Electric Car Batteries Will Soon Be Made With This Cheap and Easily Available Material

In the next ten years, a new type of battery could become a greener, more efficient, and safer alternative to the lithium-ion batteries we use today. Researchers at Denmark Technical University (DTU) have created a new material for batteries using potassium silicate, a mineral found in regular rocks. Currently, the lithium-ion batteries in your electric car decide how far you can drive on a single charge and how quickly you can recharge. However, they are limited in capacity and safety, and lithium is an expensive, harmful material that’s not easy to find. As more people switch to electric cars, there’s a need for new, batteries that are just as good, but more eco-friendly and cheaper. At DTU, researcher Mohamad Khoshkalam has developed a material that could replace lithium in future batteries, using potassium and sodium silicate. These minerals can be found in rocks you might pick up on the beach or in your garden. This new material is not sensitive to air and moisture, making it possible to shape it into a thin layer inside the battery. It is paper-thin and milky-white while being cheap, and eco-friendly, and conducts ions well at around 40 degrees. This makes future battery production easier as they can be made in an open atmosphere and at room temperature. Plus, it doesn’t need expensive, harmful metals like cobalt, currently used in lithium-ion batteries to improve capacity and lifespan. Mohamad Khoshkalam’s discovery is important because the electrolyte in a battery is crucial for its capacity, charging time, lifespan, and safety. The electrolyte allows ions to move between the battery’s parts, keeping the electrical current flowing. His new material makes these ions move faster than in lithium-based batteries. This new solid-state battery could be a game-changer for electric cars, potentially allowing them to drive up to 1,000 kilometers on a 10-minute charge. They would also be safer because they wouldn’t contain combustible liquids. However, there are still many challenges to overcome before these batteries can be produced on a large scale. The technology is still in its early stages and might take another 10 years to reach the market. Despite the risks and challenges, Mohamad Khoshkalam is optimistic. He has patented his new material and started a company called K-Ion to develop battery components. They are now working on a prototype to show companies and investors that the material works, with hopes of having it ready in 1-2 years.