New chemistry developed by a UCL-led team could increase the energy capacity of aqueous (water-based) batteries—a step forward for a safer, more sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
Large-scale energy storage, in the form of battery farms, is needed in the transition to net zero, to store excess energy from renewables that can be released when the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing.
Currently, these facilities use lithium-ion batteries—the same rechargeable batteries that power laptops, e-bikes and electric cars—which can carry a fire risk, as well as requiring the mining of scarce resources such as cobalt, incurring an environmental cost.
Aqueous batteries are a potential alternative but, while safer and more sustainable, they have a relatively low energy density, limiting their practical use.
To read more, click here.