The reporter learned from the Chinese Academy of Sciences on the 7th that the “In-situ Research on Lithium-ion Batteries for Space Applications” project has already been carried out on the China Space Station. The Shenzhou-21 astronaut crew jointly operated the project's experiments in orbit. Zhang Hongzhang, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, gave full play to its professional advantage as a payload expert. Lithium-ion batteries are the “energy heart” of modern space missions due to their high energy density, long cycle life, and high safety reliability. Currently, research on the performance of lithium-ion batteries has gone deep into the micromechanism level. Among them, the distribution state of chemical substances in the electrolyte is one of the core factors that determine battery power and life. However, in ground experiments, the gravitational field is always intertwined with the electric field, making it difficult to determine the effect of gravity on the internal processes of the battery alone. The unique microgravity environment in space provides an ideal testing ground for breaking through this scientific research bottleneck. In space, key processes such as ion transmission and embedding and escape within batteries can be studied more purely. However, the microgravity environment also brought new challenges to the experiment — the liquid behavior inside the battery differs significantly from the ground, which may reduce battery performance and increase safety risks. The “In-situ Electrochemical and Optical Research of Lithium-ion Batteries for Space Applications” project aims to directly observe and analyze the mechanism of influence of the microgravity environment on key processes within the battery, and to provide a strong scientific basis for improving the efficiency of spacecraft energy systems.

The reporter learned from the Chinese Academy of Sciences on the 7th that the “In-situ Research on Lithium-ion Batteries for Space Applications” project has already been carried out on the China Space Station. The Shenzhou-21 astronaut crew jointly operated the project's experiments in orbit. Zhang Hongzhang, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, gave full play to its professional advantage as a payload expert. Lithium-ion batteries are the “energy heart” of modern space missions due to their high energy density, long cycle life, and high safety reliability. Currently, research on the performance of lithium-ion batteries has gone deep into the micromechanism level. Among them, the distribution state of chemical substances in the electrolyte is one of the core factors that determine battery power and life. However, in ground experiments, the gravitational field is always intertwined with the electric field, making it difficult to determine the effect of gravity on the internal processes of the battery alone. The unique microgravity environment in space provides an ideal testing ground for breaking through this scientific research bottleneck. In space, key processes such as ion transmission and embedding and escape within batteries can be studied more purely. However, the microgravity environment also brought new challenges to the experiment — the liquid behavior inside the battery differs significantly from the ground, which may reduce battery performance and increase safety risks. The “In-situ Electrochemical and Optical Research of Lithium-ion Batteries for Space Applications” project aims to directly observe and analyze the mechanism of influence of the microgravity environment on key processes within the battery, and to provide a strong scientific basis for improving the efficiency of spacecraft energy systems.