IBM Research reports (LINK) on a cobalt and nickel free battery technology based on a new cathode and electrode material. Dr. Young-Hye Na (LINK) is the manager of the research group dedicated to ‘Materials and Process Innovations for Energy Industry’ at IBM Almaden Research Center. Her research team is currently focusing on the development of next generation energy storage systems including metal-air batteries, solid-state electrolytes, new battery chemistries based on Cobalt-free cathode materials, and microbatteries.
Most lithium-ion battery material stacks include metals such as nickel and cobalt, which pose tremendous environmental and humanitarian risks in the sourcing of metals. Especially cobalt that is mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo has come under fire for careless and exploitative extraction practices. Recently, International Rights Advocates sued Apple, Tesla, and other tech companies over the deaths of children working in these mines (LINK).
The new battery still uses lithium, but because it is generated from seawater rather than mined, there is little impact on the environment.
Most lithium-ion battery material stacks include metals such as nickel and cobalt, which pose tremendous environmental and humanitarian risks in the sourcing of metals. Especially cobalt that is mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo has come under fire for careless and exploitative extraction practices. Recently, International Rights Advocates sued Apple, Tesla, and other tech companies over the deaths of children working in these mines (LINK).
The new battery still uses lithium, but because it is generated from seawater rather than mined, there is little impact on the environment.
IBM development lab for next-generation batteries (Photo credit: IBM Research's lab in Almaden, California)
