Verónica Castro-AllendeAs the demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) grows, there is increasing pressure on critical raw material supply chains, prompting researchers to seek affordable, safe, and sustainable alternatives. Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are emerging as a promising solution, offering a low-cost and eco-friendly option derived from abundant zinc resources. Scientists at Flinders University are pioneering efforts to develop functional polymer-based AZIBs using natural cathodes, a significant step towards sustainable energy storage. AZIBs could revolutionize various industries, from electric vehicles to lightweight electronics, providing a practical alternative to traditional LIBs. Unlike lithium, zinc is more abundant and cost-effective, reducing the environmental impact of battery production. However, challenges remain in developing high-performance cathodes, which are crucial for battery efficiency and lifespan. Flinders University’s team, led by Associate Professor Zhongfan Jia, has made groundbreaking progress using affordable nitroxide radical polymer cathodes, achieving impressive capacity and voltage in prototype pouch batteries. With continued advancements, AZIBs have the potential to replace lithium-ion batteries in numerous applications, offering a sustainable solution for future energy storage needs.
As the global demand for lithium-ion batteries ( LIBs ) increases pressures on critical raw material supply chains, researchers are on the hunt for affordable, safe, and sustainable alternatives.
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries ( AZIBs ) are emerging as a promising solution, offering a low-cost option derived from abundant resources.
Flinders University scientists are now making ground-breaking efforts to create functional polymer-based AZIBs using natural cathodes, a significant step in the direction of sustainable energy storage.
Why aquatic zinc-ion batteries are the future
According to a number of factors, including the scarcity of raw materials and disruptions in the supply chain, the search for alternatives to lithium-ion batteries is getting more and more popular.
By utilizing zinc, a material that is much more prevalent than lithium, watery zinc-ion batteries could address these issues. Zinc is ten times more abundant in the Earth’s crust, making it an attractive, responsible option for energy storage.
” Aqueous zinc-ion batteries could have real-world applications”, says Associate Professor Zhongfan Jia, a nanotechnology expert at Flinders University’s College of Science and Engineering.
AZIBs could revolutionise industries from electric vehicles to lightweight electronics, offering a practical and eco-friendly alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
Economic and economic benefits
Beyond their resource availability, AZIBs offer numerous advantages over their lithium-based counterparts.
Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which typically rely on rare and expensive materials like cobalt, AZIBs use zinc—a cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative. Additionally, Zinc is safer and less poisonous, which further strengthens its appeal for adoption.
The economic impact is another important benefit. Millions of used batteries are contributing to toxic waste as a result of the incorrect disposal of lithium-ion batteries.
AZIBs, being less dangerous, could mitigate these risks and help reduce the environmental footprint of energy storage technologies.
The challenge of developing high-performance cathodes
While AZIBs hold enormous potential, a big challenge remains: developing high-performance cathodes.
Most AZIBs use zinc metal as an anode, but the cathode material, whether artificial or natural, plays a vital role in determining the battery’s efficiency and lifespan.
To address this issue, Jia’s team has made groundbreaking strides. Their research focuses on enhancing conductivity using commercially available, affordable nitroxide extreme polymer cathodes.
The researchers used flexible and affordable materials to create a prototype lab-made pouch battery.
A non-fluoro zinc electrolyte and BP 2000 carbon dark were used to deliver an amazing capacity of nearly 70 mAh g-1 with a firm discharge voltage of 1.4 V.
This development, which can power smaller items like electric fans and model cars, demonstrates how useful AZIBs are for common use.
The road back for aquatic zinc-ion batteries
Aquatic zinc-ion batteries present a appealing, eco-friendly, and cost-effective solution to the energy storage challenges of the future.
With continued advancements in polymer-based cathodes and battery performance optimisation, AZIBs could quickly replace lithium-ion batteries across different applications, from electric vehicles to consumer electronics.
