Researchers at University of Science and Technology in China have invented a new rechargeable lithium-hydrogen gas battery. Their novel invention uses the gas as its anode, instead of a lithium derivative. We find this particularly interesting, because hydrogen is a stable, affordable energy carrier with attractive electrochemical properties.
What Makes This Lithium-Hydrogen Gas Battery Special?
That’s a fair question, since traditional hydrogen-based batteries generally use the gas as their cathode. And as a result, this 0.8 to 1.4 volt option has limited overall energy storage, according to University of Science and Technology.
However, in this instance the researchers used hydrogen gas as their anode, from where the battery energy flows to the external circuit.
This increased the working voltage and energy density significantly, when paired with lithium metal. And as a result, the battery exhibited exceptional electrochemical performance, according to their report.
The structure of the prototype lithium-hydrogen battery that the team developed, is also ground-breaking. Their design incorporates a lithium metal anode, a platinum-coated gas diffusion layer serving as the hydrogen cathode, and a solid lithium-aluminum-titanium-phosphate electrolyte.
Superior Performance from New Hydrogen Gas Battery
The novel lithium-ion battery was able to expedite efficient ion transport during testing, while at the same time avoiding any negative chemical reactions. It demonstrated a theoretical energy density of 2,825 watt-hours per kilogram, while maintaining a steady voltage around 3 volts.
But what makes this new energy storage innovation particularly exciting, is the efficiency of its chemistry. The stable prototype, rechargeable lithium-hydrogen gas battery demonstrated a 99.7% round-trip efficiency. This means the battery is able to deliver almost all the energy it stores.
The University of Science and Technology researchers are not done with their brainstorming yet. They have developed an anode-free lithium-hydrogen battery, that eliminates the need for pre-installed lithium metal. Instead, the battery deposits lithium from lithium salts in the electrolyte, during charging.
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