Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) on August 21, 2024, to develop new variants of zinc materials and propel the commercialization of zinc-based batteries.
- Zinc-ion batteries hold enormous potential for large-scale energy storage due to low-cost and Earth abundant raw materials.
- However, their commercialization is dependent on stabilizing the material’s performance. For instance, zinc is thermodynamically unstable with water-based solutions and therefore requires suitable modifications at the electrode, electrolyte and interfaces.
Comparison of Lithium and Zinc based batteries
- Lithium-based batteries use lithium compounds as the anode and cathode’s active material. In contrast, zinc-based batteries use zinc in the anode and manganese dioxide in the cathode.
- Lithium-based batteries generally have a longer lifespan than zinc-based batteries, as they can withstand more charge and discharge cycles without degrading.
- Lithium-based batteries typically have higher energy density than zinc-based batteries, enabling them to store more energy. This is due to the use of lightweight and highly reactive materials in lithium-based batteries, which can store a significant amount of energy in a small space.
- Zinc-based batteries have a lower power output than lithium-based batteries, making them more suitable for low-power applications such as remote controls or flashlights.
- Zinc-based batteries are generally less expensive than lithium-based batteries, as zinc is a more abundant and less expensive material than lithium.
- Lithium-based batteries are more susceptible to overheating and catching fire than zinc-based batteries due to the reactive nature of the materials used in their chemistry that can generate heat when exposed to certain conditions, such as overcharging or high temperatures.
