5 things you didn’t know about...hydronium-ion batteries
Credit: chesky/shutterstock
1. A new type of battery, which uses only hydronium ions as the charge, has been developed by researchers at Oregon State University, USA.
2. Positively charged hydronium ions are produced when protons are added to water molecules. They can be stored in an electrode material comprising perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydridem (PTCDA) – an organic semiconductor.
3. Dilute sulphuric acid is used as the electrolyte.
4. Until recently, the positively charged ions, or cations, used in batteries were aluminium, alkali metal or alkaline earth metals. Non-metal cations were not being seriously considered, as they are relatively large. Hydronium ions are relatively small at a molecular level, similar in size to sodium ions (Na+).
5. Potential applications for hydronium-ion batteries include stationary storage – systems for stockpiling energy that are essential for constant use of intermittent power sources, such as solar.
To find out more see page 19 of the upcoming April issue of Materials World.
