Jun. 17, 2024
Most battery-powered devices, from smartphones and tablets to electric vehicles and energy storage systems, rely on lithium-ion battery technology. Because lithium-ion batteries are able to store a significant amount of energy in such a small package, charge quickly and last long, they became the battery of choice for new devices.
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But new battery technologies are being researched and developed to rival lithium-ion batteries in terms of efficiency, cost and sustainability.
Many of these new battery technologies aren&#;t necessarily reinventing the wheel when it comes to powering devices or storing energy. They work much like lithium-ion batteries do, just with different materials.
Lithium is stored in the battery&#;s anode, the positively charged electrode, and the cathode, which is the negatively charged electrode.
A liquid electrolyte, or separator, transports positively charged lithium ions between the anode and cathode, the movement of which helps create free electrons in the anode.
As a result, a charge is built up at the battery&#;s positive current collector, which flows through the device to the battery&#;s negative current collector.
When powering the device, the anode is transferring lithium ions to the cathode, and when charging, the cathode is returning them.
While lithium-ion batteries have come a long way in the past few years, especially when it comes to extending the life of a smartphone on full charge or how far an electric car can travel on a single charge, they&#;re not without their problems. The biggest concerns &#; and major motivation for researchers and startups to focus on new battery technologies &#; are related to safety, specifically fire risk, and the sustainability of the materials used in the production of lithium-ion batteries, namely cobalt, nickel and magnesium.
Here are a few new battery technologies that could one day replace lithium-ion batteries.
Solid-state batteries
Lithium-sulfur batteries
Cobalt-free lithium-ion batteries
Sodium-ion batteries
Iron-air batteries
Zinc-based batteries
Further reading:Want more information on lithium iron phosphate batteries for solar storage? Feel free to contact us.
Graphene batteries
An overview of solid-state batteries and their advantages. | Video: Undecided with Matt Ferrell
Instead of relying on a liquid or gel electrolyte, solid-state batteries use a solid electrolyte. These solid electrolytes are typically ceramic, glass, solid polymer or made with sulphites.
Following its announcement that it would test solid-state batteries, BMW received its first batch in November of from Solid Power and has continued to work on prototypes. However, the company won&#;t be able to produce solid-state battery-powered cars until after . Meanwhile, Toyota could launch solid-state battery-powered cars as soon as . Solid-state batteries are already being used in pacemakers and some smartwatches, and devices like smartphones and tablets could soon follow.
Compared to lithium-ion batteries, solid-state batteries are more efficient, packing more power with the same size battery. As a result, EV batteries could become more compact, charge faster and weigh less, which could increase range. Solid-state batteries are believed to last longer &#; with up to seven times more recharges during their lifetime, according to CAR Magazine. They&#;re also believed to be safer, because the solid electrolyte material is fireproof, unlike lithium-ion batteries, which are known to pose a fire risk.
Currently, the one drawback to solid-state batteries is how difficult it is to scale a technology in its early stage for widespread use, given testing and limited production capabilities. In addition, it takes time to engineer and verify the performance of solid-state batteries, contributing to delayed release dates for some companies.
How sulfur can be used to create safer, longer lasting batteries. | Video: Undecided with Matt Ferrell
This new battery technology uses sulfur for the battery&#;s cathode, which is more sustainable than nickel and cobalt typically found in the anode with lithium metal.
Companies like Conamix, an electric vehicle battery manufacturer, are working to make lithium-sulfur batteries a reality, aiming to have them commercially available by , according to the clean energy news site, CleanTechnica. There&#;s even hope lithium-sulfur batteries could be used to power aircraft and trains, along with energy storage, according to Electrek.
Lithium-sulfur batteries are believed to be more efficient than lithium-ion batteries, which could increase the range and storage capacity of electric vehicles. Additionally, sulfur is affordable and abundant, which could mean lower costs. And since the manufacturing process for these batteries is like the one used for lithium-ion batteries, the same facilities could also be used for production. Advancements in lithium-sulfur batteries have also resulted in ultra-fast charging and made them useful for raising the storage capacity of renewable energy technologies.
One of the major drawbacks of this new battery technology is corrosion, though new designs are in the works to curb it. Another disadvantage is that these batteries don&#;t last as long as lithium-ion batteries.
An overview of the benefits of removing cobalt from batteries. | Video: CNBC
These batteries work like lithium-ion batteries, but they don&#;t contain cobalt, which is typically used to stabilize the cathode in a lithium-ion battery.
These batteries could be used in any device powered by a lithium-ion battery, but much of the focus is on developing cobalt-free batteries for electric vehicles. Currently being used by Tesla in some electric vehicle models, cobalt-free lithium-ion batteries could soon become a staple of Lamborghini&#;s models since the company has patented MIT&#;s new battery technology.
The main advantage of cobalt-free batteries is that they don&#;t contain cobalt. Cobalt is incredibly expensive, and the mining of it is associated with human rights abuses. The United States Department of Energy is hoping to end the use of cobalt in lithium batteries by .
But alternatives to cobalt come with their own flaws as well. The process for mining and extracting cobalt can be toxic and dangerous, and another cobalt alternative known as TAQ is still new and requires more testing. For these reasons, companies may continue to rely on cobalt until they can establish other options.
A look at how sodium-ion batteries can be an alternative to lithium-ion batteries. | Video: DW Planet A
These batteries are similar to lithium-ion batteries, but instead use saltwater as an electrolyte.
These batteries are believed to be suitable for energy storage. As research on sodium-ion batteries progresses, the batteries could even go on to fuel faster charging in EVs, mobile devices and space technology.
Despite low energy density &#; sodium-ion batteries are only able to store approximately two-thirds the amount of energy a lithium-ion battery of the same size can hold &#; it&#;s much more affordable and very safe thanks to low risk of fire. It also performs better at lower temperatures than lithium-ion batteries.
