Japanese Scientists Develop Novel, Completely Solid, Rechargeable Air Battery

Japanese scientists have created an entirely solid-state rechargeable air battery (SSAB) featuring redox-active organic molecules as the negative electrode and a solid polymer that conducts protons as the electrolyte. This new technology enhances both performance and lifespan, and may significantly contribute to a carbon-neutral future.

The innovative design uses a benzoquinone-based negative electrode in conjunction with a Nafion polymer electrolyte. This represents a departure from the conventional use of metals in the negative electrodes of batteries.

Increasingly, redox-active organic compounds such as quinones and amines are being used as negative electrodes in rechargeable metal-air batteries, with oxygen-reducing positive electrodes. This setup involves protons and hydroxide ions in the redox reactions and delivers high performance. Moreover, using organic molecules in rechargeable air batteries resolves issues associated with metals, like the development of structures called ‘dendrites,’ which can negatively affect battery functionality and the environment.

The newly developed SSAB contains a dihydroxy-benzoquinone-based organic negative electrode and Nafion polymer electrolyte, as credited to Kenji Miyatake from Waseda University.

Traditional batteries using metal-based or liquid electrolytes can present serious safety hazards, including high electrical resistance, leaching, and flammability.

However, a group of Japanese researchers led by Professor Kenji Miyatake from Waseda University and the University of Yamanashi, with Professor Kenichi Oyaizu from Waseda University, have recently introduced an SSAB, studying its capabilities and endurance. The research was published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition.

The scientists selected specific chemicals for the negative electrode due to their stable and reversible redox reactions in acidic environments and used Nafion as the solid electrolyte, replacing traditional liquid electrolytes.

The experimental evaluation of the SSAB showed that it did not degrade in the presence of water and oxygen, unlike conventional air batteries. Additionally, replacing the molecule DHBQ with its polymeric counterpart PDBM led to a more effective negative electrode. The SSAB’s discharge capacity varied according to the type of active material used in the negative electrode.

The battery, featuring a polymeric dihydroxy-benzoquinone-based negative electrode and a Nafion-based solid electrolyte, showed high Coulombic efficiency and discharge capacity. Adjustments made to the proton-conductive polymer content significantly improved the battery’s performance and durability.

This research marks the successful development of an SSAB using organic redox-active molecules and proton-conductive polymer, with potential applications in extending the battery life of small electronic devices and aiding in the realization of a carbon-free society. Professor Miyatake expressed his optimism about the future impact of this technology.

The study, titled “All-Solid-State Rechargeable Air Batteries Using Dihydroxybenzoquinone and Its Polymer as the Negative Electrode,” was published on 2 May 2023, in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, and was supported by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and JKA promotion funds from AUTORACE.

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More about fokus keyword: solid-state rechargeable air battery

• “All-Solid-State Rechargeable Air Batteries Using Dihydroxybenzoquinone and Its Polymer as the Negative Electrode” by Makoto Yonenaga, Yusuke Kaiwa, Kouki Oka, Kenichi Oyaizu and Kenji Miyatake, published on 2 May 2023, in Angewandte Chemie International Edition.
• The official websites of Waseda University and the University of Yamanashi.
• Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan.