Rechargeable Battery Made From Molten Salt Can Store Electricity For Months
Researchers recently demonstrated how freezing and then thawing a molten salt solution creates a rechargeable battery that can store energy for weeks, and even months in one go!
A lot of surplus electricity is wasted because batteries are not unable to store it for long, but this battery under development by researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) could change that.
Such solutions are important to improve the pace of shifting to renewable energy. Over time, most batteries lose energy. According to Scientific American, "rechargeable batteries can lose almost a third of their stored charge in a single month" owing to the "self-discharge" that takes place in batteries.
A battery made using salt
The battery essentially withstands repeated cycles of heating and cooling. To make sure no energy is lost, researchers had to find materials that could endure these changes. In cold regions where sunlight is scarce, this could help store electricity in batteries to be used when the Sun is nowhere to be seen, of course, after power is harvested using solar panels.
Currently, the experimental tech is aimed at "utility-scale and industrial uses." Its creators have a vision in mind - of large containers with huge batteries that may be kept next to wind farms or solar arrays. All the batteries would be charged on site, providing energy through power lines as and when needed.
Most batteries generate electricity through chemical reactions that occur when an external circuit is connected. Electrons travel from one end of the battery to the other. This process generates electricity.
The problem with such batteries is that they continue to lose energy power even when they're not in use. To prevent this, researchers used an electrolyte made from a salt solution. This stays solid at ambient temperatures but becomes liquid when heated to 180 degree Celsius. When the electrolyte is solid, ions stay in place and effectively prevent self-discharge.
What do you think about this novel method that uses a salt solution to store energy for longer periods? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.
Blaustein, A. (2022, May 6). Rechargeable Molten Salt Battery Freezes Energy in Place for Long-Term Storage. Scientific American.