With an increasing number of industries and individuals making “greener” choices regarding energy sources and energy supply, and as global dependence on fossil fuels slowly wanes, there is a heavier and heavier importance placed on cleaner power sources and methods for storing and transporting that power. Battery technology is a huge part of this global energy revolution and much of the focus is on sustainable, safe and efficient battery materials.
Lithium-based batteries have dominated the battery market for years, predominantly for use in electric vehicles and other battery-powered devices like smart phones. Zinc, however, offers many advantages over lithium-based solutions. Zinc is stable in air and compatible with aqueous electrolytes, it's also the fourth most abundant metal on the planet, making it widely available and relatively cheap, and potentially safer option for rechargeable batteries than lithium and sodium, which typically use flammable organic electrolytes.
