under Pr. Serena Margodonna’s leadership.

研究人員已經在尋找減少石墨烯箔厚度並進一步提高其機械性能的方法。他們也正在與斯旺西大學的另一個研究團隊合作，研究石墨烯箔如何幫助設計更好的液流電池和鈉離子電池。瑟琳娜·瑪戈多娜的領導。

We previously discussed honeycomb lithium-ion batteries that remove the risk of battery failure from dendrite growth. If thermal runaway also can be suppressed thanks to graphene foil, this could make lithium-ion batteries much more safe and durable than the current version.

我們之前討論過蜂窩狀鋰離子電池，它可以消除因枝晶生長而導致電池故障的風險。如果石墨烯箔也能抑制熱失控，這將使鋰離子電池比目前版本更安全和耐用。

This overall follows the pattern of most innovations in one niche of battery technology to be usable in other designs, helping feed the quick progress of the industry.

整體而言，這遵循了電池技術某一領域的大多數創新模式，可用於其他設計，有助於推動產業的快速進步。

(You can also learn more about battery technology in our articles “The Future of Mobility – Battery Tech” and “The Future Of Energy Storage – Utility-Scale Batteries Tech”.)

（您還可以在我們的文章“移動的未來 - 電池技術”和“能源存儲的未來 - 公用事業規模電池技術”中了解有關電池技術的更多信息。）