Water-based electrolyte, the solution for safer batteries

[OyaYansa]

A team of researchers from the University of Maryland and the US Army Research Laboratory has developed a lithium-ion battery that uses a solution of water and salt as electrolyte. Thanks to this configuration it is possible to manufacture safer batteries, preventing the electronic components from being ignited and causing explosions.

The most common batteries are lithium-ion batteries, composed of electrical conductors (or electrodes) on each side, while in the middle we find the electrolyte. The electrodes are charged and discharged when the ions move from one to the other, moving through the electrolyte.

Usually, electrolytes are made from organic chemicals that are highly flammable. Although the ones that are made with water also exist, as it is not a very reactive element the batteries that incorporate it are usually less powerful.

This trend changes thanks to the new battery developed by these scientists, who have been able to use a water-salt electrolyte that can reach 4 volts, the same voltage as the most common organic electrolytes. In the video you have a little higher you can see how the water-based battery marks a power of 4 volts. At the same time, it can withstand drilling with a nail without any danger, without a flame or explosion.

"In the past, if high energy was desired, a non-aqueous lithium ion battery was chosen, but safety was compromised. If safety was preferred, an aqueous battery such as nickel / hydride / metal could be used, but there was to settle for lower energy, "explains Kang Xu, co-author of the study. "Now we have demonstrated that it is possible to have access to high energy and high security simultaneously".

Of course, they have a great limitation on conventional lithium-ion batteries, because they only withstand 70 charging and discharging cycles, while the non-aqueous electrolyte lasts for at least 500 cycles. Therefore, the next step in this research is to achieve a longer shelf life.