Issue 19, 2016

Saltwater as the energy source for low-cost, safe rechargeable batteries

Abstract

The effective use of electricity from renewable sources requires large-scale stationary electrical energy storage (EES) systems with rechargeable high-energy-density, low-cost batteries. We report a rechargeable saltwater battery using NaCl (aq.) as the energy source (catholyte). The battery is operated by evolution/reduction reactions of gases (mostly O2, with possible Cl2) in saltwater at the cathode, along with reduction/oxidation reactions of Na/Na+ at the anode. The use of saltwater and the Na-metal-free anode enables high safety and low cost, as well as control of cell voltage and energy density by changing the salt concentration. The battery with a hard carbon anode and 5 M saltwater demonstrated excellent cycling stability with a high discharge capacity of 296 mA h ghard carbon−1 and a coulombic efficiency of 98% over 50 cycles. Compared with other battery types, it offers greatly reduced energy cost and relatively low power cost when used in EES systems.

Graphical abstract: Saltwater as the energy source for low-cost, safe rechargeable batteries

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
11 Feb 2016
Accepted
29 Mar 2016
First published
30 Mar 2016

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016,4, 7207-7213

Saltwater as the energy source for low-cost, safe rechargeable batteries

S. Park, B. SenthilKumar, K. Kim, S. M. Hwang and Y. Kim, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016, 4, 7207 DOI: 10.1039/C6TA01274D

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