As global demand for energy storage solutions continues to rise, researchers are making significant strides in developing alternatives to traditional lithium-ion batteries.
A team of scientists from Flinders University has recently achieved a breakthrough in the field of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs), offering a promising pathway towards more sustainable and cost-effective energy storage technologies.
AZIBs have emerged as a potential successor to lithium-ion batteries due to their inherent safety, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability.
With zinc being 10 times more abundant in the Earth’s crust than lithium, AZIBs present a compelling solution to the resource shortages and supply chain issues currently plaguing the lithium-ion battery industry.
Associate Professor Zhongfan Jia, a nanotech researcher at Flinders University’s College of Science and Engineering, emphasises the real-world applications of AZIBs, stating: “Aqueous zinc-ion batteries could have real-world applications.”
The Flinders University team, led by Associate Professor Jia, has focused on developing high-performing cathodes, a critical component that has remained a significant challenge in AZIB technology.
Their innovative approach involves:
- Utilising nitroxide radical polymer cathodes made from inexpensive commercial polymers
- Optimising battery performance with low-cost additives
- Achieving the highest mass loading reported to date for AZIBs
The research team has successfully developed a lab-made pouch battery using:
- A scaled-up polymer (approximate cost $20/kg)
- A non-fluoro Zn(ClO4)2 electrolyte
- BP 2000 carbon black ($1/kg) without binder
This configuration has yielded impressive results:
- Capacity of nearly 70 mAh g-1
- Middle discharge voltage of 1.4 V
- Mass loading of 50 mg cm-2
- Total capacity of 60 mAh
These specifications enable the battery to power small electric devices such as fans and model cars.
The study, published in the journal Energy Storage Materials, involved collaborations with international experts, including Dr Jesús Santos-Peña from the Université Paris Est Creteil CNRS in France.
In a related development, the team has also made progress in organic radical/K dual-ion batteries, further expanding the range of alternatives to lithium-ion technology.
The advancement of AZIB technology holds significant promise for reducing the environmental impact of battery production and disposal.
With millions of spent batteries contributing to waste and environmental risks, AZIBs offer a more sustainable alternative that could help mitigate these issues.
As research in this field continues to progress, AZIBs are poised to play a crucial role in the future of energy storage, potentially revolutionizing applications ranging from electric vehicles to portable electronic devices.