Scientists from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) have developed a groundbreaking rechargeable battery that uses protons—hydrogen ions—rather than lithium.
This innovative design could revolutionize energy storage by addressing major challenges like environmental harm, high costs, and resource scarcity.
The team, led by Professor Chuan Zhao and Ph.D. candidate Sicheng Wu, successfully created a new organic material, tetraamino-benzoquinone (TABQ), which makes this proton battery possible.
Their research, recently published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, shows that this battery can charge quickly, perform well at freezing temperatures, and last through thousands of cycles.
Why proton batteries?
Traditional batteries, like the lithium-ion ones used in phones, laptops, and electric vehicles, rely on transferring lithium ions between two electrodes—the anode and cathode.
While effective, lithium-ion batteries have significant downsides.
They require a lot of energy and water to produce, are tough to recycle, and depend on lithium, a finite resource that isn’t evenly distributed around the world. These issues make lithium batteries expensive and unsustainable.
Proton batteries, on the other hand, use hydrogen ions, which are smaller, lighter, and cheaper than lithium. They charge faster, produce no carbon emissions, and work well even in cold conditions. Additionally, their materials are safer and more environmentally friendly.
“There are many advantages to proton batteries,” says Mr. Wu. “But the current materials used in these batteries are expensive and heavy. Our research aims to make them lighter, cheaper, and more efficient.”
Batteries convert stored chemical energy into electricity through reactions between their electrodes.
In the UNSW proton battery, both the anode and cathode are made from organic materials, while the middle component—the electrolyte—is a water-based solution. This design eliminates the need for flammable solvents used in lithium-ion batteries, making the proton battery safer.
The team started with a molecule called tetrachloro-benzoquinone (TCBQ) and modified it to create tetraamino-benzoquinone (TABQ). This new material significantly improved the battery’s ability to store protons and increased its efficiency. Though TABQ is not yet cheap to produce, it is made from abundant, lightweight elements, so scaling up production could make it affordable.
The proton battery prototype has shown outstanding performance. It can endure 3,500 full charge and discharge cycles, store high amounts of energy, and operate well even in sub-zero temperatures. “The water-based electrolyte and organic materials make the battery lightweight, safe, and affordable,” explains Prof. Zhao.
These characteristics make proton batteries a potential game-changer for large-scale energy storage, such as storing renewable energy for the electrical grid. Lithium-ion batteries are too expensive and unsafe for such applications, but proton batteries could offer a sustainable and practical solution.
Beyond renewable energy storage, proton batteries could play a key role in the hydrogen industry.
Hydrogen, which is a clean energy source, is difficult to store and transport in its molecular form (H₂). However, when converted into protons (H⁺), it becomes stable and easier to handle. Prof. Zhao believes their discovery could pave the way for new hydrogen storage technologies, enabling hydrogen to be shipped globally and converted back into energy when needed.
The UNSW team plans to continue improving their design. “We’ve created an excellent anode material,” says Mr. Wu. “Next, we’ll focus on the cathode side to increase the battery’s output voltage.”
A step toward a greener future
As the world transitions to renewable energy, finding sustainable ways to store that energy is critical. Proton batteries offer a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries, combining safety, affordability, and efficiency.
“Our discovery could unlock a new era of energy storage and hydrogen technology,” says Prof. Zhao. “It’s an exciting step toward a greener future.”
Source: USNW.
