via RMIT University
RMIT University researchers have demonstrated for the first time a working rechargeable “proton battery” that could re-wire how we power our homes, vehicles and devices.
The rechargeable battery is environmentally friendly, and has the potential, with further development, to store more energy than currently-available lithium ion batteries.
Potential applications for the proton battery include household storage of electricity from solar photovoltaic panels, as done currently by the Tesla ‘Power wall’ which uses lithium ion batteries.
With some modifications and scaling up, proton battery technology may also be used for medium-scale storage on electricity grids – – like the giant lithium battery in South Australia — as well as powering electric vehicles.
The working prototype proton battery uses a carbon electrode as a hydrogen store, coupled with a reversible fuel cell to produce electricity.
It’s the carbon electrode plus protons from water that give the proton battery it’s environmental, energy and potential economic edge, says lead researcher Professor John Andrews.
“Our latest advance is a crucial step towards cheap, sustainable proton batteries that can help meet our future energy needs without further damaging our already fragile environment,” Andrews said.
“As the world moves towards inherently-variable renewable energy to reduce greenhouse emissions and tackle climate change, requirements for electrical energy storage will be gargantuan.
“The proton battery is one among many potential contributors towards meeting this enormous demand for energy storage. Powering batteries with protons has the potential to be more economical than using lithium ions, which are made from scare resources.
“Carbon, which is the primary resource used in our proton battery, is abundant and cheap compared to both metal hydrogen-storage alloys, and the lithium needed for rechargeable lithium ion batteries.”
During charging, the carbon in the electrode bonds with protons generated by splitting water with the help of electrons from the power supply. The protons are released again and pass back through the reversible fuel cell to form water with oxygen from air to generate power. Unlike fossil fuels, the carbon does not burn or cause emissions in the process.
The researchers’ experiments showed that their small proton battery, with an active inside surface area of only 5.5 square centimetres (smaller than a 20 cent coin), was already able to store as much energy per unit mass as commercially-available lithium ion batteries. This was before the battery had been optimised.
“Future work will now focus on further improving performance and energy density through use of atomically-thin layered carbon-based materials such as graphene, with the target of a proton battery that is truly competitive with lithium ion batteries firmly in sight,” Andrews said.
RMIT’s research on the proton battery has been partly funded by the Australian Defence Science and Technology Group and the US Office of Naval Research Global.
How the proton battery works
The working prototype proton battery combines the best aspects of hydrogen fuel cells and battery-based electrical power.
The latest version combines a carbon electrode for solid-state storage of hydrogen with a reversible fuel cell to provide an integrated rechargeable unit.
The successful use of an electrode made from activated carbon in a proton battery is a significant step forward and is reported in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.
During charging, protons produced by water splitting in a reversible fuel cell are conducted through the cell membrane and directly bond with the storage material with the aid of electrons supplied by the applied voltage, without forming hydrogen gas.
In electricity supply mode this process is reversed; hydrogen atoms are released from the storage and lose an electron to become protons once again. These protons then pass back through the cell membrane where they combine with oxygen and electrons from the external circuit to re-form water.
A major potential advantage of the proton battery is much higher energy efficiency than conventional hydrogen systems, making it comparable to lithium ion batteries. The losses associated with hydrogen gas evolution and splitting back into protons are eliminated.
Several years ago the RMIT team showed that a proton battery with a metal alloy electrode for storing hydrogen could work, but its reversibility and rechargeability was too low. Also the alloy employed contained rare-earth elements, and was thus heavy and costly.
The latest experimental results showed that a porous activated-carbon electrode made from phenolic resin was able to store around 1 wt% hydrogen in the electrode. This is an energy per unit mass already comparable with commercially-available lithium ion batteries, even though the proton battery is far from being optimised. The maximum cell voltage was 1.2 volt.
Learn more: All power to the proton: researchers make battery breakthrough
The Latest on: Proton battery
- September 18, 2018 - Battery Technology Market reports cover detailed competitive outlook including the market share and company profiles of the key participants operating in the Global market. The Battery Technology market report provides an in-depth overview of Product ...
September 16, 2018 - Commercial ion-exchange membranes should have high proton conductivity, good selectivity, and especially low cost. At present, ion-exchange membrane prices are still too high. This affects the installed capacity of vanadium redox flow battery.
