Researchers at the National Institute of Chemistry have developed a new electrolyte providing greater energy capacities of magnesium batteries. This is considered a breakthrough step because magnesium batteries could become a more effective and more sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries.

Magnesium batteries rely on more accessible materials and have a smaller environmental footprint than lithium-ion batteries, while also storing a great amount of energy, the institute said in a press release on 17 March.

Nevertheless, magnesium battery development has not truly kicked off, above all due to operating issues stemming from the fact that passive layers form on electrodes, and up until now, there has not been a suitable electrolyte to function well with all materials in the battery.

Now, the Modern Battery Systems lab at the Institute of Chemistry has found a solution in an electrolyte that improves the battery’s function significantly, the press release read.

The researchers proved that even a small amount of a fluorinated additive allows the use of higher capacity organic materials that can function under higher voltage in combination with a magnesium anode, a key component of the battery.

The new additive improves the stability of the electrolyte, allowing higher voltage and activating the magnesium electrode. This improves the charging and emptying of the battery. The battery can store more energy and has a longer lifespan.

A key aspect of the institute’s research is the use of operando impedance spectroscopy, a new method developed by the lab. In contrast to other approaches, this technique can define the source of losses while the battery is in operation. It is a new tool for the development of all electrochemical technologies, the institute said.

The researchers see their achievement as a major step forward in battery development. The use of magnesium and organic materials is an environmentally friendly solution because it does not rely on rare and critical raw materials.