Scientists accidentally increase battery density sixfold

A team of researchers at Stanford University has created a new battery technology. As a result of the tests carried out, the obtained sodium chloride batteries significantly surpassed traditional lithium-ion batteries in terms of energy storage density.

Scientists have worked to improve existing battery technology using thionyl chloride. At some point, they decided to try the reverse conversion of sodium chloride or lithium chloride to chlorine. Since this is difficult to do, no one has previously tried to study the potential of a sodium-chloride or lithium-chloride battery.

“The battery pack is a bit like a rocking chair. It tilts in one direction, but then comes back when you add electricity, ”the researchers explain.

In the course of experiments, it was possible to make a battery with a capacity of 1200 mAh per gram of positive electrode material. Commercial lithium-ion batteries can offer around 200mAh per gram, scientists say. The development has not yet been completed, and a working prototype has not yet been created, but the researchers believe that in the future it will be possible to release a battery on the market with which the equipment will work many times longer.