| Work Detail |
Engineers at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, have developed a rechargeable proton battery that has the potential to store more energy than currently available lithium-ion batteries.
Researchers at RMIT University plan to develop a megawatt-scale version of their proprietary proton battery energy storage system, which uses a carbon electrode as a hydrogen store, along with a reversible fuel cell to produce electricity.
The team said it has demonstrated the proton battery as a working device and will now collaborate with Italy-based international supplier of automotive components Eldor Corp. to produce a prototype unit with a storage capacity that meets the needs of a variety of home and commercial applications including large-scale storage and electric vehicles.
RMIT Principal Investigator Professor John Andrews said the aim of the collaboration is "to scale up the system from the watt to the kilowatt and ultimately to the megawatt scale."
Andrews, of RMITs Sustainable Hydrogen Energy Laboratory (SHEL), said recent improvements in the design of its proton battery technology mean it is becoming competitive as a carbon-neutral alternative to the dominant lithium-ion technology. .
“As the world shifts to intermittent renewables to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, there will be great demand for additional storage options that are efficient, cheap, secure, and have secure supply chains,” he said. “That is where this proton battery, which is a very fair and safe technology, could have real value and why we are interested in continuing to develop it as a viable commercial alternative.”
The RMIT Proton Battery uses a carbon electrode to store hydrogen that has been separated from water and then operates as a hydrogen fuel cell to produce electricity.
During charging, the carbon in the electrode binds to the protons generated by splitting the water with the help of electrons from the power source. Upon discharge, the protons are released from the carbon electrode and pass through a membrane to combine with oxygen in the air to form water, a reaction that generates energy. Unlike fossil fuels, carbon is not burned or creates emissions in the process.
Andrews said the proton battery avoids the energy-wasting steps of storing hydrogen gas at high pressure and then splitting these gas molecules again in fuel cells.
“Our proton battery has much lower losses than conventional hydrogen systems, making it directly comparable to lithium-ion batteries in terms of energy efficiency,” he said. “Our battery has an energy per unit mass already comparable to commercially available lithium-ion batteries, while being much safer and better for the planet in terms of pulling fewer resources out of the ground. Our battery is also potentially capable of very fast charging.”
The researchers also pointed to the environmental and economic advantages of their technology, saying it doesnt rely on scarce natural resources and avoids end-of-life challenges associated with some renewable energy technologies.
“The main resource used in our proton battery is carbon, which is abundant, available in all countries, and cheap compared to the resources needed for other types of rechargeable batteries such as lithium, cobalt, and vanadium,” the researchers said. “There are also no end-of-life environmental challenges with a proton battery, as all components and materials can be rejuvenated, reused or recycled.” |
