Scientists in Brazil create next-generation 3-volt niobium battery

Researchers from the University of Sao Paulo (USP) have developed a working rechargeable battery based on the rare metal niobium and have filed a patent application for the technology. The battery voltage is 3 volts – the same as that of most modern household batteries. This was reported by Agencia Brasil.

The development took around ten years at the Sao Carlos Institute of Chemistry of USP. Niobium has a unique electronic structure and can exist in several oxidation states, each corresponding to a different energy level that can be used to store charge.

The main problem solved by the scientists was the instability of niobium. The metal quickly degraded in conventional electrochemical environments, especially in the presence of water and oxygen. The researchers found a solution by borrowing an idea from nature. They created a special protective environment for niobium (NB-RAM) that imitates conditions inside living cells.

“We created a protective shell for niobium. Inside it, the metal can repeatedly change its electronic state like a switch without degrading. This is how biological systems work, and this is exactly what we adapted for the niobium battery,” explained the head of the study, Professor Frank Crespilho.

The voltage of the new battery is 3 volts. This is a standard value for many household devices: key fobs, electronic watches, remote controls or small sensors. Such voltage means that the battery can be used in existing electronics.

The main work on refining the technology was carried out by researcher Luana Italiano. She focused on making the battery rechargeable and on finding a balance between protecting the system and maintaining its electrical performance. “If you protect the system too much, the battery does not release energy. If the protection is insufficient, it degrades,” she said.

The battery already functions not only in the laboratory but also in real industrial formats – in the form of coin-type cells (“button” batteries) and flexible laminated batteries.

To launch mass production, it will be necessary to establish a multidisciplinary research centre involving both the state and business.

Photo: Ployker / iStock