AUSTRALIA | Monash University engineers have developed an ultra-fast-charging lithium-sulphur (Li-S) battery capable of powering long-haul EVs and commercial drones.
With rapid charging times, the lightweight Li-S batteries could soon power drones, making electric aircraft a possibility. Researchers aimed to demonstrate the technology in commercial drones and electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOL) within a year.
A decade in the making and published in Advanced Energy Materials, the breakthrough research marked a transformative step in renewable battery technology and set a new benchmark for practical lithium-sulfur prototypes.
The paper’s first author, Maleesha Nishshanke, a PhD candidate at the Monash Nanoscale Science and Engineering Lab (NSEL), said the novel batteries doubled the energy density of conventional lithium-ion batteries and were much lighter.
“Inspired by the chemistry of betadine, a common household antiseptic, we found a way to accelerate the charge and discharge rates, making them a viable battery option for real-world heavy-duty use,” said Nishshanke.
Co-lead author of the paper, Dr Petar Jovanović believed the Li-S batteries could power commercial drones, bringing the vision of high-performance, sustainable electric aviation closer to reality.
“This represents a breakthrough toward making Li-S a feasible option not just for long-haul EVs but particularly in industries like aviation and maritime that require rapid, reliable power that is crucially light-weighted,” said Dr Jovanović.
“Imagine an electric vehicle that can travel from Melbourne to Sydney on a single charge or a smartphone that charges in minutes — we’re on the cusp of making this a reality.”
In an electric car, the Li-S batteries could power 1000 kilometres on a single charge while cutting recharge time to a few hours.
Professor Mainak Majumder, co-lead researcher and Director of the ARC Research Hub for Advanced Manufacturing with 2D Materials, said Li-S technology typically struggled to maintain high performance without degrading quickly, but this game-changing battery could handle a lot of power being taken out at once without breaking down. The batteries are cheaper and store more energy.
“We’ve leveraged sulphur’s unique chemistry to make a safer and more efficient battery. With our new catalyst, we’ve overcome one of the last remaining barriers to commercialisation – charging speed,” said Professor Majumder.
“Our catalyst has significantly enhanced the C-rate performance of Li-S batteries, demonstrated in early proof-of-concept prototype cells. With commercial scaling and larger cell production, this technology could deliver energy densities up to 400 Wh/kg.”
Professor Majumdar added that this made it well-suited for applications requiring dynamic performance, such as aviation, where batteries must handle high C-rates during take-off and efficiently switch to low C-rates during cruising.
Li-S batteries were also a greener alternative to the materials used in traditional Li-ion batteries, which rely on limited and often environmentally harmful resources like cobalt.”
With the global lithium-sulphur battery market expected to be worth USD 209 million by 2028, Professor Majumder said Monash’s pioneering work could place Australia at the forefront of a rapidly expanding industry.
"This emerging industry has the potential to create jobs, drive economic growth and establish Australia as a key player in the market,” Professor Majumder said.
"As demands for high-performance batteries soars, investment in cutting-edge technology will have long-term benefits for job creation and economic growth."
Monash University has launched a new spin-off, Ghove Energy, which is raising pre-seed funding to bring the technology to market. Currently, they’re refining new additives that promise to speed up charging and discharging times even more, along with methods that reduce the amount of lithium needed.
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