According to KAUST researchers, rechargeable batteries that use ammonium cations as charge carriers could offer eco-friendly and long-lasting alternatives to metal-ion-based batteries.
Illustration of the high-efficiency metal-free battery developed by KAUST researchers. Unlike conventional batteries, this battery combines an ammonium-cation-containing electrolyte with carbon-based electrodes. Image Credit: 2022 KAUST; Heno Hwang
Lithium-ion batteries and other metal-ion batteries are the preferred types of energy storage. Due to their high energy density and versatility, they are the industry leaders in portable consumer electronics and electric vehicles.
However, the limited and depleting resources from which the metal ions used in the electrolytes are derived pose a threat to their long-term availability. For example, their flammability and toxicity could be hazardous to…