The reason why lithium batteries do not last forever is because of the degradation of the electrode materials in the lithium batteries along with buildup of solid electrolyte interphase and degradation of the electrolyte and effects from temperature.
These processes naturally reduce the lithium batteries lifespan and capacity.
Over time the materials which make up the lithium batteries electrodes such as graphite in the negative electrode can go through structural changes and become damaged, leading to a reduced ability for the battery to store and release lithium ions.
And during the charging and discharging of the lithium ion batteries, a thin layer of SEI or solid electrolyte interphase builds up and forms on the batteries electrodes, which can then interfere with the movement of the lithium ions in the battery and eventually reduce the capacity of the battery.
And the electrolyte within the lithium battery can also degrade, especially at high temperatures, which can also lead to lithium ion immobilization and a decrease in the batteries performance.
Sodium ion batteries along with solid state batteries, graphene based batteries and hydrogen fuel cells is what will replace lithium in the future.
Sodium ion batteries are a safer and more sustainable alternative to lithium ion batteries which will easily be the future of batteries followed by the other alternatives listed above.
The battery that could change the world are solid state batteries along with lithium sulfur batteries.
Lithium Sulfur Batteries and Solid State batteries are batteries that have high energy density and a potential for rapid battery charging.
Sodium ion batteries are also gaining good traction as a result of their use of abundant materials and also lower costs.
The most promising new battery technology is solid state batteries, followed by graphene based batteries and sodium ion batteries.
These new battery technologies are among the most promising and most talked about advancements in battery technology and offers potential for increased energy density as well as enhanced battery safety and faster charging.
Solid State batteries are batteries which utilize a solid electrolyte instead of a liquid electrolyte, which can lead to higher energy density, faster charging of the battery and even improved safety of the battery as a result of the elimination of the flammable liquids like in other batteries.
QuantumScape and other companies are actively working on the solid state lithium metal battery technology.
Sodium Ion Batteries are batteries that offer a cost effective alternative to lithium ion batteries by utilizing sodium instead of lithium in the batteries.
Sodium Ion Batteries are also known for being safer and also known for their good performance at lower temperatures than other batteries.
Graphene Batteries are batteries which have unique properties such as high strength and high conductivity, which make Graphene a potential great material for improving a batteries performance and graphene batteries could even lead to longer lifespans of batteries and also faster charging batteries.
Other promising new battery technologies include Dual Ion Batteries, Bipolar Batteries, Silicon Anode batteries and Lithium Metal Anode batteries.
Dual Ion Batteries are batteries which utilize both positive cations and negative anions for energy storage, which offer the potential for faster battery charging and higher energy density.
Bipolar Batteries are batteries which have improved energy density by directly connecting the battery cells and eliminating individual casings and external connections.
Silicon Anode batteries offer a potential for higher energy density and faster battery charging times when compared to traditional lithium ion batteries.
Lithium Metal Anode batteries are batteries that have a potential to significantly increase energy density when compared to traditional graphene anodes.
Although challenges still remain in preventing the formation of "whiskers" which can short the circuit cell out.
And finally another promising battery technology is Lithium Sulfur Batteries which are batteries that also have a high energy density and a longer lifespan when compared to traditional lithium ion batteries.