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High-performance magnesium-air primary battery.

By: University of Tsukuba

In pursuit of a carbon-neutral society, advancement of the battery technology becomes imperative. Primary batteries, though non-rechargeable, hold promise as power sources for sensors and disaster scenarios because of their cost-effective production and voltage stability. However, most of these batteries employ expensive metal electrodes, such as lithium electrodes, necessitating exploration of alternative electrode materials.

Using carbon-based materials for the cathode, magnesium (Mg) for the anode, oxygen from the atmosphere as the cathode active material, and brine for the electrolyte, Mg-air primary batteries can be constructed using inexpensive and abundant materials. Theoretically, these batteries are expected to match lithium-air batteries with regard to performance. However, they do not perform well in terms of battery capacity and operational stability.

Researchers assembled a Mg-air primary battery using the prepared nitrogen-doped nanoporous graphene as the air cathodes and commercially available Mg sheets as the anodes, with a brine solution-soaked sodium polyacrylate gel constituting the solid electrolyte. Performance tests demonstrated that this battery exhibits comparable or superior performance to platinum cathode-based batteries. This is attributed to the porous electrode structure facilitating air transport as well as the ability of the solid electrolyte to prevent rapid corrosion of the Mg electrode.

The study, “All-Solid-State Mg-Air Battery Enhanced with Free-Standing N-Doped 3D Nanoporous Graphene,” has been published in Small.

This achievement is expected to broaden the applications of primary air batteries and promote the utilization of primary air batteries comprising materials more cost-effective and readily available than platinum and lithium.

Magnesium batteries surpass lithium-ion with higher energy density

According to a research by Tokyo University ; Magnesium is promising candidate as a energy carrier for next-generation batteries to replace lithium-ion batteries. Tokyo University team focused on a novel cathode material with a spinel structure. Following extensive characterization and electrochemical performance experiments, they have found a specific composition that could open doors to high-performance magnesium rechargeable batteries.

Professor Yasushi Idemoto, who led the research team from the Tokyo University of Science, explains: “It appears that the particularly stable crystal structure along with a large amount of charge compensation by vanadium leads to the superior charge-discharge properties we observed,” adding that his team’s results “indicate that Mg_1.33V_1.57Mn_0.1O₄ could be a good candidate cathode material for magnesium rechargeable batteries.”

New compound could prove to be a safer, more affordable, and more efficient alternative to lithium . Professor Idemoto says that more research and development are required, although he is hopeful that “magnesium batteries could surpass lithium-ion batteries thanks to the former’s higher energy density.”

This battery breakthrough broadens the horizons of developing post-lithium-ion batteries. The novel innovation is a rechargeable aqueous battery comprising a magnesium metal anode which, when tested, has demonstrated excellent rechargeability and performance.

Professor Dennis Leung, the leader of the research from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at HKU, commented: “With a high theoretical capacity and negative electrochemical potential, magnesium is an attractive anode material. Magnesium is also non-toxic and Earth-abundant.”

New York based Albanian Minerals CEO Sahit Muja said: “Magnesium is building blocks for the new green future. Albanian Minerals is working with the best scientist’s globally to utilize over 100 billion tons the company has in reserves. the world’s largest and best quality magnesium resource. This is great news in battery industry”.

“The magnificent Magnesium is revolutionizing entire global industries with unmatched strong and light alloys. The aerospace industry has a long history of using magnesium in many applications both civil and military , on the manufacturing of aircraft, rockets, and space satellites. Magnesium is an ideal material : The weight reduction of all industrial products is of high importance, magnesium alloys are the lightest structural alloys” Sahit Muja said.

Sahit Muja added that; Substantial investments are expected on green technologies, batteries, energy storage, auto, mobility market ,wind power, solar, hydro power and green hydrogen on a scale that we have never seen before. Huge demand for metals and minerals used in those industries are expected on this green transition. Albanian Minerals mission is to create a better green future for all the people in this world. As we pursue this mission, we’re guided by our principles that ensure to make this world a better place for future generations to come.

Sahit Muja said, “Global investments on renewable energy in the evolving market needs laser focus in developing mineral resources to tackle sustainability, energy initiatives as metals has a vital importance to stay ahead in the market trajectories. To achieve green energy transition, we need to invest on finning and developing green minerals, alternative sources of energy that are clean, accessible, affordable and sustainable”.