New type of batteries are coming - better and faster than Lithium Ion ones.

History 

It was not until the early 1970s that the first non-rechargeable lithium batteries became commercially available. Attempts to develop rechargeable lithium batteries followed in the 1980s but the endeavor failed because of instabilities in the metallic lithium used as anode material.

Advantage - Lithium Ion or Li-on Batteries 

Lithium is the lightest of all metals, has the greatest electrochemical potential and provides the largest specific energy per weight. 

Rechargeable batteries with lithium metal on the anode (negative electrodes) could provide extraordinarily high energy densities, however, cycling produced unwanted dendrites on the anode that could penetrate the separator and cause an electrical short. The cell temperature would rise quickly and approaches the melting point of lithium, causing thermal runaway, also known as “venting with flame.”

Because of the inherent instability of lithium metal, especially during charging, research shifted to a non-metallic lithium battery using lithium ions. Although slightly lower in energy density than lithium metal, lithium-ion is safe, provided certain precautions are met when charging and discharging. In 1991, the Sony Corporation commercialized the first lithium-ion battery. Other manufacturers followed suit.

Growth of Li-on Batteries 

The global lithium-ion battery market size is estimated to grow from USD 44.2 billion in 2020 to USD 94.4 billion by 2025; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.4%. 

The growth of this market is likely to be driven by the excellent features of li-ion batteries, increasing adoption of consumer electronics, and growing R&D initiatives by different organizations & battery manufacturers. 

Moreover, an increase in demand for plug-in vehicles, rising need for automation and battery-operated material-handling equipment in industries, propelling demand for smart devices and other industrial goods, and high requirement of lithium-ion batteries for industrial applications are other key driving factors.

New Batteries - Organic Battery 

Researchers from York University have explored a new type of organic battery that could last much longer than a typical battery while being safer for the environment. 

The study was published Thursday in the journal Batteries & Supercaps. Organic batteries use environmentally-friendly, organic materials instead of the toxic metals that are widely used. These organic materials would be used to take on the role of the electrode. Previously, protein-based solutions were explored by researchers across the globe, but this new study highlights a carbon-based organic molecule instead.

However, the technology isn’t ready yet. There are still some issues with the researchers’ organic battery, such as the significant capacity loss at lower temperatures of around 5 degrees Celcius, or 41 degrees Fahrenheit.

New Batteries - Organic Proton Battery which charges instantly 

Waiting for a battery to charge once it’s depleted is still a big hassle for mobile-device users, especially in these days when smartphones have become a ubiquitous part of everyday life.

Researchers at Uppsala University have developed an all-organic proton battery that could solve this problem by charging in a matter of seconds.  Moreover, the battery can charge more than 500 times without any significant loss of capacity, and use a solar cell for charging rather than needing to be hooked up to a typical wired electronic charger.

The battery, made from organic materials rather than the metals that comprise lithium-ion chemistries, could provide a breakthrough in developing an environmentally friendly and sustainable source of energy for electronic devices and even potentially electric vehicles (EVs), said Christian Strietzel of Uppsala University’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

As innovation picks up further many alternatives to Lithium Ion are likely to emerge which will be even more environment friendly and easier to operate and manage. 

The era of fossil fuels is likely to get over sooner than expected.

(Disclaimer : This blog is for information purposes only).