Fluorine & Tofu Brine Lead To Battery Breakthroughs In China - CleanTechnica

Chinese researchers led by Chen Jun at Nankai University have developed a breakthrough lithium metal battery featuring an energy density exceeding 700 watt-hours per kilogram and stable performance at extremely low temperatures (around -50°C). This advancement addresses key challenges in electric vehicle (EV) adoption, namely energy density and low-temperature functionality. The team achieved this by replacing traditional oxygen-based electrolyte solvents with novel fluorinated hydrocarbon molecules, creating a lithium-fluorine coordination system that improves ion transfer and charge efficiency. Laboratory tests demonstrated the battery’s ability to maintain nearly 400 Wh/kg at -50°C, a significant improvement over existing technologies. The research, published in Nature, highlights that the fluorine-based electrolytes offer low viscosity, high oxidation stability, and enhanced ionic conductivity, enabling efficient lithium plating and stripping with a Coulombic efficiency of up to 99.7%. These properties allow lithium-metal pouch cells to operate with minimal electrolyte amounts while achieving high energy densities. Beyond laboratory success, the team has partnered