Scientists in Bengaluru, India, have introduced an innovative aluminium-based battery, transforming the energy storage scene. This groundbreaking research was led by the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), in collaboration with the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). This new aluminium-based option is not only lightweight and foldable like paper but also safe to handle, making it a potential game-changer for industries in its energy technology.
Why use aluminium in batteries?
The battery makes use of aluminium along with a water-based electrolyte, creating a solution that is safe, cost-effective and environmentally friendly. The research team crafted a copper hexacyanoferrate cathode that's pre-loaded with aluminium ions and paired it with a molybdenum trioxide anode, resulting in a high-performance cell. Impressively, the prototype showed remarkable durability, maintaining 96.77 per cent of its capacity even after 150 charge-discharge cycles, highlighting its potential for large-scale industrial use.
The aluminium-based battery offers remarkable flexibility by staying fully functional even when it's bent or folded in half. It's been successfully tested to power a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) under these conditions. This innovation paves the way for exciting new uses in wearable tech, rollable smartphones and safer energy storage solutions for electric vehicles.
By utilising cutting-edge electron microscopy and spectroscopic analysis, the team fine-tuned materials at a microscopic level to guarantee durability and reliable performance. With this advancement, India is solidifying its role as a leader in next-generation sustainable energy storage, aligning perfectly with global goals for safer and greener technologies.
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From where did the need come?
A recent breakthrough published in the Journal of Energy Storage (Elsevier) represents a major leap in tackling the long-standing hurdles in aluminium-ion battery development. While aluminium boasts impressive theoretical capacity and energy storage efficiency, its intricate electrochemistry has often hindered its practical use. This new research effectively tackles those challenges, opening the door for aluminium-based batteries to become a viable commercial alternative to traditional energy storage solutions.
Delivering the solution
To address these challenges, Dr. Kavita Pandey and her research team developed an innovative cathode made from copper hexacyanoferrate (CuHCFe) that was pre-loaded with aluminium ions and they paired it with a molybdenum trioxide anode. This distinctive combination of materials allowed the creation of a battery system that is not only stable and flexible but also boasts impressive energy performance, according to the team.
Unfold other aluminium packaging insights from the report, “ALuminium in Packaging: Consumer Trends and Market Dynamics”
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