Summary of Researchers From NREL Discovered New Method To Develop Rechargeable Magnesium-metal Battery
NREL researchers developed a rechargeable non-aqueous magnesium-metal battery using carbonate-based electrolytes. This breakthrough enables reversible magnesium chemistry by creating an artificial interphase, overcoming previous degradation issues. The technology offers higher energy density, greater stability, and lower costs compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries.
Parts used in the Rechargeable Magnesium-Metal Battery:
- Magnesium metal
- Carbonate-based electrolytes
- Prototype cell
- Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry
- Negative electrode (cathode)
- Positive electrode (anode)
A team of researchers from National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has discovered a new method for developing a rechargeable non-aqueous magnesium-metal battery. A proof-of-concept paper published in Nature Chemistry. It described how the scientists pioneered a method to enable the reversible chemistry of magnesium metal in the noncorrosive carbonate-based electrolytes and tested the concept in a prototype cell. The technology possesses many high potential advantages over conventional lithium-ion batteries. Some upgrades over Li-ion battery with this new kind of battery will be, higher energy density, greater stability, and lower cost.
NREL researchers Seoung-Bum Son, Steve Harvey, Andrew Norman, and Chunmei Ban are co-authors of the Nature Chemistry white paper, “An Artificial Interphase Enables Reversible Magnesium Chemistry in Carbonate Electrolytes” working with a Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. The device enables them to investigate material degradation and failure mechanisms at the micro- to nano-scale.
Chunmei Ban, a scientist in NREL’s Materials Science department and corresponding author of the paper, said,
Being scientists, we’re always thinking: what’s next? The dominant lithium-ion battery technology is approaching the maximum amount of energy that can be stored per volume, so there is an urgent need to explore new battery chemistries that can provide more energy at a lower cost.
Seoung-Bum Son, a former NREL postdoc and scientist at NREL and first author of the paper, thinks this finding will provide a new avenue for magnesium battery design.
An electrochemical reaction powers a battery as ions flow through a liquid (electrolyte) from the negative electrode (cathode) to the positive electrode (anode). For batteries using Lithium, the electrolyte is a salt solution containing lithium ions. It’s also important to make the chemical reaction reversible for the battery to recharge again.
Magnesium (Mg) batteries theoretically contain almost twice as much energy per volume as of lithium-ion batteries. But previous research confronted an obstacle. The chemical reactions of the conventional carbonate electrolyte created a layer on the surface of magnesium that prevented the battery from recharging. The magnesium ions could flow in a reverse direction through a highly corrosive liquid electrolyte, but that blocked the possibility of a successful high-voltage magnesium battery.
Read more: Researchers From NREL Discovered New Method To Develop Rechargeable Magnesium-metal Battery
- What is the new method discovered by NREL researchers?
They pioneered a method to enable reversible magnesium metal chemistry in noncorrosive carbonate-based electrolytes. - How does this battery compare to lithium-ion batteries?
It offers higher energy density, greater stability, and lower cost than conventional lithium-ion batteries. - Why was magnesium battery development difficult previously?
Conventional carbonate electrolytes created a surface layer that prevented recharging and blocked high-voltage operation. - Can magnesium batteries store more energy than lithium-ion batteries?
Yes, magnesium batteries theoretically contain almost twice as much energy per volume as lithium-ion batteries. - What device did the researchers use to investigate material degradation?
They used time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry to study failure mechanisms at the micro- to nano-scale. - What role does the electrolyte play in battery operation?
Ions flow through the liquid electrolyte from the negative electrode to the positive electrode to power the battery. - Is the chemical reaction reversible in this new design?
Yes, the artificial interphase allows for reversible chemistry necessary for the battery to recharge. - Who are the co-authors of the Nature Chemistry paper?
The co-authors include Seoung-Bum Son, Steve Harvey, Andrew Norman, and Chunmei Ban.
