New Delhi, Nov 21 (NationPress) A team of researchers at a government institute located in Bengaluru has engineered a cathode material that enhances the performance of environmentally friendly zinc batteries, capable of storing more energy, as reported by the government on Friday.

The scientists implemented a straightforward 'activation process' on a common battery substance, vanadium oxide, which could substantially elevate the energy density and lifespan of zinc-ion batteries. This advancement leads to the creation of more efficient batteries, according to an official announcement from the Ministry of Science & Technology.

The activated material allows the zinc-ion battery (ZIB) to attain a significantly increased energy density and remarkable longevity. This means it can hold much more energy and can be recharged thousands of times with minimal degradation.

In recent decades, considerable progress in energy storage has primarily centered around lithium batteries, noted for their favorable performance, chiefly high energy density, but these also pose various environmental and safety challenges during their use.

As a viable alternative, recently, aqueous zinc-ion-based battery (ZIB) systems have garnered interest due to their superior energy storage capabilities, safety, and eco-friendliness.

Led by Dr. Ashutosh Kumar Singh at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology, the research team utilized a thermo-electrochemical treatment to intentionally create beneficial defects in vanadium oxide, resulting in the formation of zinc-vanadium oxide, or Zn-V2O5.

According to the statement, zinc-vanadium oxide (Zn-V2O5) possesses tiny spaces and pathways that enable it to store and release energy far more efficiently compared to V2O5.

This newly formed, imperfect structure, termed the Zn-V2O5 structure, enhances structural stability and reduces the barrier for zinc ion movement during the charging and discharging of the battery.

The announcement emphasized that this innovation significantly improves the energy storage performance of batteries. It represents a simple and efficient strategy for enhancing the overall energy density and stability of standard cathode materials.