Researchers at Flinders University in Australia have created a new type of zinc-iodine battery that can be charged in laboratory conditions in only 3 minutes and can endure up to 60,000 charge cycles.
According to ETNA via PhoneArena, this technology, because it uses an aqueous electrolyte, significantly reduces the risk of fire from thermal runaway compared to lithium-ion batteries.
The main secret of this new battery is the use of a material based on cyclodextrin; an organic compound derived from starch that is low-cost. Researchers found this material can hold polyiodide ions within its structure and help increase the battery's stability and lifespan.
The test results are very impressive. One sample was able, in one mode, to achieve more than 8,000 cycles with a capacity of 205 mAh per gram and fully charge in only 7 minutes. In another mode, the battery reached more than 60,000 cycles and its charging time dropped to about 3 minutes. For comparison, batteries in some of today's flagship phones are designed for about 1,200 cycles.
However, this technology is not yet ready to enter phones like the iPhone or Galaxy. The main problem of zinc-iodine batteries is their lower volumetric energy density compared to lithium-ion batteries; therefore, to store the same amount of energy they require a much larger battery. For this reason, the initial application of this technology will likely be in large-scale energy storage systems and storing electricity generated by solar panels.
This battery is also not expected to replace the silicon-carbon batteries of smartphones in the near future. Nevertheless, the research could pave the way for developing a new generation of safe, durable, and ultra-fast batteries. If engineers can miniaturize this technology and increase its energy density, phones that charge in just a few minutes and last for years could become a reality.