UK battery developer SuperDielectrics has announced independent test results for its next-generation water-based zinc battery, claiming the technology outperformed both standard and next-generation lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries in high-power applications across cycle life, charging speed, discharge performance and safety.
The testing was carried out by UK defence and security company QinetiQ on single-layer cells.
According to SuperDielectrics, its patented polymer separator technology eliminated the risk of thermal runaway, fire and explosion under abuse conditions.
The company said the tests showed charge performance at 0°C was around 48 times better than comparable lithium-ion cells, achieving a 20C charge rate equivalent to a three-minute charge.
At room temperature, the company reported:
- up to 13 times longer cycle life during high-power cycling using 10-minute charge and discharge cycles at 100% depth of discharge;
- discharge performance around 10 times better, maintaining more than 85% of nominal capacity at a 100C discharge rate (36 seconds); and
- charge performance around eight times better, maintaining more than 70% of nominal capacity at a 50C charge rate (1 minute 12 seconds).
SuperDielectrics said the technology is being developed as a rack-level power-smoothing solution for AI data centres, where rapidly fluctuating power demands can place increasing strain on electrical infrastructure.
SuperDielectrics: stable power delivery
Rather than serving as long-duration energy storage, the company’s batteries are intended to smooth short-term power fluctuations close to computing equipment, reducing stress on electrical infrastructure and supporting stable power delivery. The company said its aqueous zinc battery chemistry is designed to eliminate the thermal runaway risks associated with lithium-ion batteries, allowing deployment alongside mission-critical equipment.
The company said the results support development of its Faraday 3 battery, with the first commercial deployment planned for early next year, while it pursues strategic customer partnerships.
Jane Hunter, chief executive officer of SuperDielectrics, said: “SuperDielectrics has a UK-designed, globally scalable technology for a future rack-level and grid-scale power buffering solution, enabling safer, lower-cost and higher-density AI compute infrastructure and grid stabilisation capability compared to lithium-ion. This strengthens UK leadership in critical enabling technologies. Where lithium-ion is reaching its performance limits, adding SuperDielectrics batteries can enable our customers to deliver the same power with a fraction of the energy footprint – safer, smaller, and at significantly lower cost.”
Shelley Brown, chief technology officer of SuperDielectrics, said: “These results provide independent benchmarking of the technology at the heart of our batteries: a proprietary polymer separator that combines rapid ion transport with the safety advantages of an aqueous electrolyte system. The outcome is an energy storage solution purpose-built for high-power, fast-cycling applications, offering an alternative to lithium-ion systems that typically rely on extensive oversizing and additional safety infrastructure to manage demanding power profiles.”
SuperDielectrics said its battery technology uses widely available raw materials and contains no critical minerals. Its core innovation is an internationally patented polymer separator designed to deliver rapid ion transport while using a water-based electrolyte system.
Photo: a SuperDielectrics Faraday II battery in the laboratory Credit: SuperDielectrics
