The Rise of a Membrane-Free Alkali Metal-Iodide Battery with a Molten Salt Electrolyte

Liquid metal electrode batteries are a promising solution for sustainable energy storage due to their low manufacturing costs and high recyclability. However, to improve their viability, they need to operate at lower temperatures, higher voltages, and be membrane-free. In this study, we present a novel membrane-free battery design based on liquid alkali metals and iodide. The battery construction involves a simple assembly process without any solid-state mediums for separating the electrolytes. Despite the unoptimized cell design, the membrane-free A-AI batteries exhibit promising electrochemical performance, including stability for 250 cycles and high current density, implying the possibility of an iodine-concentrated layer forming at the bottom of the cell. These findings demonstrate the potential of membrane-free A-AI batteries as a cost-effective and eco-friendly energy storage solution.