A new electrolyte tackles battery limits by boosting energy density and enabling reliable performance in extreme cold conditions across electric vehicles and advanced systems.
Researchers from Shanghai Institute of Space Power Sources (SISP) and Tianjin have developed a hydrofluorocarbon-based electrolyte for lithium batteries, aimed at significantly increasing energy density while enabling stable operation across extreme temperature conditions. The all-weather electrolyte is designed to improve battery efficiency at room temperature and maintain performance in ultra-low-temperature environments.
The development offers potential benefits for electric vehicles and other energy-intensive applications by addressing key limitations in conventional lithium battery chemistry. Higher energy density could translate into extended driving range without increasing battery size, while improved low-temperature performance supports reliable operation in cold climates. The approach also opens up applications in aerospace, robotics, and remote systems where batteries must function under harsh environmental conditions.
From an application standpoint, the electrolyte enables lithium-metal batteries to achieve more than double the energy density of traditional designs at room temperature. This could extend electric vehicle range from around 500–600 km to nearly 1,000 km on a single charge. The batteries also demonstrate stable operation at temperatures as low as minus 70 degrees Celsius, maintaining efficiency and cycling performance where conventional electrolytes typically degrade. Additional use cases include mobile devices, drones, and spacecraft operating in extreme cold.
Technically, the electrolyte is based on a fluorine-rich chemical system that reduces viscosity, enhances ionic transport, and improves stability compared to conventional oxygen- and nitrogen-based electrolytes. The team demonstrated pouch cells achieving energy densities above 700 Wh/kg at room temperature and around 400 Wh/kg at minus 50 degrees, highlighting its potential for next-generation high-performance batteries.
Li Yong, lead author and researcher at the Shanghai Institute of Space Power Sources (SISP), says, “For the same mass of lithium battery, the room temperature energy storage capacity is increased by two to three times,” describing it as a promising pathway to break the power and energy density ceiling of batteries.
