Politecnico di Milano develops non-flammable fluoride-ion battery electrolyte

Researchers at the Politecnico di Milano have developed a new quasi-solid gel membrane that could enable the use of fluoride-ion batteries as an alternative to lithium-ion technology. The electrolyte allows for the transport of fluoride ions at room temperature, addressing a major hurdle in previous fluoride-based battery generations that required high temperatures to function.

This new technology offers several potential advantages, including increased safety due to its non-flammable properties and a lower environmental impact by utilizing more abundant raw materials. Theoretically, these batteries could achieve energy densities of approximately 600 Wh/kg, significantly higher than the 150 to 250 Wh/kg typical of standard lithium-ion batteries. This could potentially double the range of electric vehicles and improve performance in drones, satellites, and aircraft.