Photo: Screenshot from the official website of the Dalian institute of Chemical physics Chinese Academy of sciences

A research team from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences has announced a significant breakthrough in lithium battery technology, featuring a successful ultra-low-temperature drone test in Mohe city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, the Science and Technology Daily reported on Sunday.

This technology allows drones to function reliably in extreme cold, opening new possibilities for aerial operations in harsh conditions. By maintaining stable performance at -36 C, the battery ensures uninterrupted energy supply, making it a promising solution for critical applications such as polar exploration, border patrol, disaster relief and logistics, the report said.

During the test flight, the hexacopter drone maintained stable flight operations and met endurance expectations despite the freezing weather. The drone completed a series of flight tests, including rapid start-up, high-altitude hovering and complex route navigation. 

The battery maintained stable output, with no voltage drops or power failures in extreme cold, fully validating the battery's exceptional cold-weather adaptability and reliability throughout the flight.

To overcome the challenge of lithium battery degradation in extreme cold, the team led by Chen Zhongwei, director of the Power Battery and Systems Research Center of the DICP, innovated by optimizing electrolyte formulations and modifying anode materials, significantly broadening the operational temperature span. 

The new battery can consistently deliver power across a broad temperature span from -40 C to 50 C, according to the Science and Technology Daily report.

Additionally, the researchers improved the battery's cold-weather range using adaptive thermal management and low-temperature impedance design. As a result, the battery's endurance loss at -40 C is at less than 10 percent, significantly better than the industry average of between 30 percent and 50 percent, allowing drones to complete missions in frigid, high-altitude regions without frequent recharging.

The successful test flight demonstrates a major leap in high-performance drone battery technology, according to Chen, and the research team will continue optimizing battery performance and expanding applications in extreme conditions. 

Global Times