Das Ende der Lithium-Ionen-Batterien: Neue Technologien mit Kalzium und Aluminium zur Energiespeicherung
Lithium-Ionen-Batterien stehen vor Herausforderungen in Bezug auf Umwelt, Sicherheit und Versorgung. Entdecken Sie die Batterieinnovationen der nächsten Generation – Kalzium- und Aluminium-Schwefel-Technologien – die die globale Energiespeicherung neu gestalten und eine nachhaltige Zukunft sichern könnten.
The quest for alternative energy storage solutionsSince the discovery of electricity, scientists and inventors have sought ways to store energy efficiently and safely. Over time, batteries became the most common method to preserve electrical energy, but creating the perfect battery has required centuries of trial and error. Lithium-ion batteries have fueled the age of portable electronics, from smartphones to laptops, and now electric vehicles (EVs). However, as these batteries become more widespread, they face challenges related to resource scarcity, environmental impact, and cost.Lithium mining is expensive, and the extraction process is harmful to the environment. Additionally, lithium is geographically isolated — most of it is found in places like the Australian outback, making supply chains difficult and costly. As demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage increases, Europe faces a growing need for lithium — potentially needing up to 60 times more lithium by 2050 to meet the goals of the European Green Deal.To address these challenges, researchers like Dr. M. Rosa Palacín from ICMAB-CSIC in Barcelona are developing new battery prototypes using more abundant, safer, and geographically accessible elements like calcium.Key takeaways (quick read)Lithium-ion batteries face challenges due to resource scarcity, high costs, and environmental concerns.Calcium-based batteries offer a more abundant and cost-effective alternative to lithium, with better energy density.Aluminium-sulfur batteries are another promising alternative, offering safety, flexibility, and cost-efficiency.Calcium and aluminium are abundant elements that could help reduce dependency on lithium for energy storage solutions in the future.Calcium: A cheaper, safer alternative to lithiumCalcium, a much more abundant element than lithium, is approximately 2000 times more common on Earth. Found in everything from bones to chalk, calcium is widely distributed and less likely to be geographically concentrated, unlike lithium, which is confined to certain regions.Dr. Palacín and her team are working on a project called CARBAT, which aims to build a prototype battery that uses calcium instead of lithium. “Calcium is one of the most abundant elements in the Earth's crust,” said Dr. Palacín. “This could make the battery cheaper because the raw material is cheap.”Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which use graphite as the negative electrode, calcium can provide higher energy density — that is, more energy can be stored per kilogram. Calcium’s two electrons in its outer shell allow it to deliver more power compared to lithium, which only has one electron.“For the same battery size, the range would be higher if we used calcium in an electric vehicle, provided a suitable positive electrode is found,” explained Dr. Palacín.Overcoming challenges with calcium batteriesHowever, using calcium as an electrode is not without challenges. One of the main obstacles is how to manage the interactions between calcium ions and the electrolyte through which they flow. These interactions can hinder calcium's mobility, which is crucial for good battery performance.The team at ICMAB-CSIC has worked to model different salts and solvents to develop an electrolyte that allows calcium ions to transfer more easily. After extensive testing, they discovered that boron-based salts, such as calcium tetrafluoroborate, work best for creating a passivation layer on the calcium electrode, making ion transfer easier.“We’ve made significant progress in creating an electrolyte that enhances calcium ion mobility, which is essential for efficient battery operation,” said Dr. Palacín.Aluminium-sulfur batteries: Another breakthrough in energy storageWhile calcium is a promising alternative, aluminium is another abundant element that researchers are exploring for battery technology. Dr. Juan Lastra at the Technical University of Denmark is part of the SALBAGE project, which is developing aluminium-sulfur batteries. Aluminium, being even more abundant than calcium, presents an exciting opportunity for sustainable energy storage.However, like calcium, aluminium poses its own set of challenges. Aluminium ions are highly reactive and difficult to move efficiently within the battery. To overcome this, the team has developed a deep eutectic solvent — a liquid electrolyte formed by combining aluminium chloride with urea, a common substance found in urine.Using supercomputers, the team modelled different combinations of these materials to determine the ideal electrolyte mixture. They found that the electrolyte could be made into a gel, offering increased safety and flexibility, as it prevents leakage and allows the battery to be bent.Flexible, safe, and affordable: The future of battery technologyThe aluminium-sulfur batteries developed by Dr. Lastra’s team also promise to be inexpensive and safe. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which use rare and toxic elements, aluminium and sulfur are cheap, widely available, and pose no significant environmental or health risks.These batteries also offer advantages in stationary energy storage, such as for solar farms or wind energy storage, where their affordability and energy efficiency could make them highly competitive. “This type of technology could be ideal for storing energy from renewable sources when they are not actively generating it,” said Dr. Lastra.The path forward for sustainable energy storageThe research into calcium-based batteries and aluminium-sulfur batteries presents a promising future for sustainable energy storage. By using abundant elements, these batteries could help reduce the dependence on lithium and ease the environmental and logistical challenges posed by lithium mining.As the world moves toward cleaner energy solutions, the development of new, affordable, and safe battery technologies will be essential for achieving global sustainability goals. With calcium and aluminium as viable alternatives, the future of energy storage looks brighter and more secure.Source and credit: Originally published on Horizon Magazine.Image credit: user6702303 / Freepik.Tags: end of lithium-ion batteries, calcium batteries, aluminium-sulfur batteries, CARBAT project, SALBAGE battery research, future of energy storage, alternatives to lithium, sustainable battery materials, next-gen batteries, Dr M. Rosa Palacín, Dr Juan Lastra, Horizon Magazine battery