New anode enhances seawater batteries for renewable energy storage

As renewable energy use grows, new battery technologies are needed for effective energy storage. Current lithium batteries are limited in their capacity and safety for large-scale use. Xiaolei Wang, a professor at the University of Alberta, emphasizes that while lithium batteries are suitable for electric vehicles, they don't meet the needs for grid-level storage. Wang and his team are working on seawater-based batteries, supported by the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan. Their findings were published in the journal Advanced Materials. Aqueous batteries are considered safer and more environmentally friendly than traditional lithium-ion batteries, but have been hindered by the lack of a good material for making anodes. The researchers have created a new anode using polymer nanosheets and carbon nanotubes. This material can store various ions found in seawater and offers a high storage capacity. Additionally, it is durable, potentially lasting up to 380,000 charging cycles, and can function well under challenging conditions. The CLS was essential in analyzing the microstructure and electrochemical behavior of this new anode material. Wang believes that this technology could make energy storage accessible and reliable, benefiting areas with abundant renewable energy resources, like Canada.