The Limiting Factor reports that Tesla will use Polycrystal cathodes with new coatings and dopants to enable cobalt-free batteries with greater energy density and more charge cycles. This will be about a 4% improvement in material cost and energy density. The main improvement will be about a 7% gain from factory process improvement.

Single Crystal cathodes would have greater energy density but would have higher costs.

Research Papers on Polycrystal Cathodes, Coatings and Dopants

ACS Energy Letters – Beyond Doping and Coating: Prospective Strategies for Stable High-Capacity Layered Ni-Rich Cathodes

Advanced Energy Materials – Recent Progress and Perspective of Advanced High-Energy Co-Less Ni-Rich Cathodes for Li-Ion Batteries: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Journal of the Electrochemical Society – Is Cobalt Needed in Ni-Rich Positive Electrode Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries?

SOURCES- Tesla, Limiting Factor, Journals (Journal of the Electrochemical Society, ACS Energy Letters, Advanced Energy Materials
Written By Brian Wang, Nextbigfuture.com

Brian Wang

Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.

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