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Advancements in aqueous zinc battery technology

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2026-08-21 21:14 UTC → 2026-08-22 02:06 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Researchers in South Korea and Australia have reported advancements in aqueous zinc-based battery technologies designed for large-scale energy storage. In South Korea, a joint research team from GIST, the Korea Institute of Energy Research, and Ewha Womans University developed an electrolyte design using complex oxoanions. This method creates a protective layer on the zinc electrode to suppress hydrogen evolution and electrode damage. Testing showed a zinc-vanadium oxide battery maintained 96.55% of its initial capacity after 5,000 cycles. In Australia, Flinders University researchers have developed a rechargeable aqueous zinc-iodine battery (AZIB) using a cyclodextrin-based polymer. Derived from inexpensive, biodegradable starch molecules, this material acts as a microscopic cage to trap polyiodides, addressing energy loss and performance degradation. This molecular cage prevents iodine from attacking the zinc electrode while allowing it to participate in the chemical reaction. The technology is positioned as a safer, more sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries, which face scrutiny regarding cost, waste, and supply chain constraints. Because the system is water-based, it eliminates explosion risks associated with traditional lithium-ion technology. Testing indicates high durability and rapid charging capabilities: when charged in three minutes, the system delivered over 60,000 cycles at 150 mAh/g, and when charged in seven minutes, it maintained a capacity of 200 mAh/g over 8,000 cycles. ~~The~~ While the technology ~~is intended~~ lacks the energy density required for slim consumer electronics, it holds significant potential for grid-scale storage, home solar battery systems, and storing electricity from ~~solar and~~ wind farms.

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