Researchers develop new designs and tools for lithium-ion battery alternatives

Researchers are developing new methods to diversify battery chemistries beyond lithium-ion to address mineral scarcity and cost volatility.

A team from Japan and the United States has designed a tunnel-structured molybdenum oxide electrode to improve calcium and magnesium batteries. These divalent ions typically cause significant mechanical stress and structural degradation in electrodes due to their strong interaction with host materials. The new design limits lattice expansion to less than 2%, minimizing the stress caused by repeated charging and discharging cycles.

In a separate development, engineers at the Southwest Research Institute in the United States have introduced the Electrical Interchangeability Index. This tool is designed to help manufacturers determine if lower-cost sodium-ion batteries can replace lithium-ion batteries in specific applications, such as laptops or power tools, without compromising performance or requiring complete system redesigns. The index evaluates whether different chemistries can execute the same duty cycle under various operating conditions.