Climate change is leading to more devastating tornadoes, cyclones and other storms in diverse parts of the world. Their path of destruction poses a threat to lithium-based storage, because damaged cells can overheat and disintegrate. Meanwhile Clemson University scientists are wondering could potassium-ion batteries stabilize grids.
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Scientists at Clemson are exploring budding potassium-ion technology, they already know could be both safer and cheaper. Moreover, they believe greater safety and affordability, coupled with lower maintenance costs compensate for relatively lower energy density.
Prof. Apparao Rao, leading the team has concerns lithium-ion batteries could rupture in a storm and compromise grid stability. He is R. A. Bowen Professor of Physics, in Clemson’s College of Science’s Department of Physics and Astronomy.
He collaborated with colleagues in China to build a fully-functional pouch-type aqueous potassium-ion battery. They sliced into the pouch while the battery was connected through a circuit. The battery did not catch alight. To the contrary it continued to function.
Could Prussian Blue Dye Stabilize Grids During Severe Weather?
Well the technology is off to a good start, because potassium is much cheaper and more plentiful than lithium. And moreover it occurs naturally in elemental form unlike lithium. However scientists have struggled to find a suitable material as cathode.
They say necessity is the parent of invention. Prof. Apparao Rao has achieved success using prussian blue dye. This is an artificial pigment created in the early 1700s to dye Prussian uniforms blue. Who would have thought of that?
The new cells are not sufficiently potent to replace lithium-ion at this stage. However, Prof. Apparao Rao believes his potassium-ion batteries could help stabilize grids. ‘If you have lithium-based grid storage, it is potentially flammable,’ he says. So, potassium-ion batteries, such as those discussed in our study are a nice substitute.’
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