Scientists from Australia’s Deakin University have developed an environmentally friendly, cost effective, polymer-based solid-state electrolyte for use in sodium and potassium batteries.
Researchers at Deakin’s Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM) used computer modeling and simulations to design a solid-state polymer electrolyte that showed potential use in various technologies, particularly sodium and potassium batteries.
The team used a computer-to-laboratory material design strategy, applying modeling and simulations to find the the best compositions for polymer electrolytes.
The research was published in the journal Nature Materials.
Lead researcher Dr Fangfang Chen (pictured right) said: “This work has been devoted to developing new polymer electrolyte chemistries that can be used with high-energy metals that are more abundant and less expensive than lithium, such as sodium and potassium.
“The new materials can contribute to a more sustainable, greener future battery technology, as well as providing society with safer, high-performance energy storage devices.”
Alfred Deakin professor Maria Forsyth(pictured left) said the work expands upon current knowledge of these new electrolyte systems.
She said: “Lithium-based technology is expensive, in-demand and increasingly scarce, so breakthroughs that provide alternative, inexpensive, and safe energy storage options are of major significance.
“We can now offer an alternative path to realising polymer-based solid-state batteries. This is a significant milestone, and this process will act as a design criterion for further development in this field of research.”
Solid polymer electrolyte material
In July, a team led by Dr Xiaoen Wang and professor Forsyth developed a solid polymer electrolyte material that replaces the flammable liquid solvents used in sodium batteries.
The breakthrough also utilised computer-to-laboratory research.
Deakin is establishing a AUS$9.5 million ($6.6 million) facility at Melbourne’s Burwood campus, which will expand the institution’s research into sodium and lithium batteries.
The Battery Technology Research and Innovation Hub (BatTRI-Hub) upgrade will include a testing laboratory and pilot production line to research and manufacture advanced lithium and sodium batteries.