Ibm invents a battery free of heavy metals or cobalt

IBM recently announced that it has discovered a new battery that does not use heavy metals like cobalt and nickel.

IBM invents a battery free of heavy metals or cobalt

IBM announced last week that it has discovered a revolutionary new battery technology without heavy metals and with superior characteristics to the lithium-ion batteries that are commonly used today. Instead, the new battery is based on three new materials that can be extracted from seawater, leading to better sustainability and lower costs. IBM has partnered with other companies to commercialize the technology.

IBM claims that its new technology outperforms lithium-ion batteries at all levels:

• Lower cost - because there is no cobalt, nickel, and other heavy metals at the cathode as these are resource intensive for the source Faster charge: less than five minutes to reach 80% of capacity Higher power density: more than 10, 000 W / L (1500 W / kg for lithium ion) High energy density: 800 Wh / L (680 Wh / L for lithium ion) Excellent energy efficiency: more than 90% Low flammability of electrolytes

IBM highlights the heavy metal-free nature of the new battery, improving the long-term sustainability of the batteries. Instead, the IBM Research Battery Lab has used three “new and different proprietary materials, ” which they say have never before been combined into one battery. The company did not disclose the materials, but says they can be extracted from seawater to lay the foundation for less invasive sourcing techniques than mining.

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The active cathode contains no nickel or cobalt and the battery uses a safe liquid electrolyte. According to IBM, the design suppresses the formation of lithium dendrites, which can cause short circuits if they connect the anode and the cathode.

IBM keeps the materials used secret to prevent others from copying its new battery technology, which already has functional prototypes in its laboratories. Partners supporting IBM include Mercedes-Benz R&D, Central Glass, a leading supplier of battery electrolytes, and Sidus, a battery manufacturer. We will keep you informed.

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