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A critical discussion of the current availability of lithium and zinc for use in batteries

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  • Alessandro Innocenti

    (Helmholtzstrasse 11
    Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
    Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg)

  • Dominic Bresser

    (Helmholtzstrasse 11
    Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT))

  • Jürgen Garche

    (University of Ulm, Oberberghof 7)

  • Stefano Passerini

    (Helmholtzstrasse 11
    Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
    Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 5)

Abstract

In the literature on zinc-based batteries, it is often highlighted that zinc offers significant advantages over lithium due to its abundance, affordability, and accessibility. Additionally, aqueous rechargeable zinc batteries are promoted as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion batteries, especially for renewable energy storage. The aim of this Comment is to provide a perspective on these statements, elucidating their foundations and implications and giving a quick but comprehensive background to authors and readers that deal with this topic, focusing specifically on batteries with zinc ions shuttling reversibly between the metallic negative electrode and the insertion-type positive electrode.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessandro Innocenti & Dominic Bresser & Jürgen Garche & Stefano Passerini, 2024. "A critical discussion of the current availability of lithium and zinc for use in batteries," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-6, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-48368-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48368-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ning Zhang & Fangyi Cheng & Junxiang Liu & Liubin Wang & Xinghui Long & Xiaosong Liu & Fujun Li & Jun Chen, 2017. "Rechargeable aqueous zinc-manganese dioxide batteries with high energy and power densities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Peter Greim & A. A. Solomon & Christian Breyer, 2020. "Assessment of lithium criticality in the global energy transition and addressing policy gaps in transportation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Huilin Pan & Yuyan Shao & Pengfei Yan & Yingwen Cheng & Kee Sung Han & Zimin Nie & Chongmin Wang & Jihui Yang & Xiaolin Li & Priyanka Bhattacharya & Karl T. Mueller & Jun Liu, 2016. "Reversible aqueous zinc/manganese oxide energy storage from conversion reactions," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 1(5), pages 1-7, May.
    4. Kang Xu & Chunsheng Wang, 2016. "Batteries: Widening voltage windows," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 1(10), pages 1-2, October.
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