- cross-posted to:
- technology@lemmy.world
- upliftingnews@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- technology@lemmy.world
- upliftingnews@lemmy.world
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Obviously lithium-based batteries are going to be the best for energy density, but going to other materials makes a ton of sense for big installations (for buffering solar and wind, for example) that don’t ever move.
This is the first I’ve heard of iron batteries, though. I always figured we’d do sodium batteries for big installations since there’s so much of it just dissolved in the oceans.
This is the first I’ve heard of iron batteries, though. I always figured we’d do sodium batteries for big installations since there’s so much of it just dissolved in the oceans.
And we’re gonna be producing more by desalination if we want to have enough drinking water in the coming centuries.
All-iron flow batteries hold immense potential due to their use of cheap, abundant iron and safe, water-based electrolytes.
So it’s a rust battery? Because that’s what happens when iron gets watery. It rusts.
I mean if it works, that’s great, I just find it funny.
Nickel-Iron rechargable batteries have been around for over 125 years, and are sometimes called “Edison batteries” because they were produced by Thomas Edison’s battery company.
The active material of the negative plates is iron oxide (i.e. rust). They could more accurately be called iron-oxide/nickel-hydride batteries.
They have some disadvantages especially for portability (liquid electrolyte and poor weight to charge ratio) and require regular topping up electrolyte like older models of car batteries. However, they are tolerant of frequent cycling, undercharging and overcharging, and can last 20-30 years in continuous use.