Imagine a battery that’s safe, powerful, and works at normal room temperature—without the common problems of today’s energy storage systems.
Scientists in China have now developed just that: the world’s first all-solid-state hydride ion battery that runs at room temperature.
This breakthrough comes from a research team led by Professor Chen Ping at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Their study, recently published in Nature, shows how hydride ions (H⁻)—tiny particles of hydrogen with an extra electron—could power the next generation of batteries.
Hydride ions are especially promising because they are very light and have a high energy potential. But until now, scientists couldn’t find a stable, efficient electrolyte to make them work in real-world batteries.
To solve this, the team created a new material with a “core–shell” design. At the center is a compound called cerium hydride (CeH₃), which allows hydride ions to move quickly.
This is coated with a thin shell of barium hydride (BaH₂), which protects the structure and keeps it stable.
Together, this composite—named 3CeH₃@BaH₂—enables fast and steady ion movement at room temperature, while also resisting heat and chemical breakdown.
The researchers then built a full solid-state battery using this material as the electrolyte. The design included CeH₂ as the negative electrode and sodium aluminum hydride (NaAlH₄), a common hydrogen storage material, as the positive electrode.
The result was remarkable: the battery reached an initial discharge capacity of 984 milliampere-hours per gram—much higher than most conventional batteries. Even after 20 cycles, it still retained 402 mAh/g.
In a stacked version of the battery, the team achieved a voltage of 1.9 volts, enough to power a small yellow LED lamp. While modest compared to commercial lithium-ion batteries, this demonstration shows that hydride ion technology is not just theoretical—it can already be used to power real devices.
Another major advantage is safety. Many existing batteries risk short-circuiting when tiny “dendrites” grow inside them, leading to fires or explosions. Hydride ion batteries avoid this problem because of their hydrogen-based charge carriers. This could make them a safer and more sustainable choice for future energy storage.
The study opens the door to a new era of clean, efficient, and reliable batteries. With more research and development, hydride ion batteries could one day play a central role in powering electronics, vehicles, and renewable energy systems—bringing us closer to a greener future.
