Researchers from the University of Hong Kong and the Southern University of Science and Technology have presented a new type of water-based battery that could outperform traditional lithium-ion batteries in the future.
This technology represents a potentially huge step forward as the new batteries can withstand more than 120,000 charge cycles, many times more than standard lithium-ion batteries that lose capacity over time.
A water-based battery brings greater durability and safety
During the experiments, the scientists also used unusual components such as tofu brine to improve the chemical stability of the system. Such an approach enables cheaper production and simpler construction of the battery, with a significantly lower impact on the environment.
According to the researchers, the new battery technology exhibits exceptional long-term stability over a large number of charge cycles, while remaining chemically stable under neutral conditions.
Unlike classic lithium batteries that use flammable organic electrolytes, the new batteries use an aqueous electrolyte. This practically eliminates the risk of fire and explosion, which is one of the biggest safety advantages of this technology.
Another important advantage is a significantly lower impact on the environment. Since water is the basic chemical component, the production and recycling of these batteries is potentially much more environmentally friendly than lithium batteries.
However, despite the promising results, this technology is still in the early stages of development and is not ready for commercial use. The next step will be testing in real products such as smartphones, electric cars and other electronic devices.
If further tests confirm the results so far, water-based batteries could become a serious alternative to lithium batteries in the future and significantly accelerate the transition to cleaner energy sources, reports MSN.