Thomas Edison's Failed Rechargeable Battery May Get a Second Life

United States - Ekhbary News Agency

Thomas Edison's Failed Rechargeable Battery May Get a Second Life

In a development that could rewrite chapters of electrical storage history, a team of researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has successfully developed a prototype nickel-iron battery that harks back to the pioneering principles laid down by the famed inventor Thomas Edison. While Edison's original vision for this technology in the early 20th century was to power electric automobiles, contemporary researchers now believe its fundamental concepts are far more suited for renewable energy storage applications, such as solar and wind power facilities.

The study, recently published in the scientific journal 'Small,' details an innovative battery prototype capable of recharging in mere seconds and enduring over 12,000 charge-discharge cycles. This remarkable durability is equivalent to approximately 30 years of intensive daily use, suggesting an exceptionally long lifespan for this re-envisioned technology. This breakthrough reflects a deeper understanding of how to harness chemical principles at the nanoscale for superior performance.

The concept of rechargeable electric power was not entirely novel in Edison's era. By 1900, electric hybrid cars outnumbered gasoline-powered vehicles on U.S. roads. In 1901, Edison famously patented a working lead-acid automotive battery that nearly set the 20th century on a vastly different course. However, Edison's batteries faced significant hurdles, including high costs and a limited range of just 30 miles, ultimately losing out to the internal combustion engine before Edison could fully realize his vision for a successful nickel-iron battery successor.

Today, renewable energy has become a cornerstone of the global energy mix, following over a century of continuous innovation and in light of increasing awareness of the severe consequences of fossil fuels. While most people are now familiar with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, Edison's nickel-iron concept has not entirely faded. The UCLA engineers acknowledge that while the technology might not be directly suitable for transportation applications, it shows immense promise for use in energy infrastructure, such as solar farms and large-scale energy storage facilities.

Dr. Maher El-Kady, a study co-author, explains that the underlying principles of this technology, despite relying on atomic-level bonds and nanoscale engineering, are surprisingly easy to grasp. "People often think of modern nanotechnology tools as complicated and high-tech, but our approach is surprisingly simple and straightforward," he stated in a recent UCLA profile.

El-Kady's team drew inspiration from two primary sources: fundamental chemistry and skeletal anatomy. The formation of vertebrate bones and shells, for instance, involves utilizing specific proteins as a framework for building calcium-based compounds. "Laying down minerals in the correct fashion builds bones that are strong, yet flexible enough to not be brittle. How it’s done is almost as important as the material used, and proteins guide how they are placed," explains Dr. Ric Kaner, a materials scientist and co-author of the study.

El-Kady and Kaner explored the possibility of adapting this biological system by substituting calcium with nickel and iron. For the protein component, they utilized byproducts from beef processing, imbuing them with graphene oxide—a single-atom-thick sheet of carbon and oxygen. Ultimately, they succeeded in growing a folded protein structure filled with positively charged nickel atoms and negatively charged iron atoms. These structures, less than five nanometers wide, would require 10,000 to 20,000 clusters to match the width of a human hair.

Graphene oxide's oxygen atoms typically act as insulators, which could hinder battery efficiency. However, the team devised a solution. By placing their creation in superheated water, high temperatures effectively converted the proteins into carbon while eliminating all oxygen. Simultaneously, these metallic clusters became further embedded within the structures. The result was an aerogel composed of nearly 99% air by volume. From this point, the remarkable dynamics of surface area come into play.

"As we go from larger particles down to these extremely tiny nanoclusters, the surface area gets dramatically higher. That’s a huge advantage for batteries," El-Kady elaborated. "When the particles are that tiny, almost every single atom can participate in the reaction. So, charging and discharging happen way faster, you can store more charge, and the whole battery just works more efficiently."

While El-Kady's nickel-iron aerogel battery currently lacks the storage capacity of lithium-ion alternatives, rendering it unsuitable for electric vehicles, its significance extends beyond being a mere chemical curiosity. The battery's rapid charging, longevity, and high output suggest strong potential for applications in solar farms. It could efficiently store excess electricity generated during the day and discharge it to the grid at night. Furthermore, it could serve as a vital backup power source for energy-intensive data centers.

Although the rebirth of Edison's nickel-iron batteries is still in its early stages, the underlying science and engineering expertise are firmly in place. Crucially, this technology completely bypasses the reliance on rare earth metals characteristic of lithium-ion batteries.

"We are just mixing common ingredients, applying gentle heating steps and using raw materials that are widely available," El-Kady concluded. These statements open the door to a promising future for energy storage, where innovations inspired by the past play a crucial role in addressing present and future challenges.

Ekhbary News Agency