Scientists are working on a new type of batteries that don't get damaged over time. The redox flow batteries have already been tested in the industry. Now, we just need to miniaturize them and have them charge faster.
@kralizec and subscribe to my Youtube channel at Kralizec Gaming Youtube ChannelScientists from the University of Canterbury are developing an advanced type of batteries that could change how we use batteries. The main difference is that they don't get damaged over time and thus there is no loss of energy-storing capacity over time.
Currently, the most popular type of batteries in most devices including the upcoming electric cars are lithium-based batteries. More precisely Li-Ion batteries. This type of batteries has some great qualities like good capacity, size or weight. But it also has a big problem. Over time the battery damages itself through the charging process. This results in a decrease in capacity. The process will in the capacity being so low that it needs to be replaced and recycled through a very complicated process.
On the other hand, redox flow batteries don't have this problem. They rely on two containers with a metal-based chemical solution that charges and discharges over time. In comparison, Li-Ion batteries have constant physical changes on their electrodes and that affects their capability to store energy. Redox batteries don't suffer from this problem at all. But they too have a problem. They currently aren't usable for electronics, electric cars and other places where Li-Ion batteries rule.
At the moment, redox flow batteries are used mainly in industry. For example, as a back-up source of energy for nuclear plants because they can provide energy for a long time. Sadly, that is another problem of current redox flow batteries. At the moment, they are too big to be used for small electronic devices. Even too big for electric cars. But scientists want to change that and they want to do that by making the electrodes smaller which would also result in lower prices. This would also have another great result. It would double (or more) the speed at which the batteries charge and discharge. This might sound like something not that interesting but for example, for electric cars, the rate at which they can provide energy and that recharge is very important.
The scientists think that this type of batteries have still plenty in them and can be optimized in many ways. For example, they could be used as back-up energy sources for companies or small-scale solar plants. If we can get them to be smaller, they could help protect the environment by saving us from the need to recycle regular old Li-Ion batteries.
