Chinese scientists have developed a calcium-oxygen battery that can be recharged 700 times at room temperature. This innovative power source uses calcium as the anode, a layer of aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as the air cathode, and a calcium-based solution as the electrolyte, according to a paper published in Nature.
The calcium-oxygen battery uses chemical reactions between metallic calcium, oxygen and an electrolyte to store and release energy. With this invention, calcium, which is abundant on the planet, has become a new and cost-effective energy material. In addition, calcium-oxygen batteries have the highest theoretical energy density among metallic calcium-based batteries and provide high energy storage potential.
The research points out that these batteries are produced at low cost and offer the potential for high energy density. They can also be charged at room temperature, making them easy to use. The research team also proved that the batteries are flexible and can be integrated into the growing wearable technology industry.