Japanese Scientists Develop Novel, Completely Solid, Rechargeable Air Battery t.co/v3kW5E8TK3
— Metro COLA (@MetroCOLA) August 7, 2023
In this first-of-its-kind battery, a benzoquinone-based negative electrode is used alongside a solid Nafion polymer electrolyte.
Metals traditionally serve as the active materials for the negative electrodes in batteries. However, there’s been a shift towards using redox-active organic molecules like quinone- and amine-based compounds as negative electrodes in rechargeable metal–air batteries, which feature oxygen-reducing positive electrodes.
Here, protons and hydroxide ions participate in the redox reactions. Such batteries exhibit high performance, close to the maximum capacity that is theoretically possible. Furthermore, using redox-active organic molecules in rechargeable air batteries overcomes problems associated with metals, including the formation of structures called ‘dendrites,’ which impact battery performance, and have negative environmental impact.
However, these batteries use liquid electrolytes—just like metal-based batteries—which pose major safety concerns like high electrical resistance, leaching effects, and flammability.
Now, in a new study recently published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, a group of Japanese researchers have developed an all-solid-state rechargeable air battery (SSAB) and investigated its capacity and durability. The study was led by Professor Kenji Miyatake from Waseda University and the University of Yamanashi, and co-authored by Professor Kenichi Oyaizu from Waseda University.
The researchers chose a chemical called 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone (DHBQ) and its polymer poly(2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone-3,6-methylene) (PDBM) as active materials for the negative electrode due to their stable and reversible redox reactions in acidic conditions. In addition, they utilized a proton-conductive polymer called Nafion as the solid electrolyte, thereby replacing conventional liquid electrolytes. “To the best of my knowledge, no air batteries based on organic electrodes and solid polymer electrolytes have been developed yet,” says Miyatake.