Revolutionary Innovation: The Oxygen-Ion Battery
In the contemporary landscape, lithium-ion batteries reign supreme, omnipresent in everything from electric vehicles to smartphones. However, ubiquity does not necessarily equate to universality. Enter TU Wien, pioneering the frontier of energy storage with the development of an oxygen-ion battery boasting distinct advantages. While it may not match the stratospheric energy densities of its lithium-ion counterpart, what sets it apart is a remarkable resilience to the inexorable decay of storage capacity over time. The key lies in regeneration, affording it an extraordinarily prolonged service life. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, these oxygen-ion counterparts sidestep the necessity for rare elements and boast a constitution of non-combustible materials. A collaborative venture with Spanish partners has already seen a patent application for this groundbreaking battery concept. The oxygen-ion battery emerges as a beacon for large-scale energy storage systems, particularly for harnessing renewable energy sources. Ceramic materials take center stage in this technological breakthrough. Alexander Schmid, hailing from the Institute for Chemical Technologies and Analytics at TU Wien, sheds light on the genesis of their innovative approach. Drawing from extensive experience with ceramic materials in fuel cells, the team wondered if these materials could pave the way for a revolutionary battery. This cadre of ceramic materials exhibited a unique capability to absorb and release doubly negatively charged oxygen ions. An applied electric voltage propels the migration of these ions between ceramic materials, generating an electric current upon their return. Prof. Jürgen Fleig notes the fundamental similarity to lithium-ion batteries but accentuates the distinctive advantages offered by ceramics. Notably, ceramics are non-flammable, mitigating the recurrent fire accidents associated with lithium-ion batteries. Moreover, the absence of dependency on rare elements, often environmentally taxing or economically exorbitant, emerges as a pivotal advantage. Tobias Huber underscores the adaptability of ceramic materials, allowing for facile substitution of challenging-to-obtain elements. The current prototype incorporates lanthanum, a somewhat uncommon element. Yet, plans are afoot to replace it with more economical alternatives, thereby eliminating the need for cobalt or nickel, commonly found in many batteries. Perhaps the pièce de résistance of this innovative battery technology lies in its potential for longevity. Alexander Schmid elucidates on the perennial issue faced by many batteries, where charge carriers reach a stagnation point, rendering them ineffective and diminishing overall capacity. In stark contrast, the oxygen-ion battery boasts regenerative capabilities. Any loss of oxygen due to side reactions can be effortlessly compensated by ambient air. This novel battery concept doesn't vie for supremacy in the realms of smartphones or electric vehicles. While it falls short on energy density and operates at elevated temperatures between 200 and 400 °C, it emerges as an invaluable asset for large-scale energy storage needs. Alexander Schmid envisions its role in storing solar or wind energy, particularly in expansive structures filled with these energy storage modules. Here, the lower energy density and heightened operating temperature become inconsequential compared to the strengths it brings to the table: a prolonged service life, mass producibility without relying on rare elements, and a complete absence of fire hazards.