Flinders University researchers develop long-life zinc-iodine battery

Researchers at Flinders University have developed a rechargeable aqueous zinc-iodine battery (AZIB) designed for large-scale energy storage. The new design aims to provide a safer, more sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries, which face increasing scrutiny regarding supply chain constraints, cost, and waste.

A primary technical challenge with zinc-iodine batteries has been the migration of polyiodides, which causes energy loss and performance degradation. To solve this, the team utilized a cyclodextrin-based polymer—a material derived from inexpensive, biodegradable starch molecules—to act as a microscopic cage that traps iodine compounds while allowing chemical reactions to proceed.

The battery demonstrated significant durability in testing. When charged in three minutes, the system delivered more than 60,000 cycles at 150 mAh/g. When charged in seven minutes, it maintained a capacity of 200 mAh/g over 8,000 cycles. The technology is being positioned for use in storing electricity from solar and wind farms.