New material may help aluminium batteries last longer, cost less

BENGALURU: In the race to find safer and cheaper alternatives to lithium-ion batteries, scientists in Bengaluru may have found a promising step forward, by fixing a problem that has long held aluminium batteries back.A research team led by Kavita Pandey of the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), a Department of Science and Technology (DST) institute in Bengaluru, working in collaboration with researchers from Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence in Greater Noida, has developed a new composite material that makes aluminium batteries more stable and longer-lasting.“Aluminium batteries have attracted attention because aluminium is widely available, inexpensive, and can store more charge per atom than lithium. But there has been a major hurdle: the materials inside these batteries tend to break down quickly. Over repeated charging, they crack or dissolve into the liquid inside the battery, causing it to lose power,” DST pointed out.It added that to tackle this, researchers focused on a commonly used battery material called vanadium oxide. While effective at storing energy, it tends to dissolve in water-based aluminium batteries, reducing battery life.The team’s solution was to combine vanadium oxide with another advanced material called MXene — a highly conductive, ultra-thin substance. The result is a composite that acts like a support structure, holding the battery material together while also helping electricity and ions move more smoothly.This seemingly simple change made a measurable difference. Tests showed that the new material reduced the amount of vanadium dissolving into the battery liquid by more than four times compared to the original material. As a result, the battery retained more than 73% of its capacity after 100 charge cycles, and around 59% even after 500 cycles. In comparison, conventional versions degrade much faster. In practical terms, that means a battery that lasts longer and performs more reliably.Researchers also used imaging and simulations to understand why the material works. “They found that the MXene forms a kind of internal framework that prevents cracks and stabilises the structure during repeated use. It also improves how aluminium ions move and settle inside the battery, which is key to maintaining performance,” DST said.The findings, published in the Journal of Power Sources, offer a potential pathway for developing aluminium batteries that are both affordable and durable.While the technology is still in the research stage, the implications are clear. If scaled up, aluminium batteries could become a viable option for energy storage — from small devices to larger systems — without the cost and safety concerns linked to current lithium-based batteries.