Breakthrough Makes Aqueous Batteries 10x More Durable

A team of KAUST scientists has just figured out a way to make Aqueous batteries 10 times more resilient. Their work sheds light on the fundamental correlation between solvation chemistry and electron transfer, opening the door for next-generation batteries. Here is what you need to know.

Challenges Facing Modern Rechargeable Battery Design

Let’s face facts, the world is now wireless, meaning that batteries have become more important than ever. The innovations around Li-ion batteries have helped to push advanced technologies like EVs and smartphones, despite the growing dependency on this technology. There are still several limitations preventing batteries from becoming fully rechargeable, including limited life cycles and reduced performance.

One of the biggest issues slowing future rechargeable battery designs is the inability to avoid reversible electrodeposition of metals on anodes. Notably, all of the most popular battery designs, including Li, Na, and Zn, are subject to these parasitic reactions at their metal anodes.

Inside the KAUST Enhanced Aqueous Batteries Study

In a perfect example of how science sometimes needs to look towards the past to unravel future technologies, a team of engineers from KAUST recently published the “Correlation of metal anode reversibility with solvation chemistry and interfacial electron transfer in aqueous electrolytes” study¹ in the journal Science Advances. This paper details how engineers were able to utilize aqueous batteries enhanced with sulfate and other salt ions to 10X their performance.

What Are Aqueous Batteries and Why They’re Resurging

Aqueous batteries use a water-based solvent for the electrolyte. The concept of an aqueous battery predates your AAAs by a century. It was Alessandro Volta who, in the early 1800s, paved the way for modern electrochemical battery design. His early aqueous battery simply had zinc and copper plates submerged in salt water, which produced a current.

Source – Engineering

Aqueous batteries fell out of favor in the 1900s when other, more power-dense options became available. However, they have recently been brought back into the spotlight due to their unique characteristics and benefits. For example, aqueous rechargeable Li-ion batteries are nonflammable. Their water-based electrolyte prevents battery explosions, a common problem facing traditional Li-ion battery manufacturers.

Scientists see updated Aqueos batteries as a safer and more sustainable option for certain operations, such as power grid solutions. Their ability to store large amounts of energy and economical maintenance have helped them to regain popularity within the sustainable energy sector, leading analysts to predict the aqueous battery market could be worth +$15 billion by 2030.

Key Technical Challenges of Aqueous Batteries

There are several issues that the engineers needed to overcome to enhance the performance of aqueous batteries. For one, they had to figure out how to provide more electrochemical stability to the batteries. To accomplish this task, the group developed a variety of multiscale characterization tools, enabling them to seek out the root cause of performance losses, degraded morphological stability, and any parasitic reactions.

Notably, the team needed to prevent parasitic chemical reactions from degrading at the anode. This issue remains a problem for all modern electrochemical battery designs, adding to the importance of unraveling the mystery. Here’s what they discovered.

Water Structure is Crucial to Battery Performance

When discussing aqueous batteries, the engineers predicted that water structure played a vital role in performance and longevity. As such, they first sought to prove that free water contributes to these parasitic reactions and to document exactly how and why this occurs.

How Free Water Molecules Disrupt Battery Chemistry

The engineers described the concept of “free water” and why it was harmful to battery performance. These free-roaming negatively charged ions, called anions, can become deposited at the anode, resulting in harmful chemical reactions, lost energy, and compromised anode performance.

Stabilizing Water Structure to Improve Battery Reversibility

Keenly, once the team understood the effects of free water on battery performance, they began to see that water structure was a crucial component of battery chemistry. They devised that well-structured water molecules would limit these interactions, reducing the electrodeposition process and parasitic reactions.

How Sulfate Ions Enhance Aqueous Battery Stability

The researchers noted that sulfate could stabilize the bonds of free water, reducing these issues. Sulfate consists of sulfur and oxygen. It is abundantly found in nature, and most importantly, it’s a negatively charged ion. This charge means that they bond to water molecules, enabling them to suppress free water molecule concentration in conventional aqueous battery designs.

Comparing the Impact of Different Zinc-Based Anodes

After the engineers determined how to reduce the amount of free water disrupting battery performance, the next step was to evaluate the anode itself. The team looked at five variations in particular, including zinc sulfate ZnSO₄, zinc perchlorate Zn(ClO₄)₂, zinc chloride ZnCl₂, zinc triflate Zn(OTf)₂, and zinc bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide Zn(TFSI)₂. Each was tested to see how quickly their performance degraded.

Testing the Improved Aqueous Battery Design

To demonstrate their proof of concept, the team created several working models and put them through rigorous testing at KAUST facilities. Specifically, the engineers tested their stability and reversibility. They utilized a variety of testing methods, including electron microscopy, ultrafast electrochemical experiments, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and kinetics simulations, to determine if the reduction in free water really made a difference.

Test Results Confirm Improved Battery Stability and Longevity

The Enhanced Aqueous Batteries Study test results corroborated the team’s theories. They noted that the sulfate boosted battery life 10x and provided added stability to the chemical structure.  Specifically, they were able to track how the anions regulated the hydrogen bonds and molecular interactions of the water molecules in the aqueous electrolytes. They noted that the new design provides unmatched reversibility under practical conditions.

Benefits of Next-Gen Aqueous Battery Technology

There are many benefits that the Enhanced Aqueous Batteries Study brings to the market. For one, it unlocks an alternative angle to develop safer and more eco-friendly batteries. As the world’s dependence on portable power grows, these economic factors will become vital to preventing over-polluted landfills.

