A research team led by Associate Professor Woo-Jin Song from South Korea’s Chungnam National University have developed what is described as the next-gen rechargeable battery using zinc-ion instead of lithium.
Researchers are increasingly turning to zinc over lithium due to its environmental impact. As Triple Pundit points out, zinc is generally considered to be more abundant and friendlier to extract than lithium, which is used in pretty much everything available with a rechargeable battery.
The reason the highly promising replacement for lithium-ion batteries isn’t used already is that the zinc anodes inside the batteries suffer from what is described as “undesirable side effects.” As a result, these issues affect the cycling ability and stability of the batteries.
However, researchers discovered an ultra-thin ion transportation layer (or coating) that is both effective and easy for manufacturers to produce and could address the side effects. The new layer is a zinc-bonded polyacrylic acid (ZHP), which prevents contact between the zinc and the water-based electrolytes. That contact could result in either corrosion or what is known as a hydrogen evolution reaction.
Instead of lithium-ion batteries that the researchers note rely on “flammable organic electrolytes,” fluid-based zinc-ion batteries use a water-based electrolyte, which is described in the report as non-flammable, environmentally friendly, and more affordable for both manufacturers and consumers.
These batteries could be used for devices such as smartphones or portable watches. They have also been referenced in terms of grid energy storage and EVs, which, because of ZIB’s lower cost of production, could help eliminate the high purchase price problem.
One other method using zinc is the zinc-air battery, which skips using water-based electrolytes. The University of Waterloo holds several patents in terms of zinc-air and other zinc-ion related batteries, alongside another Canadian company, Salient Energy. However, the two went through a legal dispute that ended with a settlement in 2018.
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