Working in the drying room of Deakin University’s Battery Research and Innovation Hub is not a day at the beach.
“[It’s] It’s more like a desert than a beach,” says General Manager Dr. Timothy Koo. “At the beach, at least the moisture comes in.”
150 meters2 The dry room is Australia’s largest research facility that Khoo knows of, and is essential for prototyping and testing next-generation batteries.
“It’s very difficult to work there for long hours,” Koo said. “It’s not dangerous, but your eyes and skin will start to dry out and you’ll feel like you’ve been outside in the sun all summer.”
The room must be dry, as water, moisture, and humidity are deadly to batteries during manufacturing. According to Khoo, contamination means it may not work or its performance may be compromised.
Depending on the material, it may be dangerous in the worst case scenario.
“Lithium does not easily react with water,” Koo says. “I don’t know if you ever did science in high school, but it’s in the same category of chemicals as sodium and potassium. If you’ve ever thrown sodium into water, it explodes. This is a similar reaction for lithium metal.”
The center is booming as companies race to develop next-generation battery technology.
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Source: www.theguardian.com
