As the world rapidly shifts towards the use of renewable energy sources, a crucial question remains - how to effectively store energy when solar panels and wind turbines do not produce enough electricity? This need for energy storage becomes even more significant when we consider the unreliable nature of renewable sources, such as solar radiation and wind that fluctuate throughout the day and year.

Until now, lithium-ion batteries have dominated the market as the primary technology for energy storage, but existing issues with supply chains of materials like lithium, nickel, and cobalt, along with high costs and environmental challenges, have prompted researchers to explore alternative solutions. Professor Xiaowei Teng from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and his research team have focused on iron as a key material for future batteries, and their latest discoveries bring revolutionary changes in this field.

Iron as a sustainable solution

Iron, being the second most abundant metal in the Earth's crust, represents a more sustainable choice compared to rarer and more expensive metals like nickel and cobalt. In the United States, over 40 million metric tons of iron and steel are recycled annually, making this option attractive for researchers. Although iron-nickel batteries have been in use for a long time, dating back to Thomas Edison’s era in the early 20th century, these batteries suffer from key drawbacks such as hydrogen production during charging and low storage efficiency due to the formation of inert iron compounds during discharge.

To overcome these issues, the research team led by Xiaowei Teng succeeded in reducing the occurrence of unwanted chemical reactions by adding silicates to the electrolyte. Silicate, a compound of silicon and oxygen, has found applications in various industries such as glass, cement, and detergents. In the context of batteries, researchers discovered that silicate prevents the formation of hydrogen during charging, allowing for more efficient charging and greater energy storage capacity. This discovery has enormous potential to enhance the performance of iron-nickel and iron-air batteries, which are particularly suitable for applications in microgrids and renewable energy facilities, such as solar or wind farms.

Energy-efficient future

The advantages of iron batteries in combination with silicates do not stop at improving energy storage. These batteries offer a more economically favorable and environmentally sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries, whose production and supply raise global concerns. Furthermore, silicate provides enhanced safety by reducing the risks of explosive hydrogen reactions that occur in conventional batteries. As global energy demand rises and the costs of production and distribution from renewable sources become increasingly challenging, iron-silicate batteries represent a key technology for the future of energy storage.

This innovative approach could enable a more stable and efficient transfer of energy in facilities that use wind or sun as primary sources, reducing the need for traditional fossil fuels. Given the increasing emphasis on reducing carbon dioxide emissions and combating climate change, silicate-iron batteries are becoming a critical factor in enabling clean energy on a global scale.

Source: WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE