Lithium-ion batteries currently have the highest energy density among commercially-available batteries, typically ranging between 260-270 Wh/kg, which makes them dominant for portable electronics and electric vehicles.
However, there are some battery types with energy densities that can approach or, in certain cases, exceed lithium-ion batteries:
- Zinc-air batteries have a higher energy density than lithium-ion batteries because they generate electricity through the oxidation of zinc with oxygen from the air, allowing more energy storage in a smaller space.
- Zinc-polyiodide flow batteries feature an electrolyte with more than twice the energy density of the next-best flow batteries, approaching the lower end of lithium-ion battery energy density used in portable electronics and some small EVs.
- Zinc-manganese oxide batteries can potentially exceed lead-acid batteries in energy density and offer better safety than lithium-ion batteries, though their rechargeability is still a challenge.
While lithium-ion batteries currently lead in high energy density, these emerging chemistries, particularly zinc-based batteries, show promise for matching or surpassing lithium-ion energy densities in certain applications. Nevertheless, lithium-ion remains the best established technology for high energy density needs as of now.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/are-there-any-battery-types-with-higher-energy-density-than-lithium-ion-batteries/