This Battery Is Made of Paper and Powered by Bacteria - Singularity Hub
September 6, 2018 - “Poly (amic) acid and poly (pyromellitic dianhydride‐p‐phenylenediamine) are processed and incorporated into a porous, hydrophilic network of intertwined cellulose fibers to revolutionize oxygen‐blocking, proton‐exchanging, and biodegrading properties ...- August 31, 2018 - The other drivers for advanced battery and fuel cell materials market include the emergence of new technologies including lithium battery, solid oxide fuel cells; and proton exchange membrane fuel cells and increasing use of combined heat and power ...
On-demand Explosions are Helping to Build Better Batteries - Technology Networks
August 30, 2018 - ... complicated experiments, involving extreme conditions associated with battery failure. As Prof. Shearing explains, “We originally developed these techniques at the Advanced Proton Source in America. Having the UK's national synchrotron on the ...Fuel Cell Vehicles 2019-2029 - IDTechEx.com (press release)
August 24, 2018 - It will also assist those participating in the value chain of alternatives such as batteries and supercapacitors to understand the considerable opportunities for both collaborative use of their components with fuel cells and scope for common technologies.Proton Battery Could Offer Lithium Ion Alternative - DesignNews
March 28, 2018 - A traditional proton exchange membrane (PEM) hydrogen fuel cells uses platinum catalysts to combine gaseous hydrogen and oxygen from the atmosphere to produce electricity, water vapor, and heat. Producing, transporting, and storing hydrogen gas, ...- March 12, 2018 - No, we are not claiming a low cost, environmentally friendly carbon proton battery will be replacing conventional lithium ion batteries any time soon. But it might someday, and that's news you can use. Researchers at Australia's RMIT University in ...
What's A Proton Battery? Three Things You Need To Know. - Futurism
March 11, 2018 - The RMIT battery can be plugged into a charging port just like any other rechargeable battery. What happens next is remarkably simple: the electricity from the power supply splits water molecules, generating protons, which bond with carbon in the ...
- Plug Power (PLUG) Lifted to “Hold” at Zacks Investment Research on September 17, 2018 at 9:45 am
They are focused on proton exchange membrane, or PEM, fuel cell and fuel processing technologies, fuel cell/battery hybrid technologies, and associated hydrogen storage and dispensing infrastructure f... […]
- This Battery Is Made of Paper and Powered by Bacteria on September 6, 2018 at 8:00 am
proton‐exchanging, and biodegrading properties of the paper‐based microbial biobatteries, which ultimately offer the transformative potential of “green” electronics.” Roughly translated, the battery i... […]
- Advanced Battery and Fuel Cell Material Market 2018 Global Industry Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2023 on August 31, 2018 at 6:39 am
... battery and fuel cell materials market include the emergence of new technologies including lithium battery, solid oxide fuel cells; and proton exchange membrane fuel cells and increasing use of co... […]
- Proton Power Systems PLC (P6K.L) on August 29, 2018 at 5:00 pm
The Company operates through the green energy segment. The Company offers uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and solar battery storage products through its subsidiary, Proton... (more) […]
- Geely in deal to let Malaysia Proton tap new energy on August 20, 2018 at 10:28 pm
Economic Times reported that, Chinese automaker Geely has agreed to extend its existing partnership with Proton Holdings Berhad to upgrade the Malaysia carmaker's line up of cars and power Proton go b... […]
- Hydrogen Fuel Cell & Battery Electric Vehicles — Technology Rundown on August 11, 2018 at 6:32 pm
Battery electric vehicles require heavy batteries ... with a 30% loss of energy through the process. Proton-exchange membrane electrolysis allows for the extraction of hydrogen from water by ... […]
- Materials for Proton Exchange Membranes and Membrane Electrode Assemblies for PEM Fuel Cells on July 4, 2018 at 7:44 am
Environmental issues with battery disposals are being heard along with concerns over fluorine containing proton exchange membranes. The direct methanol fuel cell is an important subset of the PEMFC th... […]
- Materials for Proton Exchange Membranes and Membrane Electrode Assemblies for PEM Fuel Cells on July 3, 2018 at 5:00 pm
Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider. Frankly and this Site make no warranties or representations in connection therewith. If you are affiliate... […]
- Materials for Proton Exchange Membranes and Membrane Electrode A - KXXV Central Texas News Now on July 3, 2018 at 5:00 pm
Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider. Frankly and this Site make no warranties or representations in connection therewith. If you are affiliate... […]
- Materials for Proton Exchange Membranes and Membrane Electrode A - wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina on July 3, 2018 at 5:00 pm
Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider. Frankly and this Site make no warranties or representations in connection therewith. If you are affiliate... […]
via Google News and Bing News