Since the 19th century, batteries have been used as one of the primary sources of energy for various devices. In modern times, several types of batteries have been developed, which differ in performance and lifespan. There are also rechargeable types, such as lithium-ion batteries.
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Challenges in Using Lithium-Ion Batteries
A lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is a rechargeable battery charged and discharged by lithium ions moving between the negative and positive electrodes. It consists of single or multiple lithium-ion cells and a protective circuit board.
Known for their exceptional energy density, lithium-ion batteries dominate the global market because of their compact size and weight relative to storage capacity. Since lithium-ion batteries provide the highest energy density with a considerable charge cycle, so they have become the fastest-growing and most promising battery types. Maintaining a dependable lithium supply is important in supporting sustainable sectors like renewable energy storage and electric vehicles.
Despite the benefits of using lithium-ion batteries, they also have several disadvantages. First, this battery requires an electronic battery management system to ensure overcharge and deep-discharge protection. They also need a thermal management system since they generate heat when charged or discharged.
Aside from these, lithium-ion batteries suffer from the problem of aging since they depend upon the number of charge-discharge cycles the battery has undergone. Most modern batteries commonly used in laptops have a typical lifespan of 300-500 charge-discharge cycles. This can substantially decrease to 200 cycles in C-rate or high DoD situations.
Another major disadvantage of lithium-ion batteries is their cost. They are typically around 405 more costly to develop than NiMN cells. As a result, it makes devices and technologies more expensive, affecting accessibility for some consumers.
In a significant breakthrough, Chinese researchers from Fudan University have developed a battery that can undergo complete charging and discharging cycles up to 700 times at room temperature. The study details are discussed in the paper "A rechargeable calcium-oxygen battery that operates at room temperature."
Experts in this research believe calcium-based batteries can provide a more affordable and safer alternative to lithium-ion batteries. It is anticipated to maintain a comparable theoretical energy capacity. Calcium also has an abundance of 2,500 times greater than lithium, so a calcium battery is assumed to be a promising option in energy storage.
Led by Lei Ye, the research team emphasizes that calcium-oxygen (Ca-O2) systems exhibit the highest theoretical energy density among all the variants of calcium-based batteries. This is because the battery's fuel is sourced from oxygen in the air rather than from a material stored within it. By converting oxygen into calcium oxide compounds, calcium-oxygen batteries have the potential for high capacity and low cost.
According to the researchers, they integrated their calcium-oxygen device into fibers, producing flexible textile batteries suitable for smartphones. This milestone is the first for such technology and paves the way for more durable and efficient energy storage solutions.