Flinders University researchers develop long-lasting zinc-iodine battery

Researchers at Flinders University in Australia have developed a new zinc-iodine battery technology that addresses long-standing stability issues. By using a polymer network made from cyclodextrin—a starch-derived molecule—the team created a molecular cage that captures iodine compounds. This prevents the iodine from attacking the zinc electrode and damaging the battery, while still allowing the necessary chemical reactions to occur.

The resulting prototype demonstrated remarkable durability, maintaining nearly all its capacity after more than 60,000 charge cycles. In high-current testing, the battery was also capable of recharging in approximately three minutes.

Because these batteries utilize a non-flammable, water-based electrolyte and inexpensive plant sugars rather than mined lithium or cobalt, they offer a safer and more sustainable alternative to current technologies. While the low volumetric energy density makes them unsuitable for slim consumer electronics like smartphones, they hold significant potential for stationary energy storage, such as home solar systems and grid-scale renewable energy storage.