Battery technology advances through new material designs and zinc-iodine innovations

Researchers are making significant strides in battery technology through two distinct approaches to improve longevity and safety.

A joint research group from Shinshu University and the University of Montpellier has developed a new material design guideline to extend the life of high-capacity lithium-ion batteries. By using xenon difluoride to fluorinate the surface of nickel-rich layered oxides (NCM811), the team successfully stabilized both the crystal structure and the interface reaction with the electrolyte. This method reduced volume shrinkage during high-voltage charging and suppressed electrolyte decomposition. In tests using a full cell with a graphite anode, the fluorinated NCM811 maintained 93% capacity after 100 cycles, compared to only 77% for untreated material.

Separately, researchers at Flinders University in Australia have developed a next-generation zinc-iodine battery that offers a safer, more sustainable alternative to lithium-ion technology. To overcome the ‘shuttle effect’ that typically degrades these batteries, the team utilized a low-cost, biodegradable starch-derived polymer. This innovation allows for extreme durability; in laboratory settings, the battery demonstrated the ability to undergo up to 60,000 charge cycles with a 3-minute ultra-fast charge. The zinc-iodine design avoids the use of expensive rare metals and utilizes a water-based electrolyte, reducing risks of explosion and environmental contamination.