Houston Daily

Researchers at the University of Houston are leading an international study aimed at advancing battery technology. Yan Yao, a professor at the university's Cullen College of Engineering, is working with collaborators from Singapore, Zhejiang University, and Seoul National University to explore alternative metals for battery anodes. Their findings have been published in the journal Science.

The research focuses on both monovalent metals like lithium, sodium, and potassium, and multivalent metals such as magnesium, calcium, and aluminum. The team notes that graphite—the current standard for lithium-ion battery anodes—is nearing its practical limits. Lithium metal could replace graphite because it offers a higher charge storage capacity but faces challenges such as dendrite formation that can cause short circuits.

Multivalent metals are also being studied due to their abundance and safety benefits. While these materials may store more energy at a lower cost and are less likely to form dendrites, they have slower ion movement which can lead to slower charging times.

To address these issues, researchers are testing new electrode designs with textured surfaces to guide metal growth and developing electrolytes that improve ion mobility and protective film formation.

“I think the most exciting part of this is the global interest in this new battery,” Yao said. “But we still have a lot of challenges ahead; there’s still a lot of learning that needs to be done.”

“This work underscores the need for continued research to overcome the technical barriers of multivalent metal batteries,” Yao added. “Advances in electrode design, electrolyte chemistry, and battery architecture are crucial to harness the full potential of these materials.”

The review also suggests principles for next-generation electrolyte development: using high salt concentrations with weakly solvating electrolytes for monovalent systems and strongly solvating, weakly ion-pairing electrolytes for multivalent systems.

Other contributors to the study include Yuanjian Li, Sonal Kumar, Gaoliang Yang, and Zhi Wei Seh from Singapore’s Institute of Materials Research and Engineering; Jun Lu from Zhejiang University; and Kisuk Kang from Seoul National University.

As demand increases worldwide for efficient and sustainable batteries, this research provides direction for scientists seeking improved energy storage solutions.