Overview
- Monday's university release publicized peer‑reviewed lab results showing a bikitaite‑infused cellulose separator called CBT improved ion transport and cell stability in Li||NCM90 test cells.
- Measured properties for CBT include ionic conductivity of 3.45 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ and a lithium‑ion transference number of 0.742, which the authors link to faster and more even ion flow through the cell.
- At high discharge rates the CBT separator raised NCM90 cathode capacity to 163 mAh g⁻¹ at 4C versus 115 mAh g⁻¹ with a conventional separator, an improvement of about 42 percent.
- Real‑time imaging and long‑duration tests showed CBT suppressed needle‑like lithium dendrites, produced smoother lithium deposition, and retained roughly 60 percent capacity after about 2,500 cycles under demanding rates.
- The team says CBT could be fitted into existing production lines but stresses that validation in commercial pouch or cylindrical cells and production‑scale manufacturing tests are required before real‑world use.