Multivalent batteries are

energy storage Energy storage is the capture of energy produced at one time for use at a later time to reduce imbalances between energy demand and energy production. A device that stores energy is generally called an Accumulator (energy), accumulator or Batte ...

and delivery technologies (i.e., electro-chemical

) that employ multivalent ions, e.g., Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Zn²⁺, Al³⁺ as the active

charge carrier In solid state physics, a charge carrier is a particle or quasiparticle that is free to move, carrying an electric charge, especially the particles that carry electric charges in electrical conductors. Examples are electrons, ions and holes. ...

in the electrolytes as well as in the

electrodes An electrode is an electrical conductor used to make contact with a nonmetallic part of a circuit (e.g. a semiconductor, an electrolyte, a vacuum or a gas). In electrochemical cells, electrodes are essential parts that can consist of a variety ...

(anode and cathode). Multivalent batteries are generally pursued for the potentially greater capacity, owing to greater ion valency, as well as natural mineral abundance.

Overview

Multivalent ion batteries are considered post-Li battery systems that can be potential alternatives to incumbent

Li-ion A lithium-ion or Li-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery that uses the reversible intercalation of Li+ ions into electronically conducting solids to store energy. Li-ion batteries are characterized by higher specific energy, energy d ...

and emerging

Lithium Lithium (from , , ) is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol Li and atomic number 3. It is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal. Under standard temperature and pressure, standard conditions, it is the least dense metal and the ...

metal systems. Owing to their greater valency, they can provide greater energy density and storage capacity. Multivalent minerals are generally available in relatively greater abundance, possibly offering low costs and mitigate concerns over supply chain sustainability. The charge density of multivalent cations is also higher than for monovalent ions. On the other hand, achieving high ionic conductivity and reversible cycling is more challenging when using multivalent ions as charge carriers.

Examples

Magnesium

Magnesium (ion) batteries use magnesium ions (Mg²⁺) as the charge carrier.

Calcium

Calcium (ion) batteries use calcium ions (Ca²⁺) as the charge carrier. Current battery configurations include either calcium metal or carbon phases as the anode and oxide or sulfide based ceramics as the cathode.

Zinc

Zinc (ion) batteries use zinc ions (Zn²⁺) as the charge carrier. For example Zinc–carbon batteries.

Aluminum

Aluminum (ion) batteries use aluminum ions (Al³⁺) as the charge carrier.

References

{{energy-stub Battery types