IIT-Hyderabad research team develops an alternative to lithium-ion batteries

5V Dual Carbon Battery utilising self-standing carbon fiber mats do away with the requirement of toxic, costly and heavy transitional metals

The Electrochemical Energy Storage (EES) Lab at IIT-Hyderabad has developed a 5V Dual Carbon Battery utilising self-standing carbon fiber mats as both electrodes (cathode and anode). This new model sets aside the requirement of toxic, costly and heavy transitional metals. Energy economy based on renewable sources has been put forward as a way out to reduce dependence on fossil fuel. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are projected to meet future electric mobility, electric aviation, and stationary grid energy storage targets by 2030. However, LIBs need toxic and costly metals like cobalt, nickel, manganese and other materials to function. Geologically unsymmetrical distribution of lithium and cobalt along with geopolitics and unethical child labour centered on mining causes fluctuations in raw material cost. It affects market price stability of large LIB packs used in electric vehicles.