They present the prototype of a magnesium substituted lithium battery

2023/05/25 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ingurumena
• Energia

Magnesium based batteries have proven their viability and potential in a project led by CIDETEC Energy Storage. It has been considered an important step in favor of the use of magnesium instead of lithium ion batteries, and has been published in the journal Energy & Environmental Science.

Lithium ion (LIB) batteries are currently used to electrify transport or store renewable energies, among others. As applications increase, lithium demand increases, but there is little lithium in nature and only in certain geographical areas. Supply problems are therefore foreseen in the future for the production of lithium ion batteries.

So researchers are working to find an alternative to lithium ion batteries. In the study just published, a prototype of a magnesium based battery instead of lithium has been introduced for the first time. It is explained to have a capacity of about 500 mAh and great reversibility (> 200 loading/unloading cycles). This demonstrates the viability of this technology. It would also be more sustainable.

Finally, they propose a roadmap for the development and implementation of new materials that would substantially improve system performance, especially energy density.