Column: Electric dreams turn into a nightmare for battery metals
A sector that was once racing to build new supply has been closing mines and deferring projects as low prices bite into the cost curve.
Researchers at Stanford University and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology have developed a prototype of an anode-free, zinc-based battery that uses low-cost, naturally abundant materials.
In a study published in the journal Nano Letters, scientists Yunpei Zhu, Yi Cui, and Husam Alshareef say they drew inspiration from previous explorations of “anode-free” lithium and sodium-metal batteries and decided to make a battery in which a zinc-rich cathode is the sole source for zinc plating onto a copper current collector.
The researchers believe that their anode-free battery design provides new directions for using aqueous zinc-based batteries in energy storage systems
Their main goal was to address a big problem linked to previously explored aqueous zinc-based batteries. The issue was that, even though they provided safety and high energy density when compared to other batteries, they required thick zinc anodes, which contain large amounts the metal and, thus, were more costly.
In their prototype, however, the team of researchers used a manganese dioxide cathode that they pre-intercalated with zinc ions, an aqueous zinc trifluoromethanesulfonate electrolyte solution, and a copper foil current collector. During charging, zinc metal gets plated onto the copper foil, and during discharging the metal is stripped off, releasing electrons that power the battery.
To prevent dendrites from forming, the experts coated the copper current collector with a layer of carbon nanodiscs. This layer promoted uniform zinc plating, thereby preventing dendrites and it also increased the efficiency of zinc plating and stripping.
In their paper, Zhu Cui and Alshareef report that the battery showed high efficiency, energy density, and stability, retaining 62.8% of its storage capacity after 80 charging and discharging cycles. Thus, they believe that their anode-free battery design provides new directions for using aqueous zinc-based batteries in energy storage systems.
2 Comments
Why aren't we using hydrogen taken from the air to create a fuel where you never run out of fuel?
When we take hydrogen by using a dehydrator to get the water molecules and electrolisys to break down the atom H2O. Suppose we use a half atom of hydrogen and this we use as fuel. Using only half would make hydrogen less powerful but still powerful enough to power motors especially if designed to use on its own. There would be less danger of exploding in accidents and it would clean the air and probably make us live longer. We would have a higher amount of useable oxygen to breathe and this would make us stronger to fight disease. Right now we are depleting the ozone layer but with hydrogen use we would make breathing far better in a very short time. This would also fix the ozone layer. This is my opinion what do you think?
Max Baker
I agree with your Opionion 100%
I do not know the answer however I believe the the people that push wind farms and solar do not have an open mind they have tunnel vision as neither will provide base load power at this time and especiwlly wind is unreliable maybe in the future, It is important to research other forms for generating power. We should be investing more funds to evaluate Hydrogen,Thermal energy sources