SayTexas-based startup Group1 has unveiled a groundbreaking material for cathodes that serves as a crucial component in the creation of safer, fast-charging, and more efficient potassium-ion batteries (KIB) in the 18650 format. This innovative battery type offers a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries.
Unlike lithium-ion batteries, potassium-ion batteries do not require rare and expensive materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper. This is increasingly important as the demand for lithium-ion batteries soars, and future lithium reserves may fall short of meeting industry needs.
Group1’s potassium-ion batteries could provide a viable alternative to address this potential shortage. Potassium is found in nature in quantities thousands of times greater than lithium, and cathodes made from it are produced using environmentally friendly processes and at lower temperatures.
The 18650-format battery could be utilized in a variety of portable gadgets and even serve as a foundation for next-generation batteries for electric vehicles. These batteries operate at a voltage of 3.7 volts and offer an energy density range of 160-180 Wh/kg. While these metrics are comparable to those of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, they fall short of high-density options like the CATL Shenxing Plus, which offers energy densities up to 205 Wh/kg.
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