Why the New Design Is More Cost-Effective

One of the major benefits of the upgraded aqueous battery design is that it’s far more cost-effective than previous options. The sustainable electrolytes rely on abundant and affordable sulfate salts. They are simple to work with and easy to integrate into the current manufacturing process.

Enhanced Reversibility Through Sulfate-Structured Water

The term reversibility refers to a battery’s ability to be charged and discharged repeatedly. The engineers noted that the stable aqueous batteries’ metal anodes showed unprecedented reversibility, meaning that this technology could be ideal in unlocking future high-energy and rechargeable battery designs.

Boosting Battery Safety Through Structural Stability

There’s more than just added performance that stability brings to batteries. It also makes them much safer. A simple internet search for battery fires will reveal just how bad battery explosion issues have become. According to some estimates, as many as 1 in every 15,000 e-bikes could experience a fire due to battery overheating. Sadly, these incidents can result in damage, injuries, and death.

Applications and Commercialization Timeline for Enhanced Aqueous Batteries

There are many applications for more stable and safer batteries. If aqueous batteries can be produced that deliver the same density as Li-ion options, it would change the market and usher in a much safer time for consumers. Here are some of the top applications for this groundbreaking science.

Sustainability and Grid Support

The best use for enhanced aqueous batteries will be for large energy storage uses, such as those found at solar or wind farms. These batteries would provide stable and safer energy storage solutions that could accommodate smart cities and the many other energy-draining activities that are part of daily life.

Wearable Tech and the Role of Aqueous Batteries

Aqueous batteries are much safer to use in wearables than Li-ion alternatives. These batteries come in many designs, with solid-state options providing the ability to be created to fit nearly any form factor. Considering that the wearables market is on the rise, these devices could see growing demand.

According to analysts’ insights, the market size is projected to exceed $1.695 billion by 2032. All of these devices will rely on batteries, meaning there is enormous growth potential for any manufacturer that can meet the demand.

Powering Household and IoT Devices with Aqueous Batteries

Another major sector where Aquios batteries show potential is the low-power device market. Items like your remote, Roku, clock, LEDs, or other devices could benefit greatly from the introduction of high-performance, long-lasting, aqueous battery solutions.

When Will Enhanced Aqueous Batteries Reach the Market?

The engineers hope to get their battery technology to the public within the next 7 years. Now, the team will seek to find industry partners while refining the manufacturing integration process further. Notably, this timetable could be pushed forward due to growing demands to meet global deadlines set forth to reduce carbon emissions.

KAUST Research Team Behind the Battery Breakthrough

The Enhanced Aqueous Batteries Study was hosted at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. The paper lists Husam Alshareef as the lead author. Interestingly, he is also a KAUST Professor and Chair of the KAUST Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies (CREST).

The study also lists Yunpei Zhu, Simil Thomas, Tairan Wang, Xianrong Guo, Yizhou Wang, Chen Liu, S. Mani Sarathy, Xixiang Zhang, Osman M. Bakr, Omar F. Mohammed, and Husam N. Alshareef as key contributors.

What’s Next for Aqueous Battery Technology?

The future of Aquios battery tech looks bright. The researchers will continue looking into how this approach could help other types of electrochemical batteries, studying how to reduce the degradation of metal anodes across a variety of popular battery styles. If successful, their approach could become a go-to method to significantly expand the lifespan of all electrochemical batteries.

Investing in the Battery Sector

The battery sector is one of the most watched by investors. The growing EVs and tech markets are interconnected by this industry, which is projected to grow from $143.9 billion in 2024 to $581.35 billion by 2032. Today, the market is a mix of dominating manufacturers and next-generation startups. Here’s one innovative company that continues to draw investor attention.

T1 Energy

T1 Energy (FREY ) launched as the Freyr Battery research and development firm in 2018. The operation launched out of Norway and was founded by Tom Einar Jensen and Mr. Slettemoen. Their goal was to improve battery technology and sustainability.

Since its launch, the company has gained notoriety as a reliable lithium-ion battery development option. In 2025, the manufacturer changed from FREYR Battery to T1 Energy Inc. This maneuver fell in line with the company’s switch towards solar energy solutions.

Today, T1 Energy operates a battery manufacturing plant in Norway and has a large solar cell manufacturing plant in Wilmer, Texas. The company has reduced its battery department but continues to invest in R&D, as batteries are a core component of today’s solar systems.

Those seeking exposure to the battery and solar sectors should take a deeper look at T1 Energy. The company has proven to have competent management, and its market positioning could be beneficial to future share prices. For now, the company has secured a reputation for providing reliable products.

Latest T1 Energy (FREY) Stock News and Developments

Conclusion: Why This Battery Breakthrough Matters

The Enhanced Aqueous Batteries Study shows that taking a look back can help you move forward. This new battery design could one day power smart cities, electric tankers, and much more. Its safer design and use of sustainable materials make it an eco-friendly alternative to the status quo. All of these factors could help to bring aqueous batteries back to the main stage and power a brighter future for all.

Learn about other cool energy breakthroughs here.

Studies Referenced:

^{1. Zhu, Y., Thomas, S., Wang, T., Guo, X., Wang, Y., Liu, C., Sarathy, S. M., Zhang, X., Bakr, O. M., Mohammed, O. F., & Alshareef, H. N. (2025). Correlation of metal anode reversibility with solvation chemistry and interfacial electron transfer in aqueous electrolytes. Science Advances, 11(30), eadx8413. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adx8413}