An international team of researchers and industry collaborators say they have invented the world’s first water batteries.
Unlike popular lithium-ion batteries, which power everything from mobile phones to electric cars but are made with dangerous and toxic electrolytes, these new batteries use only water. The result is an energy storage device that is less toxic, fully recyclable, and one that will never catch fire or explode.
Although the performance of water batteries is still short of lithium-ion batteries, their inventors say numerous advances and planned improvements should close that gap within the next five to ten years.
In a traditional battery, organic electrolytes allow electric current to flow between the positive and negative terminals. In lithium-ion batteries, a liquid solvent that dissolves lithium salt acts as the electrolyte. Unfortunately, these materials often don’t react well to high temperatures or pressures. In the worst cases, they can burn up electronic devices, set car engines on fire, or even explode.
Hoping to find a better alternative, an international team of research scientists led by RMIT University Distinguished Professor Tianyi Ma and selected industry partners figured out a way to replace this dangerous and often toxic electrolyte with plain old H2O, a.k.a. water. The result is an energy storage medium that works just like a lithium-ion battery but without all of the unwanted risks.
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