While sodium-ion batteries in the past have been too inefficient for electric vehicles, researchers are working on sodium-ion batteries with faster charging times.
Exploring the use of iron-air batteries as a form of energy storage. | Video: Undecided with Matt Ferrell
Iron-Air Batteries
According to Popular Mechanics, iron-air batteries work by oxidizing iron &#; using air to turn iron into rust &#; to produce energy. During the battery&#;s charging process, the cells are transformed back to iron through reverse oxidation.
Iron-air batteries are great for energy storage, providing up to 100 hours of storage at a tenth of the cost compared to lithium-ion batteries. Form Energy, an energy storage company, has finished constructing its plant in West Virginia and has received approval to build another site in Minnesota in partnership with Xcel Energy. Form Energy has also partnered with Puget Sound Energy to expand its technology in Washington State. All these developments allow Form Energy to provide crucial energy support to power plants.
These batteries are very affordable, given the abundance of iron and air in the world. In fact, they&#;re up to 10 times cheaper, according to Popular Mechanics, and last up to 17 times longer.
The only drawbacks are their large size and slow recharge time.
An overview of zinc-based batteries and how they can be used for energy storage. | Video: Undecided with Matt Ferrell
Zinc-based batteries work much like lithium-ion batteries with zinc ions flowing from the battery&#;s anode to cathode. This class of new battery technology includes zinc-bromine, zinc-manganese dioxide, zinc-air and zinc-ion batteries.
Zinc-based batteries could be used for solar energy storage because of their low rate of self-discharge. According to PV Magazine, a zinc-air battery storage system was installed in a 32-building community in Queens, New York, in . After receiving a $400 million loan from the Department of Energy, startup Eos Energy aims to improve climate technology and the U.S. grid system with its zinc-based batteries as well.
These batteries are typically capable of storing an abundance of energy. Additionally, the materials used in their production are affordable, non-toxic and readily available, according to PV Magazine.
But researchers are still working to solve some technical problems related to these batteries, namely the potential for them to short circuit. These batteries are also inefficient and expensive to produce, so more research is needed before they can be used more widely.
An overview of why graphene batteries are the future of the EV industry. | Video: UltiumTech
Graphene batteries consist of cathodes that are a hybrid of solid-state materials and graphene, which is made up of a thin layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb structure.
Graphene batteries are viewed as a major upgrade to lithium-ion batteries and are expected to reshape the EV industry by the next decade. Everyday devices like smartphones and computers could also be equipped with graphene batteries to improve their performance.
Graphene batteries are much more conductive than their lithium-ion counterparts, leading to faster charging in devices and EVs, increased battery capacity and extended battery lifespans. Graphene&#;s sturdy structure also makes it a more reliable material than lithium-ion, lowering the risk of battery explosions and fires.
The only setback to graphene batteries is their cost. Because companies have yet to figure out a way to mass-produce graphene batteries, the technology remains expensive and largely inaccessible to the general public for the time being.
Every type of battery technology comes with its pros and cons. However, solid-state batteries are valued because they last longer and are more efficient than lithium-ion batteries.
Sodium-ion batteries are seen as a safer and more sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries. There are also other lithium-ion alternatives like iron-air batteries, zinc-based batteries and lithium-sulfur batteries.
Researchers have continued to create more efficient, safer and longer-lasting batteries compared to lithium-ion batteries. One of the latest technologies includes graphene batteries, which promise faster charging, longer lifespans and greater safety than lithium-ion batteries.
Sodium-ion vs. Lithium-ion Battery: Which is a Better Alternative?
Lithium is the most common element in battery manufacturing, with China controlling the global lithium-ion battery supply chain (79% of all lithium-ion batteries). China also controls 61% of global lithium refining capacity used for battery storage and electric cars.
The next big supplier is Argentina, accounting for 21% of global deposits, giving it tremendous power in raw material mining and to influence the lithium supply chain, with 13 proposed projects and dozens more in the works.
Lithium-ion batteries are made of scarce and pricey elements such as cobalt and lithium. Lithium prices have increased by more than 700% since amid rising demand for batteries. Lithium-based batteries would likewise have difficulty meeting the increasing demand for power grid energy storage. Technology companies are looking for alternatives to replace traditional lithium-ion batteries.
Sodium-ion batteries are a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries &#; currently the most widely used type of rechargeable battery. Both types of batteries use a liquid electrolyte to store and transfer electrical energy, but differ in the type of ions they use.
An examination of Lithium-ion (Li-ion) and sodium-ion (Na-ion) battery components reveals that the nature of the cathode material is the main difference between the two batteries. Because the preparation cost of the cathode from raw materials is the same for both types of battery technologies, the main cost reduction for sodium-ion batteries comes from raw materials.
Due to the multiple advantages of sodium-ion batteries, large players in the energy industry are investing in acquiring and developing this technology. For example, Faradion, a battery technology company in the UK and an innovator in Na-ion battery, was recently acquired by Reliance New Energy Solar, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, for $135 million.
Despite the advantages, sodium ion battery manufacturing needs to overcome several challenges before it can be widely adopted as a replacement for lithium-ion batteries.
While there are many potential advantages to using sodium-ion batteries over lithium-ion batteries, there are also several challenges that need to be overcome before they can be widely adopted as a replacement.
If sodium-ion batteries are to become the backbone of the energy storage industry, they must continue to improve their technical performance. Researchers are working to improve the performance and stability of the batteries, as well as to reduce their cost, while companies are looking to establish a supply chain for the materials used in the batteries.
Author: Sanket Chipade
Additional Read:
Lithium-Ion Batteries Are Changing the Face of Power Backup
How The Us Wants To Charge Its Battery Supply Chain
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