Researchers in South Korea have developed a new electrolyte additive that significantly improves the lifespan and capacity of aqueous batteries, a technology widely viewed as a safer and lower-cost alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
The team, led by Professor Hoseok Park from Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), found that adding a small amount of a specially designed zwitterionic material to the electrolyte helped overcome key problems that have long limited the commercialization of aqueous battery systems.
Unlike lithium-ion batteries, aqueous batteries use water-based electrolytes, making them less flammable, more environmentally friendly, and potentially cheaper to manufacture. However, their performance has been hindered by unstable zinc deposition and unwanted reactions between zinc electrodes and water during charging and discharging.
These issues can lead to corrosion, uneven metal buildup, and rapid capacity loss, reducing battery life and limiting large-scale deployment.
To tackle the problem, the researchers developed a zwitterionic additive known as C10. Zwitterions contain both positive and negative charges within the same molecule, allowing them to interact with surrounding ions in unique ways.
When added to the electrolyte, C10 molecules spontaneously assembled into nanostructures measuring about 3.77 nanometers in diameter. These structures served two functions simultaneously.
First, they guided zinc ions to deposit more evenly across the electrode surface, reducing the formation of irregular zinc structures that can damage batteries. Second, they formed a thin protective layer over the zinc metal, shielding it from direct contact with water and limiting corrosion-causing side reactions.
The combined effect produced substantial performance gains.
Aqueous batteries using the modified electrolyte maintained stable operation for more than 2,800 hours. The cells also achieved an areal capacity of 8.10 mAh cm⁻², which the researchers describe as world-leading performance among aqueous battery systems reported to date.
“We have demonstrated that the performance of aqueous batteries can be substantially enhanced through a simple approach of adding a small amount of material to the electrolyte, without the need for expensive materials or complex fabrication processes.”
Improving both cycle life and storage capacity has been a longstanding challenge for aqueous battery developers. Many previous approaches improved one metric at the expense of the other.
The new electrolyte strategy appears to address both issues simultaneously while avoiding costly manufacturing changes.
The researchers believe the technology could be useful for large-scale energy storage applications, where safety, cost, and durability are critical factors.
“Beyond renewable energy storage, this technology holds potential for application in large-scale energy storage systems (ESS) for AI infrastructure and data centers, which are experiencing explosive growth.”
Demand for energy storage is expected to rise alongside the expansion of renewable power generation and the rapid growth of AI computing infrastructure, both of which require reliable methods to store and distribute electricity.
Because the new approach relies on a simple electrolyte modification rather than redesigning the battery architecture, it may offer a practical path toward improving the commercial viability of aqueous battery systems.
The findings were published in the journal Nano-Micro Letters.
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With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.
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