IBM develops battery based on seawater and without heavy metals or cobalt

IBM says it has developed a chemical composition for batteries that does not involve heavy metals or cobalt. The materials for the battery come from seawater and that would lead to a fast charging time, good safety and a high energy density.

IBM says preliminary tests have shown that battery composition can be optimized to exceed the capabilities of lithium-ion batteries. This concerns a number of categories, such as lower costs, faster charging times, higher energy densities, high energy efficiency and a lower risk of fire. According to IBM, it is already possible to achieve a charge capacity of 80 percent in less than five minutes and the energy density is above 800Wh/L, which the company says is comparable to the very best lithium-ion batteries. IBM’s design revolves around three new and different materials, which, according to the company, have never been combined in a battery.

The IBM Research’s Battery Lab has designed a cathode, without nickel and cobalt, and with a safe, liquid electrolyte. According to the company, this combination has been shown to be able to suppress the formation of dendrites. Dendrites are finger or tree-like structures formed by accumulating lithium atoms. Once they grow and eventually make a connection between the anode and cathode, a short circuit can occur. That risk, and therefore the risk of fire, would be smaller in IBM’s design than with lithium-ion batteries, where in principle this risk is always lurking. IBM says nothing about the exact chemical composition of the cathode.

The company reports that it is working with several companies to eventually get the new battery into a commercial development process. To this end, IBM works together with Mercedes-Benz Research, among others. IBM is also collaborating with Central Glass, a major electrolyte supplier, and Sidus, a battery manufacturer. Plans for a large-scale development of the battery are still in an early phase, so it is not yet possible to say whether and when the design will actually become commercially attractive and eventually lead to batteries based on seawater. IBM says it has also used machine learning and computer simulations to improve battery performance.