New Life for Rechargeable NiZn Batteries?

[SubLGT]

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2017/04/20170428-nrl.html

Some excerpts:

………NRL’s Advanced Electrochemical Materials group are leading the effort to create an entire family of safer, water-based, zinc batteries………….

…The family of zinc-based alkaline batteries (Zn anode versus a silver oxide, nickel oxyhydroxide, or air cathode) is expected to emerge as the front-runner to replace not only Li-ion but also leadacid and nickel–metal hydride batteries. This projection arises because Zn is globally available and inexpensive, with two-electron redox (Zn0/2+) and low polarizability that respectively confer high specific capacity and power. The long-standing limitation that has prevented implementing Zn in next-generation batteries lies in its poor rechargeability due to dendrite formation.

…We bypass this obstacle to cycling durability by redesigning the Zn electrode as a monolithic, porous, aperiodic architecture in which an inner core of electron-conductive metallic Zn persists even to deep levels of discharge.

…With the benefits of rechargeability, the 3-D Zn sponge is ready to be deployed within the entire family of Zn-based alkaline batteries across the civilian and military sectors.

…NRL’s work is funded by the Office of Naval Research and the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy.

[Zebretta]

I like ZN batteries for very specific applications. For most people the current tech is not so good.

I’ll be watching this and hoping something comes of it.

Thanks

[Barkuti]

Blah blah blah. Despite a relatively considerable investment on the stuff, even the best batteries still suckalot with regards to energy density.

Maybe a battery powered pint sized particle accelerator feeding a subcritical reactor, this is the future my dears. Go grab me a handful of thorium cells at the gas station, honey!

Cheers ^:)

[DavidEF]

I’d like to see NiZn cells become useful. The higher voltage could help with our LED lights, especially with boost drivers. But capacity and output current capability have to improve a lot.

[Zebretta]

@DavidEF

I’d like to see NiZn cells become useful. The higher voltage could help with our LED lights, especially with boost drivers. But capacity and output current capability have to improve a lot.

That’s what I was thinking David.
Seems there’s def a place in the market for 1.5 - 1.6v rechargeables.