IBM develops new cobalt-free lithium battery: extracting materials from seawater to replace heavy metals

Lithium-ion batteries are considered a critical technology in the global push for sustainable energy development. While they are widely used in electric vehicles, commercial aerospace and other fields, the heavy metal materials they use, such as cobalt and nickel, also have serious negative effects. To this end, IBM announced the successful development of a new battery that mainly relies on three materials extracted from seawater, and from initial tests, there is no compromise in performance.

IBM developed this new battery technology through cooperation with Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz research department, battery electrolyte supplier Central Glass, and battery manufacturer Sidus, thus getting rid of the dependence on heavy metals such as cobalt. IBM did not mention how its new battery was made, only saying that it was made of "three new and different proprietary materials that have never been used in battery manufacturing before in the record." In addition, extracting battery components from seawater can also reduce costs, making this new battery not only better for the environment and humans, but also potentially more affordable.

The technology breakthrough was discovered at the IBM Battery Lab and uses a cathode material that is free of cobalt and nickel, and a safe liquid electrolyte with a high flash point. This unique combination of cathode and electrolyte demonstrated the ability to suppress lithium metal dendrites during charging, thereby reducing flammability, potentially removing a major drawback of using lithium metal as an anode material.

IBM said that the new battery design is superior to the currently used lithium-ion batteries in terms of cost, charging time, power density, performance, etc. Specifically, it only takes less than 5 minutes to charge 80% of the battery, and it is less flammable than lithium-ion batteries. It is very suitable for use in aircraft, smart grid systems, electric vehicles, or trucks, and the battery life will be longer than ordinary lithium-ion batteries.

"The goal is to have the first working prototype (of the battery) in a year or so," said Jeff Welser, vice president of IBM Research. Welser added that IBM would not necessarily end up using the design to build a product.