Led by only the second civilian the country has sent into space, China had started a series of experiments on board its Tiangong space station that could lead to the development of safer and more powerful space batteries, state media reported on Wednesday.
The tests on lithium-ion batteries run by Zhang Hongzhang, a professor at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, could help scientists better understand how gravity affects the workings of the batteries.
Zhang, 39, is one of the three astronauts sent into space as part of the Shenzhou-21 mission.
The country’s first civilian astronaut was an aerospace engineer and professor at Beihang University, Gui Haichao, who went to the space station in 2023.
Zhang’s research covers a variety of advanced batteries, including lithium-ion batteries, which are a key power source for space exploration thanks to their high energy density, light weight and reliability.
In an interview published a day before the launch in late October, Zhang told the official China Youth Daily that he applied at once after seeing a 2018 astronaut recruitment notice, which for the first time was aimed at flight engineers and specialist scientists as well as military pilots.
His main task is to conduct experiments on the space station and communicate with ground researchers to maximise results.
“Every experiment conducted on the space station embodies the hard work of the ground researchers. Being able to carry out their experiments in space is not only a privilege but also a responsibility,” he said.
On the ground, gravitational fields are always intertwined with electric fields, making it difficult to clarify the influence of gravity on internal battery processes in isolation.
The microgravity environment on the space station provides an ideal experimental environment for overcoming this scientific bottleneck, allowing for a more focused study of key processes, such as the movement of ions between two electrodes when the battery is charging.
The in-orbit experiments are designed to observe and analyse the impact of microgravity on key processes inside the batteries, providing evidence that could help improve the efficiency of spacecraft energy systems.
The distribution of chemical substances within the electrolyte is one of the core factors determining battery power output and lifespan, according to state news agency Xinhua.
The experiments aim to observe how these chemical substances are distributed within the electrolyte and what impact the distribution pattern has.
The behaviour of liquids inside batteries differs significantly in space compared with on Earth, something that may decrease their performance and cause a greater safety hazard.
During the experiment, Zhang will try to capture images of the growth process of lithium dendrite – a small, needle-like structure that forms on the surface of lithium electrodes and can reduce batteries’ lifetime and increase risks to safety. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
