Finding abundant elements for greener batteries
As the demand for greener energy storage grows, researchers are looking beyond traditional lithium-ion batteries toward more sustainable and abundant options like sodium- and calcium-ion batteries for faster charging and longer lifespans.
A promising path lies in 2D materials, only a few atoms thick, which offer exceptional surface area and electrical properties. Among these, Janus materials with two distinct atomic surfaces stand out for their tunable features.
In a recent study published by KTH researchers and colleagues from the two Indian engineering colleges National Institute of Technology and Indian Institute of Technology, a new Janus material, VSH, was designed by replacing sulfur with hydrogen in VS₂ monolayer. Simulations show it’s stable, lightweight, and semiconducting, allowing ions to move quickly –key traits for high-capacity, fast-charging batteries.
Raquel Lizarraga Jurado and Deobrat Singh from the Department of Material Science and Engineering at KTH are the researchers involved in the study.
Why is this important?
“An important point is that the asymmetry of this 2D Janus system enables multifunctional applications in optoelectronics, energy storage, and catalysis,” says Raquel Lizarraga.
What practical use do these results have?
“VSH actually shows really high storage capacities; about 4466.83 mAh/g for lithium, 638.11 mAh/g for sodium, and 850.82 mAh/g for calcium ions. That means that it is a very promising anode material for different types of ion batteries,” says Deobrat Singh.
“It’s really important to use more available materials, like sodium, in batteries if we want to build a sustainable and affordable renewable energy system for everyone,” states Raquel Lizarraga.
Text: Rita Nõu