A team of physicists of the Czech Academy of Scienceshas unveiled a novel battery electrolyte that could to reshape the future of energy storage—enhancing stability, simplifying production, and extending battery lifespan.
Researchers from the Nanoscale Materials and Systems group at FZU – Institute of Physics have developed a suspension electrolyte that improves the performance and durability of dual-ion batteries.
Unlike traditional electrolytes that fully dissolve in solution, this new innovative formulation contains suspended salt particles that remain near the electrode surface. These particles naturally create a high-concentration layer of anions, keeping the battery chemistry balanced during charging and discharging. This reduces the unwanted side effects and helps the battery last longer and work better.
The approach—termed Salt Particle Suspension Electrolyte (SPSE)—addresses one of the key limitations of dual-ion batteries: the rapid depletion of active ions at the electrode interface. By maintaining ionic availability exactly where it is needed, SPSE minimises concentration polarisation and boosts both efficiency and consistency.
Air-Stable, Scalable, and Compatible with Common Materials
Moreover, the electrolyte is air-stable, fluid, and easy to process, even after extended storage, making it suitable for production and large-scale applications. Although a trace amount of water is required for optimal function, the quantity is minimal and does not compromise stability.
In laboratory testing, the new electrolyte delivered robust and stable performance and compatibility with widely used battery materials such as zinc and graphite. These qualities point to real potential for low-cost, scalable battery systems applicable to electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and personal electronics.
“Our new electrolyte technology has exciting implications for the battery industry. It can be integrated into diverse dual-ion battery systems, which utilise cost-effective and naturally abundant materials. This is an important step that pushes dual-ion batteries closer to practical applications in the real world,” said Dr Jiří Červenka, group leader and senior scientist at FZU.
The research is published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A (2025).
Reference: Yitao He, Fafa Yu, Jiří Červenka. Salt Particle Suspension Electrolyte with Trace-Water for Improving Ionic Concentrations at Interfaces in Zinc-Based Dual-Ion Batteries.